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As these words fell upon Esmond’s ears he looked smilingly down into Irene‘s amused face. “Well, ii'éiie,” he said, “if you are so- ing riding this afternoon. what is the reggon you_ cannqt t_ake Rubyfl "I am going with three ladies,” respond- ed Irene, “and as you have heard the maid just say, there would be no room for her in the victoria; still, the strong- est reason in not making room for her is, we are going to visit the hospital to carry fruit and flowers to the sick. I have not been there for months. I am sorry to say. You know I could not take Ruby there, dear.” "No, certainly not,” he responded. prqngptly. , “Always an angel of charity; doing some good deed to make others happy. my Irene.” he added, tenderly, catching up one of the little white hands that lay so idly in her lap and pressing it to his gins, in the most gallant lover-like fash- on. “Why should I not. when I am so hap- Y)“. myself," murmured Irene. “Do you know, Frederick,” she said. raising those great dark eyes to his face. "it often seems to me our happiness is too bright to last" V “Whi. Irene?” he asked, in good-natur- ed astonishment. Eéniérxidr {lilieuw Vbfiacicflliig fair, handsome head with a hearty, ringing laugh and looked at. her. H“I£ lsrriferfeét, happiness, and that sel- chm 1ast_s longâ€"cm gagth.”_ _ “Shall I do anything to make you a. littlgless happy. my dear?” he asked, quizucally. "Shall I, for instance, form a phantom friendship with some of the beauties of the neighborhood? Shall I try__bo be impatientuor quayrglsomef" _ “No.7 céi‘taiifli iiidtfi,” Viep‘liéd’ ifréhé: ’flush- m_g. ‘ Eamond raised the beautiful face with one hand, and looked down tenderly into thy dark, dreamy eyes; 'i’Arâ€"éffla'u REE" 3071661] content, Irene?" he asked. “Yes,” she murmured. "I have not one shadow of care, not. one.wish unfulfilled. Our home seems to me a veritable Eden." rrfiefisaw iaei' shudder and iurn pale; he wggdex‘ed vagqely_ why. _ “Withofif {Hgâ€"tféil (it"thé 'éé'rbént’EQér it: he says. “I see my friends coming up the walk.” said Irene, rising hastily” “I must go to them. Good-bye. Fredenck,” she said, wisflully. How fair Irene looked as she passedout of the morning room. Never again was she destined to wear a. happy smile on her face. for from that hour she was advancing steadily to the cruelest, fate that ever threw its shadow over a wo- man’s life. “Not. ~good-bye; Au revoir. my 'dear Ir_e_ne,”_h_e gaid. gmiliqg. .._.._, .. “w, - “How good my lady is to the poor and the sick,” remarked one of the maids. as she watched the carriage containing the party drive out of the great arched gate- way. “Such hampers of delicacies as she had the blitler pack and stow away under the seats. Hot-house fruits, rich cake, and old, rare wines that were worth a. for- tune in themselves." "Oh, I really forgot you did not know about it, my dear Irene,” laughed one of the young ladies. “You have been away from London several months. Well. the fact is, Jessie’s lover is connected with the St. Thomas' Hospital in the capacity of doctor; that’s why she takes so much lnfggrestjn visijjng ghe gickrrlatelyfi: "0h, bf céurse,” chp'rfisre'drhrér compan- ions, laughmg merrlly at her evident embarrassment. How little Esmond thought as he wateh~ ed that beautiful and most accomplished woman. of the dark, terrible secret cank- ering at her heart. which was to burst upon the scandal-loving world all too soon. ' "1 almost wiuh I had not promised to go with them. to-day," she murmured to herself “I feel so unlike myselfâ€"so de- pressed. I am filled with vague presenti- ment. and fears that have no tangible shape." , Then she laughed at, herself. Why should she, who had everything the world held dear, wealth, luxury love, feel de- pression, nervous feats? it was absurd; she must throw 011’ such gloomy forebod- invs. She told herself she would laugh th‘emv gway. Bv the time Irene reached the drawing- room. where her friends awaited her. she was quite her usual self. More like the Irene of old, Miss Reynold’s who hall been one of her bridesmaids, declared, than she had seet} hex-for mgny a day. nu» , "Wheliflshaivlfiwz; Hike the first sto ?” asked Miss Stables, glancing over her isb oi glacfas s_he had marked down to call at. "‘"i‘o th'é St. 