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There seemed ‘nb single spot in the room on.’ which the eye could rest; it, was all color, and glitter of silver and gold. ,The dinner was a. superb oneâ€"not one of Mn. Mershon’s guests really knew how perfect it, wasâ€"but to Decima. it seemed 01141le and wearisome. And «yet Mr. Mershon di-drhis best. to en- tertain her. She was, of course, seated next to him, and, he talked to‘hep through all the oounees. ‘Hie topic Was the one which has 'the most interest fer most men ~himself. He told her how he had start- ed the Great-*Wheal Mining" Company. and made a quarter of a million out of itâ€"before it. went smash; how he had bought. up town lots in Arizona at a. und a lot and realized at fifty; how ~he ad gained the concession from Turkey 101' the supply of eocoenut fiber, and nettedvfive hundred thousand for me 09m- pany 'ln six months, and of 51111115]: achievements. And he did not talk badly, for, while a man talks of what he understands and the thing that is nearest to his hear-b, he ng generally tg.1k_ well. - . / . . 1r__ . ....... ,, m-.. Every now and then he»gla,nc'ed mt Mtg. Sherborne. and as if in obedience to his giance, she addressed some remark to De- cimii in the strange, _9xpreseignleps voice; wnmw u. u“. -u-w..=-, V- __,__, " When he was not talking to Decima, and her face was turned away from him, Mr. Mershon’s restless, ahiftless eyes were fixed on her with a. curiously intern gaze of which Decima, was quite unconscious. ‘Ee pressed the champagneâ€"it‘was Wash- ter, 1880. a. rare vintageâ€"on Bobby, and permitted the butler to fill his own glass fpequently. _ ' - . . -. 4 Al; Au-..“â€" un- n; . nu.“ Bobby addressed himself to the dinner. and Mr. Deane eat and drank what was put before him with his usual mechanical acquiescence. And the silent, constrained Mrs. Sher-borne sat 'with downcast eyes. excepting when she raised them quickly with a. half-frightened expression at some remark of her half-brother’s. At last, to Decima’e relief, Mrs. Sherborne looked at her and rose, , and they went into the drawing-room. Mr. Merehou got a box of cigars and cigarettes from the side-board and handed them to Bobby. "You‘ll find these Bothechilda pretty fair. Deane.” he geld. - av,,LL-_I .._ -nA Iflu‘. ucnuc. “v u-mu. Bobby chose a cigar and lighted up, and Mr. Mershon drew his chair nearer to Mr. Deane. "Did ybu bring those drawings?” he asked. ' Mr. Deane. who had been in a. brown study~ during the dinner. woke up in- stanily. Granny. “Yes, yes,” he said, eagerly; “I brought them. I don’t know What. I did with them. Robert, there is a. roll of paper in the hall.” Bobby fetched them. and strolled into the electrically lighted conservatory ad- joining the dininz~room; he was not. eager to hear his father rhapsodize. Mr. Deane opened out the papers. “You seeâ€"” he began. Mr. Mershon looked at lohe drawings and then at his guest’s face with a. peculiar, cynical smile, and listened with his eyes averted. “Yes; therein a lot. of money in it," he aaidnagftiegnu tii‘nq. ,,4___1 1:... “Anna our. smue, nun wuwueu vuu. um e, -.. .e “Yes; there‘is a lot of money in it," he said, after a time. “You thinkPT’ exclaimed Mr. Deane, eag- erly. Mr. Mershon nodded. ,“Yee: I’m, ready to make a. company of it. -Buteyou must put something inw'it. They’ll expect that.”- Mr. Deane’a face fell. é’ “Let me tell you how I am plac , he said, with is suppressed excitement. “I have a small independence which pro- duces‘ an incomeâ€"a narrow incomeâ€"on which we live." ‘ Mr. Mershonflnodded. ..._ .“I nnderetamd. But that’s enough. I’ll show you the way to realize a sufficient sum to back this. thing. Leave it to me. I’ll work it for you. As you say. there's a fortune in this idea of yours." “My dear ' sir, there is lncalculable wealth!” interjected Mr. Deane. "Quite 50," said Mr. Merehon, with a scarcely concealed sheer. “You leave it to me. You may have heard me telling your daughter about the large sums I have made out of limited companies? It’s my forte. my line. You leave it. to me. ’11 take care of those drawings." . - “You understandâ€"you are quite sure you understandf’f said Mr. Deane, feverishly. “Oh, I quite understand.’ Shall we join the ladies, Mr. Robert?" said Mr. Mer- Thev went into the drawing-room, and Mr. Merehon. with a. sharp glance at Mrs. Sherborne, who was bending over some em- broideg‘y. went up ,to Decima. M. "v 186 .. "Inn fnv- 1m_ Deane?” he saw. Decima». who had been taught by Lady Pauline to accede. to any request, unless it-were unreasonable or wrong, went; at once to the piano. .and Mr. Mershon fol- lowed her. She knew all her songs by sheen. and she sun: “The Message." Sung it not with the proteseional air which so many women aim at, but‘girliehly and eyveetly. Mr. Merehon stood- beside her. leaning on the piano. his small, sharp eyes fixed on 'her face with the expreew eion which a. man wears when his‘hearM is in the look. All unconsciously. she‘ glanced up. at him as the song finished,} and caught the look in his eyes. It. was, as if a cold. an icy cold, hand had been laid.) upon her‘ heart. and she rose and stood a little apart. from him. “Will you not. aim: again?" he said. “Do!” And for an instant his eyes sought hers. Decima unconsciously moved away from him and nearer to Bobby. ~» “Noâ€"I will not aim: again,” she said, almost coldly. "Itâ€"it must be getting late. Bobby!" : Bobby came up to her, there was a little more talk, and then she managed to con- vey to him that, she really wanted 30 30. “Mr. Mershon’ himgelf saw .them into the y. “I hope this won't be your last visit to The Firs, Miss Deane." he said, and lie thin finger: closed round hers. Decimal made no response, and the fly Mr. Mershon returned to the M 4 an. ‘1 w.-- “Win” Ivoli ' pm? Deane ?" he finial. "Qumran XI.~(Q.ont'd). m PEEiTECT SHOE-l FOR "SUMMER gems . Her ‘ Great Love; ASK YOUR DEALER. into the drawing-room, and with a. aha-1'1) glance at, Mrs. 10 was bending over some em- At up ,to Decima.‘ nlay or sin: for us, Miss Or; A Struggle F0} a Heart drawing-room and leaning his arm on the carved. mantel-shelf. looked at the silent woman who was handing over her em- broidery again. “Well?” he said at last, sharply. She glanced up at, him nervously. "Well, Theodore?" she said, timidly. “What do you think of her?" he de- manded. “Isn’t she beautiful, lovely? Is there any girl, woman, like her in all the world?" 7, __ . , W011“! 1 ' “Sheâ€"she is very beautiful, very sweet." she assented, under her breath. Mr. Memhon laughed. “I’m glad you think so,” he said; “for I mean to make her my wife.” V Mrs. Sherborno raised her head and opgqeg he; lipg, but no sound came. , A, A__a m1... ‘1‘}. Opeueu Her 1193; uuu flu Dvuuu vu. “Well, what have you to say? Why the deuce don't you speak?” he said, with the sudden fury of a weak nature; and he looked as evil as a, malicious monkey, an he glowered down at. her with his small eyes glowing excitedly. “You hear? And you’ve got. to help me. You'Ve got to make a. friend of her; get the right side of her. You’ve got to sing my praises to her. You understand?" Mrs. Sherborne moistened her lips and cast a deprecatory glance at him. 'fghe-she is very young, Theodore,” she sal . . "Young! I like her all the better for that. Hang it, you don’t suppose Iehould be such \an use as to falluin love with an 1.1, "Young! I like her all the better for that. Hang it, you don’t suppose I.should be such \an ass as to fall in love with an old woman? And I’ve fallen in love with her, I tell you.” “Sheâ€"she may not consent. Ivâ€"I mean, she seems to have some will of her own. Theodore. I have been talking to her.” “Consent! Will of her own!" he said, with a. sneer. “You are an idiot! Do you suppose I’m depending upon her sweet will only? Not me. I know a. better game than that. She'll consent fast, enough. You wait. and see. I’ve got. her tight enough; or. if I haven’t got. her already, I shall have her in my grip presently!” A week passed, ten days; but no Lord Gaunt appeared. Decima had ceased to go to the Hall, but she met Mr. Bright every day in the village, and that gentle- man‘s face grew longer and less cheerful each time. v ‘ “'1 can‘t make it out, Miss Deane,” he said on the" eleventh day. “lie said he would come at the end of the weekâ€"he may have meant month; it's just possible that I may have