'i‘HSmBIé hfiépft'aij'ofcbfi‘iagf' laughed one of the young ladies. “Jessie @5319ng couldnjt pass thanffl “For shame, Miss Staples!” cried Jessie, "how can you malign me so. I should to to the hospital just the' same if Dr. Lequox. was, or xyasinot, there.” “Why?” asked frene; lbbking wonder- inugly a't Jes_s_ie’s_ flushing fags?1 Meanwhilréjtihré’fiii‘ty were bowling along at5_£_rapid_ pgce down jhe boulevard. "With slow tread, greatly at. variance with her usual elastic step. Irene had nggseq down t,h_e logy: porridor. Na-Dru-Co Dyspepsia Tablets will help your disordered stomach to digest any reasonable meals, and will 800" "me it t9 such, Defies! .902: _. _-_. F--.-â€" . dition that you'll never feel that you have a stomach. Take one after each meat. 50c. a Box at your Druggist’s. Made by the National Drug and Chemical Co. of Canada, Limited. 150 Are you one of those to whom every msa! is. anothm source of Suffering? So at St. Thomas’ Hospital they halted. CHAPTER XXII.-â€"(Cont‘d) OR, THE DUEL IN THE GLEN. Again that indescribable sensation of depression and heavy gloom swept over Irene’s heart like the foreboding of'some terrible calamity about to transpire. Ah! if she had but obeyed that impulse and turned back even as she stood within the portal. her life would have been different. and this work would never have been written. _ "it'llâ€"3&0 can foresee the end of fate; to guard against dire calamities, even though they lead to a tragedy? CHAPTER. XXIII. The visitors were shown into the main receptionâ€"room; where they were met by one of the matrons, who consented to conduct the natty through the main wards. In one of the corridors, they saw a, fair-haired young manâ€"the typical type of an Englishman, whom Jessie introduc- ed to her friends as Dr. Lennox. Suddenly Irene caught her breath with a sudden gasp; as in a glass darkly, the past rose up before her; she remembered this was the identical young man who had tossed the paper down on the bench of the waiting-room, and which she had by chance picked up, and learned the fate. and the true character. of the man 511797 had wedded witlhin thanvegy hopr._ “Where have I seen that gentleman be- fore,” thought Irene, in puzzled wonder, as the party moved on, all save Jessie, who hung back to have a word in pri; vate with her lover. Was this sudden shock she had received, the meaning of the depression that had weighed upon her heart all the morning. With a, great shudder, Irene turned away. The past was pastâ€"she would not rake up_ its dede usherâ€"she would_ forget itfi Jessie Reynolds was, at that instant having quite a spirited discussion with her lover, who had just made a very elab- orate bow to another party of young ladies. who had just passed down the corridor. More than once Jessie had noticed this very party at the hospital. and they usu- ally linzered [longest in the wards upon which‘ Dr. Lennox was in attendanceâ€" aud the one rock ahead in Jessie's life wasâ€"jealousy. She could not endure to see her lover smiling down into a lovely face, or even courteously polite to a bean- tiful woman. Her brows darkened, as the party to which the young doctor had just raised his hat, with an elaborate bow, passed down the corridor. 7 alter!” she said; passionately. “if you don’t stop flirting with other girls, I’m going to break off our engagement again â€"Iig'eal;1y m_ean jtz” â€"I really mean it.” “My dear Jess.” he replied, in a decided English accentâ€"~“you’ve been doing no- thing but break 011‘ our engagement ever since it was first entered into: there won’t be much left of it after awhile. But. really. Jess. if the metty creatures ad- mire me. it isn't my fault, you my hon- “You encourage them; you 'look' after them; you put yourself in their way on every possible occasion. I don't. doubt," declared Jessie, ready to cry with vcxa- tion. ‘V‘He’d be rather a. tame sort of fellow to close his eyes when a; pretty girl pas- ses. don't you know." returned the young doqtpr, languidly. “Being a. hospital doctor has jugt spoiled you,” cut. in Jessie. hotly; j'I won t listen tovyouâ€"I am going to 1011] my friggdg,” and_ she ggrqed ‘abxjuptly avg)?- “Walter,” she said, hesitarting .a little. “you can talk to Mrs. Esmond as much as you like, for she’s a married lady, but. if you so much as look as Miss Desmond or Miss Staples, I’ll never speak to you again while I live. so there!" and 01f she started down the corridor. '7in (BER £65 to think any other girl but oneâ€"pretty." flashed out Jess. bitter- ‘I‘Now. Jessie. if you're going to turn out to 39‘ a. jealous wpm_an,_ I’lIâ€"” "I say, Jess,” he called out. after herâ€" "there's a heap more danger in smiling at the married beauties than ihe sinzle on_es, gnyfiaygf' Bu't Je§sie Hid not hear, she was already half-“Lay _down the long cprridpr. As Dr. Lennox was passing the door of one of the main wards, he encountered an associate physician. who had but that morning joined the force of hospital nh" sicians. As Dr. Ross was a man of much experience. study and travel, with a large practice. he. was considered a. most: valu- able acquisition to the stafi’. They had exchénéed Var. féw words are thev were joined haspily .by one of the mggonspf an__ adjoinmg ward. “0h. doctor." she cried. anpealingIv. turning to Lennox, “will you please come and see No. 23? He’s raving and cursing like a maniac. He utterly refuses to take his medicine; and, by the way he’s going on, he will be in a brain fever by mid- night. It‘s as much as a nurse’s life is worth to go near him. He’s a new pati- eqt'. hropght in _r_)n_1,v this pornipg.” "1‘ o'ugh't' t6 look ir'i af'a‘ fe’ve'othéi pati- enth just now,” said Dr. Lennox, medi- tatgyely. . “,If you like. I will relieve you in-sav ten minutesâ€"fifteen. at the outside.” said Dr. Ross, pleasantly, “I shall get around to that ward at abbut that time.” The two physicians separated, and Dr. Lennox followed the matron to the ward indicated. She passed on'; and he enter- ed the long. wide room alone casting his eyes hurriedly about for cot No. 23. It. was in the centre of the room, and he approached it at once, smiling“ to ob- serve the patient was apparently in a deep sleep-"having exhausted his vocabu- lary of wrath which he had hurled at the myse he hqd succumbed t9 heavy slumber. Lennox drew down the oo'unterpane which the man had, Lulled up over his face; and then a. low, astounded whistle brojgc {gem the doctorr’srlips. “My God! its Heathcliffâ€"or Forrester, rather"â€"-he exclaimed, below his breath. in the utmost amazement. I am not mis- taken; it. is he as sure as I live. I thought he perished in that. horrible holocaust of a prison five years ago. He must. have epcaped and have been in hiding ever since. “I-f you plgase, doctor,” she said, “here are lady VlBltOI'B, who would like to come thrqgghkthig w d." . "Show tF‘éfi'z hghfi in, my good woman,” responded Lennox. Glancing through the Dart/117 open door he beheld his fiance. gm! her companions approaching. In {m listant he had forgotten his great d13- “I should be glad rifflyovu would," re- spgnded Lenpoxi _ “The question is." pondered the young doctor, “shall I give him up to the au- thorities as an escaped convict, or shall I not: By George, now, I don't feel as though I could, although he did cheat me out of. 9.5:; p unds, and plat, me in a-_b9g_s£'ly_ fix_ for t e wankot its “Wfi‘ffé'i'hé-aofibr'fifis'kfifldéfiné over the strange discovery he had made. the mat- ron ire-enteted their-00m. oovery. V I I "mfg Jessie and her arty,” be excia1med m dlsmay; “if I shou :1 remain here. and be even civil to those pretty girls with her. why the engagement would be brok- en off again;" and the English accent was more strongly marked than ever. as he muttered the words under his breath. He made a. hurried exit. through an o - posit» door, barely esoapmg being 0 - served by the party who entered, headed by__’ghe matron.” . ..., .‘,, “If you are tired, you might rest by this window, Irene, and we will make a tour of the ward; the scenery from this window is perfectly delightful,” declared Jess; and to this Irene assent/ed, and they moved on; the matron lingering by Irenp’s aide. explaining the clock-like regularity with which everything around and about their famous institution movedA “This is an isolated ward, and here are to be found our very worst cases. ma.