misunderstood him. But I’ve got everything- ready. You‘d be sut- prised at what I've managed to get done in the last few days, you would indeed! And he hasn‘t come after all." "lie mayoome in a day or two," said Deanna. She. too, felt a little. just a little disap- pointed. “Do you think so?” he said, catching at the hope eagerly. Then he shook his head. “I don't know. It’s just as likely that he won't come at all. Though he firomised. and a. promise is a promise wit-h im. I know that. And he doesn’t write; and I don’t know where to write to. I've sent word to the lawyers that the place is readyâ€"that is, as far ready as I could get it in the time. and they have written that they don’t know Lord Gaunt’e ad- dressâ€"that he’s away from London. I'm ialmost in despair ; for. you see. he may hayejone' to Africa. after all.” n,_ _.n.... “ulna” nnifl D8- have gone to Alrluu. MW. e“... . “I hope not, for your sake,” sud De- clme, gently. “Say for all our sakes. and his own most," geld Mr. Bright. “Well, I am not going to give up hope, and I’m keeping on at the slave-driving. You should see me hounding on the workmen! They think me no end of a. brute and bully. Going your rounds? Ah. you’ve fluttered down on the place like a. ministering angel. Miss, Deane! I hear your praises suns wherever, I go. I’ve just left. the Robins’ cottage, and that. poor sick girl of here had the tears in her eyes when she told me of your goodnessio her. ell, I won’m say any more" if you don't 1i 9 Hz, and I beg your pardon. runoff to thallium. There’s, a, new grand piano just arrived; that looks me if he meant. coming.” lie hustled 0!! rather more cheer-fly, and Decima. went. h'er - way. 'Perhepe Lord Gaunt would not, come after all. Yes; she would. be sorry it he did not, she told hersélt. ‘But though Lord Gaunt were still ab- dull, for they saw a. good deal of Mr. Mershou and his sister. Scarcely a day ' 1- - Vl‘ubmnn not-n11an flown dull, for they saw a. good deal of Mr. Mershon and his sieber. Scarcely a day passed but that gentleman strolled down to The Woodbinee. He generally went straight, to the labor- atory, and Decimapould hear her father talking~Mn Merahon always appeared to play the listener’s part-in his rapid, ner- vous way. Once or twice she went ilk-not, knowing Mr. Mershon was thereâ€"and found him sitting on the bench as she had neon him on his first visit, his chin in his hands, his attitude like that of a monkey, and his big .eigarrm his lips. LA ..-; m... h. Hm garden. Sometimes she met, mm m mm ‘aLuvu, and he would stop and talk to her in short, disjointed sentences. his small, sharp eyes scanning her face when she was not looking at him. to be quickly averted when she turned her frank. guile- less eyes upon his face. Several times The Firs carriage, in all its magnificenceâ€"and newnesrdashed up on the rate, and Mrs. Shelfborne woulc} Several times The Firs carriage, 111 "an its magnificenceâ€"and newnesrdashed up to the gate, and Mrs. Sherborne would come in and sit. in the drawing-room and talk to Decima in her nervous, constrain- ed fashion; and on all the visits she begged Decima. to so for a drive with her. Decline. did not very much care for Mrs. Sherborne, though she pitied her-rwhy, she could scarcely have told-«and several times refused the drive; but. one after- noon Mrs. Sherborne begged so hard, that Decline, accompanied her. ‘ But she was sorry that shé“ had done so, for all Mrs. Sherborne’s talk was of her \ she said, ‘glancing at. Decline nervously and yet curiously. “He was always clever as a iboy. We all used to say that. he would admire his mark find do great things. I ‘don't suppose there is any one in the city more-emote successful and respected"â€" she paused a momentâ€"“more admired than he is.” , Decima did not know what. to say. and so remained ,silent: and after another glance Mrs. Sherborne went- on still more nervously. file has made a great, deal of money. Theodore is immensely richâ€"but. I dare say you can see that.” , {‘Oh, 'yes.” said ‘Decima. ,"It. must be very nice to be richâ€"{or those Who care for money,”; she "added. ' “You don’t care for it, my dear?" said l‘Mrs. Shel-borne. with some surprise. ~- Decima smiled. . “No; why should 1? Does money bring happiness 1"" As she spoke, she thought. of Lord Gaunt. He was immensely rich, andâ€"well, his and weary {nee rose before her. and she ~Xsréfie spoke, she thought or Lora Uranub. He was immensely rich, andâ€"well, his and, glean! face rope before her. and she Highs “ don't think it does. Of course. I do not know very much about it." CHAPTER XII. [ "No; you are very young and inexper- iiencod," said ,»Mrs.‘8he:bmjno. “But” you ‘know that. ev‘exybody want: ’to be rich; everybody struggles and. skinny for m°E°TflPOF° Wiley-"L _' ‘_ - _-, , _.v_- "Yes. I know." njd ngima; "and it seems’ so foolish; If. it does 'nét bring happiness, what. is the use ‘of it? Why. see how happy some. most, of the poor people here are! They are always cheer» tul.» Lhean the women.» even the) poorest» singing as I go into the village, and the meg» whistle aejghqy to to their wprh." “Yes.” said Mrs. Sherborne; and she was s‘lent a. moment, then she said} as if she felt constrained to continue the sub- ject: “We have often wondered'why Theo- dore has nos married. 0! course he. is quite a; young man still, butâ€"Well, men, especially very rich men, marry at, an earlier age than his. And he must have met so many niceâ€"so many beautiful women, whoâ€"who would have been glad to marry him. Don’t you think it is very strange?“ "Then you wouldn'i care to marry 3/ rich mgp. my agar?" aqked Mrs._ Sheylgorng, “I don’t know-:1 have not-thought. Not, if it were only because he was rich. Oh, I do not; know! See how lovely that. tree 100135 with t_h_e ygad sugset_ upon it!” A The speech jarred upon the girl. She had not thought, of marriage; and he:- innocent. heart shrunk from'the w‘omau's qugstionjng. 7 “Its vit?" said Deéima, growing very weary of the topic. “Perhaps he has not sepp any_,oqe he cares fqu‘r , ' “Perhaps that is it,” she said. “But he will some day. I hope she will be aâ€" nice girl."v / l“I hope, so for your sake,” said ,De- eima. ' "Sheâ€"she will be able to have everything she wantsâ€"everything she can desire," said Mrs. Sherborne, in a dry, mechanical tone, as if she were repeating something she had carefully rehearsed. “Theodore is liberal enough when~when he cares for any one. He will spend money like water wâ€"to-gain' his object. Yea‘,‘ his wife will be able. tolbuy anything she may fencyf‘“ Mrs. Sherborne looked at her sideways, sighed, and ordered the coachman to drive back to The Woodbines. She had done her best, ‘but against the girl‘s absolute in- nocence and unconsciousness Mm. Sher- borne’s hints and suggespions glanced 01? like arrows from a pen; of_ma_il. ",l'dwrs:ޤhéi'$olrfie iéiificieiinat thé lovely face with its unqlouded eyes. ."That will ‘be very nice for her," said Decima, uneuspeétingly. ."And now may we turn and‘go back, plea-3e, Mrs. Sher- borne? I like to be in some little time before dinner." “Halloo! been out in the Mershons’ char. iot?" said Bobby, we Decima. came into the house. “What’-s it, feel like, sitting in such a gorgeous vehicle, and staring at. the backs of two richly dressed flunkiea? Did you fancy yourself a. duchess, Decie?" Decima laughed and shook her head. “I felt like the lord mayor I once read of, who, being a. simple-minded man, con- fessed that he longed to get out of his state coach and take a cab,” she said, run- nigg up to her _roo‘m." . __‘ u ‘ “ALI..- “Au. uy vv “V. _..v__. “No news of Lord Gaunt yet.” Bobby remarked at dinner. “Bright wears a. face of} despair, and I'm inclined to suspect. that Gaunt has been playing a, game of spoof.” "What do you mean?” said Deoima. “My poor child, how terribly your edu- cation has been neglected, for allryou can speak‘ French and Hitalian, and play the pi-ano! You don't know your own 13.n- zuage yet! Learn. you young dunce, that ‘to spoof’ is synonymous with ‘bo deceive.’ only it's a. better, because a more expres- sive word. Depend upon it, Lord Gaunt has been having a. lurk with the simple Brighbâ€"and a young lady who shall be nameless; and having had his‘fun. $9 0!! to other dimes. Shouldn't wonder If he is on his way to Africa by this timeff (To be continued.) . The teacher was hearing .the youthful class in mathematics. “No,” she said, “in' order to sub- tract, things have to be in the same denomination. For instance, we couldn’t take eight horses from ten cast. Deyou understand 1”, There was assent from the majority of pu- pils. One little boy in the rear raised a, timid hand. “Well, Bobby, what is it?” asked the teacher. “Please, teaeher," said Bobby; “couldn’t you. take three quarts of milk from three cows ’2” Progressive Policy Inaugurated by The Federal Government, V The report rebently issued the, Chief Conservator of Forgsts in South Africa. for the year ending on December alst, 1911,. is one of con- siderable interest by way of com- parison with what is being done along forestry lines in this country. For such a, young Union the pro- gress made is remarkable, and con- siderable credit is due to the Forâ€" est Department for the efliciency already attained in administration and fire-protection FORESTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. The area. of the Forest Reserves in the Union of South Africa in December, 1911, was .1,799,550 acres. ' Besides this,., there were also 42,587 acres reserved for row- ing railway' ties; on which mi. way funds alone were expended, makâ€" ing a total reserved area of 1,842,- 137 wares. This area. is divided into seven conservancies, â€"â€" roughly «Speaking,- 5, conservancy to each province in the Union. Each con- servancy, consisting usually of sev- eral reserves, is administered by a. District Fore-st Officer and a tech- nically trained Assistant Forester. Under them are chiefs of reserves, forest guairds, rangers, etc. The more important positions are all filled by technical fo‘resters, usual- ly highly trained men‘ who have completed their. course in the Oxâ€" ford School of Forestryand in Gerâ€" many. ' This organization very closely resembles that of the Cans.- dian Government forest reserves. _ 'Under their supervision, forest surveys .are being made for the de- marcation of new reserves, and ex: Lsting reserves are being :protecteii from fire by burning or cutting fireâ€"balms around the reserves and by planting up their perimerters with trees of the less inflammable species. a're‘su‘lt of these pre- cautions, [there were burned durifig the sea-son .of 1911 only seven hun- dred acre-s, or 0.04 per cent". of the total area. On the reserves thems-gelves im- provement cuttings are being car- ried on“ under the direction of forest officiaLs, for the removal of defec- tivej timb'ep and weed trees, and these operations ‘ not _ only havé much improved \the apecies compos- ition of the forests, but have proved financially justifiable , as. well. Replanting is, also being extenâ€" sively carried on in the various re- serves, the total area. replanted at the end of 1911 being 48,136 acres, Several species. of exotics are being introduced with considerable suc~ cess. Nurseries are maintained, and the seed and _ti\ansplants of forâ€" est; trees are sold to the public at cast. About six“ thousand dollars’ wo-rth‘of seed Was sold by the Dé-i partment during the‘yeir, together with 2,806,402 seedlings, valued at over $42,500. 00. The ‘collar should - fitâ€"be just right in length and shape. If word by the same horse all the time is will shape itself to the neck. Bu nothing can overcome a wrong size. It must be snug, but not tight, free, but not too loose. The hames must be adjusted right. If the top strag‘ is' too tight the neck is pinched) and the tugs raised too high. ‘11 the top strap is too long the tighteni ing' of the heme strap below cause! a bad fit and may throw the pulling‘ joint of the tngs too low down“ Horses’ necks differ in shape and it is 'wrong to make them wear a’ collar that was fitted to anotherl horse. You would have galled feefi if you were othéthhan your own‘ shqesh Much worse for the horse that pulls a. load with 9. misfit cold laf. There is always blenty of room at, the top, the bottom and on,a.11 sides for successful men. When \misfo'rtime overtakes hustler it has to go some. b etaâ€"1m ’ m. Bu 3:.qu in‘ we f V eg‘fnit'm' on y phase. but awn-unbrme - Int-d. uii ‘ wars meme pun non gum too) new . yam Bag: zoo than 2 9M£ Samar FULL The Horse’s Collar.