- dame,” she continued. "There, for in- stance,” pointing to cot No. 25, “is a, very hard patient to manage. He came off a. steamer; slipped on the gang plank, breaking his ankle and dislocating his shoulder. and was brought here cursing and swearing like a madman. You can- not see his face from here; we will cross the room, whenever you are ready, that you may have a better view of him. His face shows the trace of beauty, but the {narks of dissipation have nearly stamped "He is really the most, vicious patient we have had for many a dayâ€"even in his sleep, dreadful imprecations burst from his lips; and he goes off into almost. a. frenzy, raving wildly, about some woman whom he is in search of. I fancv it. is his wife for whom he searches, for even in his delirium he is always vowing though his life be black and stained, he will force her to go with him though he should choose to take her to the fur- thermost. ends of the earth; she will be obliged to go with him even though she has learned to hate him. . "Why his face is ewful to see when he works himself up into these paroxysms of rage; his face grows livid in spots, his eyes glare, like two balls of fire, and his purple lips are flecked with foam. . No wonder the nurses are afraid to go near him. Poor things. who can blame them: he is a subject more fit for the insane asflpm than _a. quiet_hospita1_ like this. “If it, is iiisfiwiiféflfoi‘HWhom he éearches, I pity the ppor creature, when he does finiherflwgs such a_<!esperate rpan.’_’ "The only doctor who can do anything with him is Dr, Ross, 3. physician who has just come to London to take_charge of this place; he seems to have a deal of patience with the man. I do hope his re- covery will be rapid. and that he will leave here soon. He has only been here since this_morningâ€"a few hoursâ€"but it segue like so _mauy ‘gnonthat” The man starts up with a fierce impre- gation as the footstepfi draw near, turn- mg his face toward them. One glance at that face-and a. shriek that sounds like nothing human from Irene’s lips. She has recognized Leon Forrester! wThey {0692311733 tfev__i11â€"é:£ron speaks, nearer t 3 Got. That. was the one awful epoch of beau- tiful, hapless Irene’s life. The length of eternity seemed crowded into that one moment; the light of the sun seemed suddenly to grow dark and the inky blackâ€" ness of Hades to enfold her; the room to whirl around her and her heart to break with one great throb. How wild the wind moaned outside of the open window, and how harsh the notes of a bird sounded. asfiit flew awayjnbfull s_ong_. She dld not fall dbwn dead, she did not utter one cry after that first desperate pitiful moan, but stood there like one paralyzed, incapable of speech or action, gazing down in awful terror into the dark, revengeful face before her, her own face white as death. .Had the yawning grave opened and glven back its dead? ' This was Leon Forrester and no other. She raised her white hands as though beseeching Heaven to save, her. 'A chill so deep, so bitter, she thought it must be death crept over her, for the dark face had turned toward her, and two burning ey_e_a me}; h_er own. She trembled like a. leaf in the wind, ghe qulbe expected him to gra-s her, cry- mgout, “I know you. even t ough you star-11:11! from meâ€"you are Ireue!â€"my w: e. ’ ‘ His first question would be. where was she living? and then, the whole story would come out; she must tell him all, even though he struck her_dead. then and there. at his feet. in furxoua rage after she had told him_._ ‘ The shock wasi' so ‘awful, so terrible. there was such a ringing in her ears. she could not catch the words the matron wag uttering. She would tell him the truth, of what avail :0 hide one det-al‘. She must tell him how she had read that he had per- iehed in the prison fire; and that a year later she had married again believing him dead. She dared nqt think what would happen next. How hls harsh lauzh would ring out on the summer am, and he “would cry cup with fierce exultatipn; “You areflfiotflhtisnkl eribh 31:6 mme.i You shall leiavre h1m,_s_s.nt} come w1th_ meg" “My dear lady." said the matron. touch- in? her arm, “there is no cause for such terror. the man cannot harm you. he is blind, bota_11y_ ~blind.” In that moment the though-1‘. came to her to turn and fly from him, fly to the other end of the world, he could never find her, never, for he was blind. Irene staggered back, clutched the nearest chair for support. and sunkâ€" into “See,” said the matron, "we startled him from his slumbers. he has sunk back on his pillow again, and his l_a,bor_ed breath- ing- shows us he is droppmg 03 into a deep sleep again." Irene was watching the dark, sneefing, reyqueful face, wjth_ bated prgath. And as she watched, one of the nurses entered quickly, and there was a. hurried consultation between the nurse and the matron, and the woman as quickly with- drag' again: “You and your friends haw kind in aiding us in the past, helping us out of difficultiesâ€"u so bold as to ask a favor of 3 askgi the mapqn engeal‘n‘gy. "If you would but kindly watch by No. 23 for ten minutes,” she said, hesita-tinzâ€" 1y. “There has just been a. great. railway disaster near here, and hundreds of the dying and wounded are being brouvht, into the heapital, the vast staff of names and doctors, the matrons as well. are all summoned quickly to aid the sufferers, they must have immediate a-ttentiqn. The words fell upon Irene's ears like an electric shock. Blind! could it, be pos- sible that in the dark, vacant eyes that seemed to meet and hold her own, there was no sight? If this be true he had not recognized her as Irene. he could not see her. “What can I do for you?" said Irene. and she was startled at the sound of her own voice, it sounded so harsh and un- natural. ‘ Irene pearest 1t. No. 23 is not tmu lesome now, he is under a. strong opiate, yet there needs to be some one of great reliability left here to watch over him, his life hangs by a. single _thr§ad." . , ... - "So. great," returned the matron, "that ifrthlh vaqor shquld fail to be inhaled by h1m exact y on the hour strokeâ€"which ls exactly ten minutes from nowâ€"his life would “a; the forfeit; so the doctors said when t ey held their consultation a little while .ago.” .“It 13 egsy, the inhaling: you see the Vial to which this rubber tube is attached: press the tube and as the vapor is spray- eq‘out,$ol£ it beneath the patient/a nos- trlle.‘ lt care he will pull through. Will you watch by him, madame?" lrene could. not refuse; she bowed her head in token of assent. _ “Many thanks. madame,” returned the matron, gratefully. “I gee your friend}; -:::f§;isv:if1'é;é so muchâ€"danger?” Irene mgyaged tonarticulatg. ‘_ “Many thanks. madame,” returned the matron, gratefully. “I see your friends have passed on into the other anam- ment,” she added. “I will inform them of your kind concession.” and she hurried away, leaving Irene alone with her mor- tal foe, alone save for the presence of the other patients in the 00141 that. lined ei- ther side'of the apartment. 3nd they had‘ CHAPTER XXIV. friends have been so in the past, madameâ€" difficultiesâ€"might I be a fave}; of you now?" When the door closed after the mat- ron's retreating form, Irene rose from her chair, and with tottering feet drew nearer to the couch. evidently succumbed to the chloral im- pregnated_ atlyospheye, {or phey glept. "There is not the faintest shadow of a mistake," she said. “I am not mad nor gm I dreaming; the grave has given back 113 dead; it is he, the wretch who wrecked my life with a. cruel lie. “My God! what am I 10 do. The full horror of my position bursts upon me,” she moaned, drOpping her white face in her hands. and she wept as few women weep in a. lifetime, crying out to Hea- yen that she had married another believ- mgflthin man degd. _ "He has come back from the grave to part me from-my love.” she wailed out. “Heaven save me from going mad at the thgught _of i9” _ Suddenly she starts to her feet. clutch- mg her hands tightly over her beating heart. “Let me remember the matron’s words." she murmured, in a shrill, piteoua whis- per: “The patient’s danger in so great that if he should fail to inhale this vapor exactly on the hour strokeâ€"which we leave with youâ€"his life would pay the forfeit. His life! And it lacked but three min- utes to that time now. Irene reached out her white hand for the vial, but something seemed to clutch at her nervous fingers and hold them snellhound Her heart beat. What strange thought came to her in that moment?â€" for suddenly, .sbe clasped her hands to- gether and raised them to heaven. “He stands between you and your hus- bapd and child," whispered a still, 3mg.“ vome to her throbbing heart. “If he were dead, you would_ be_ frqe!” A great gasp broke from her lips. If he were dead! The thought seemed to burn its way into her brain and take pos- session of her. The pity of it was. that she dared to listen to that strange. sibi- Lanttvoioe, that was whispering to her ear . The great folly of her life first com- menced in not put/ting the thought from her. There was danger in ruminating over it. a peril so horrible she should have shrunk from it. And the same still. small voice whispered more boldly because she had listened to it: "Why should you save this wretch who wrecked your young life? He did not spare you. He stands between you and your husband and little child. If he lives he will part you from them. You hold his fate in your hands. See the dark ter- rors the future holds if you save him. this man. who stands between you and love and happiness. Can you doom your- self to eternal misery by savinv him? You would but have to sit still and mo- tionless in you chair, with your_hands clasped together in your lap while the moments dragged themselves by. The re- sult would be. he would pass into that deep sleep that knows no waking, and youuwould be free. " “Oh,qu crrainnrdt: I cannot," moaned Irena "I am not wicked enough for that. I must save this wretch’s life, no matter what happens after. It would be murder if__I did pgt: yeg. m1}rderj_!”_ "Never’did 'g60zi'afiid' évil fight so vali- antly for a human heart as they strut:- glggi in that gupyemgngomqnjo fpr Irgne‘g. She’ ' giasgea‘ah‘e“ ‘viEl'Tv'i‘t'li ‘fiérnééajtii They stop headaches promptly and surely. Do not comm: opium. morphine, phenacefln, acctanmd or “her dangerous drugs‘ 25cm. box at your Drhggisrs. 125 NATIONAL plum AND CHEMICAL co. or cANAoA. LIMITED. NA-DRU-CO Headache Waters Whenever you feel a headache coming on take with any other sugarâ€"compare its pure, white sparkleâ€"its even grainâ€"its matchless sweetness. cold hands, and drew nearer the couch with faltering steps, her face white as marble. "Can you give up love, life. hope. aqd happiness, doom yourself to a. life of mis- ery with this man ?" cried the small still. mggking vqicg agaip. 7'1Heaviathe1‘ane! I am tried beyond gy engangth," cried out Irene. with a bit~ r so . Some one opened the door. but she did not. hear. She did not see the tall form of Dr. Ross approaching, in her intense excitement; she did not heed that he had spoken to her. was standing near her. transfixed with horror as he listened to the:yvil_d_wo_rda_that fell from her line: “His life is in my hands,” she mutter- ed‘ bending over the dark, revenge ul face on the pillow. “If he dies the wor will never know that I was once this man’s wife; and,‘ believing him deadâ€"Heaven help meâ€"I married aâ€"agaln. If he were to die no one would ever know of that horrible past. The world would never know, Frederick would never know. I could keep it buried‘deep in my heart forevermore. carrying 1: down to the grave with me." ' Irene had listened too long. The ter- rible force of the mightiest temptation that ever sued for the mastery of a hu- man heart overcame her. She had listen- ed too long to the tempting voice of con- science. With a bitter cry she dashed the vial from her. The supreme moment had come and gone. Irene threw up her hands with a. wild, hushed cry. and fell by the (much of him whose fat/e she had decided in a deep, death-like swoon! CHAPTER XXV. For one moment. Dr. Ross had stood transfixed with surprise as he had entered the door, murmuring under his breath. “Irene, by all that is wonderful] Thus do we meet. again after six long- years, and in all that time I could not forget her. Irene,” he exclaimed, advancing. She did not hear him. He stood quit/e still, trans fixed by the deathly whiteness of hex face, and struck dumb by the words that fell from her lips, revealing to him he! painful secret, and leaving her at. he: old lgver’s piercy. _ _ As Irene falls at his feet, he catches the slender form in his strong arms. and then, the clock on the wall slowly {0118 the» passing hour in slow, measured strokes. Dr. Ross has no time to think of aught else save his patient in this vital mo- ment. He seizes the vial from Irene’s clenched hand, and holds the Qube to the patient’s nostrils. The quivering breath and the faint moisture assures him the man is inhaling the life-giving draught. which will save his life. Before he can turn to Irene’s assist- ance he sees signs of returning consci. ousness. A sudden. unconquerable de- sire seizes the doctor to knovgv what her waking thoughts will be. believing that her foe is no more, and as he sees he! dark eyes open, he steals all unobserved into the shadow of the adjacent curtains. and watches Irene with bated breath. (To be cqntinued.) A cow’s value is determined by the solids in her milk. Take A Hamlin! 0! “SI. Lawrence” Sugar Out To The Store Door --out where the light can fall on itâ€"and see the brilliant, diamond - like sparkle the pure' white color, of every grain. That’s the way to test any sugar â€"â€" that’s the way we hope you will test Eugat