The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Or, the Belle of the Season. CHAPTER XXIX. râ€"rl‘Continucd). Mrs. Heron subscribed to a, library, and Rho and Isabel read the latest six-shilling novels with avidity, stuffing them under the sofa cushion at the sound of Mr. lie: raii's approaching footsteps. They always clicse the worst books. and forgot one as icon :15 they took up another. Ida ox- amincd one and dropped it With disgust; for it happened to be a sexual problem novel of the most virulent type, a novel which was selling by scores of thousands. and one which Isabel had recommended to Id-n as "delicious." Of all the days. Ida found Sunday the worst: for on that. day they went tWice to a little chapel at. which' Mr. Heron “ministered.” It was a. tin chapel, which by its construction and position struck a chill to one's very bones. Here Mr. He- ron ranted, and growled to his hearts content; and Ida. learned from his sancti- monious lips that only a small portion of mankind. his own sect, to wit. was bound for heaven, and that the rest of the world was doomed to another place. the horrors of which he appeared to revel in. As she sat in the uncomfortable pew. Ida. often wondered whether her cousin really believed what he preached. or whether he was a. hypocrite of the first water. All this was very hard to bear; but a burden still heavier wu provided for her in the conduct of her cousin Joseph. On the evening of her arrival he had been gracious enough to bestow upon her 3'“ admiration of which she was then uncon- scious; but his admiration grew, and he began to pay her what persons of his class call “attention,” He came in much earlier of an evening that. he did before her arrival, and he at beside her, and. with his small eyes xod on her pale and downcast face, told her anecdotes of the office and his fellowclerks. He was under the impression that he possessed a voice. and with a. certain amount of ai‘t-fulness he. got her tocplay his accompaniments, bestowing killing looks at her as he sang the “Maid of Athens,” or “My Pretty gane”â€"with a false note in every third at. Sometimes he came home to lunch. ex. plaining to them that there was nothing doing in the City, and went. with Ida. and Isabel on one of their walks. On these occasions he was got up in at Norfolk Jacket and knickerbockers. and enjoyed the flattering conviction that he looked like a country gentleman. He addressed hi conversation exclusively to Ida, and endeavored, as he would have said, to make himself agreeable. It was all lost upon Ida. whose head was in the clouds, whose mind was dwell~ mg on the past; but his mother and sis- ter noticed it and Mrs. Heron began to sniff by way of disapproval of his con- duct. With a mother‘s sharp eyw, Mrs. Heron understood why Joseph had launch- ed out into new suits and brilliant neck- ties. why he came home earlier than was his wont, and why he hung about the pale-faced girl who seemed unconscious of his presence. Mus. Heron began to feel, as she would have expressed it, that she had taken a viper into her bosom. She was ambitious for her only son. and wanted to see him married to one of the daughters of a retired City man who had settled in Wood Green. Ida. was all very well, but she was absolutely penniless. and not a good enough match for so bril. liaut- and promising a young man as Joseph. Mrs. Heron began to regard her w1tlhfl certain amount of coldness and suspicwn; but. Ida was as unconscious of the change in Mrs. Heron's manner as she was of the cause of Mr. Joseph's at» tentions; to her he was just an objection- able young man of quite a new and as- tonishing type, to whom she was obliged to listen because he was the son of the man whose bread she ate. 'He had often invited Ida to accompany him and Isabel to a matinee, but Ida. al‘ ways declined. Not only was her far (there death too recent to permit of her going to the theatre. but she shrank from all public places of amusement. When she had left Herondale it had been with the one desire to conceal herself, and. if possible, to earn her own living. Mr. Joseph was very sulky over her refusal, and Isabel informed her that he had been so ill-tempered at the theatre that she did not know what. to make of him. One day he came in soon after luncheon, and when Mm. Heron had left_the room, in: formed Ida and Isabel that he had got tickets for a concert at the Queenés Hall that evening. "It's a sacred concert," he said, “so that you need have no secruples. Ida. It's a regular swell affair, and I tell you I had great difficulty in getting hold 0f the tickets. It's a charity concert got up by the big nabs of the Stock Exchange. and there'll be no end of swells there. I got the tickets because the guv'nor's g0- ing into the country to preach to-night. and while the cat's away we can slip out and enjoy ourselves; not that he'd object to a sacred concert, I supposeâ€"especially if he were allowed to hold forth during the intervals," he added. with u sneer. "It is very kind of you to ask me," said Ida: "but I think I would rather stay at home." "I thought. you were fond of music!" Joseph remarked, beginning to look sul- lcii. "We shall go quite quietly, and no one need know anything about, it, for I got tickets for the upper circle and not the stalls on purpose; and there's in u back row. I thought. you'd enjoy this concert. and if you don't go I shall tear up the tzckets.” . "Oh. do let us go. Ida!" pleaded Isabel- ‘A sacred concert. isn't. as good as a theatre, but it will be a break in the monotony; besides, Joseph must have had a lot Vof trouble to get the tickets, for I read in the paper that. there was a. regu- lar rush. for them. Don't be selfish, Ida, and spOil our eujoymcut." "I wish you would go without me." said Ida. With a. sigh; but ultimately she yielded Mrs. lleron. of course. knew that they were going, but she was not told in so many words. that she might deny all knO\\'ledge_of it if the outing came to lllr. Herons ears; and she watched them with a. peevisli unl suspicious expression on her face as they started for the train. They went up scenndeluss. and )Il'. Jo- seph. who was in the best of humors. and wore a. new pair of patent leather boots and a glossy hat, to say nothing of u duz- zliiig tie. enlivened the journey by whis- po‘ing facet-ions remarks on their fellow- passt‘llgel‘s to Ida. who in vain leuut uwuv from him. us far as possible. in her cor- uer of the carriage. and endeavored to concentrate her attention on the pro- gramme. But- though her eyes were fixed on it and she could not entire‘y shut out Josephs ill-bred jokes. her thoughts were wandering buck to a certain afternoon when she had sat beside the Heron stream and listened to Stafford planning out. their fixture. He had been telling her something of the great world of which she knew nothing, but into which he was going to take her. hand in hand. us it were: he was going to take her to the theatre-s and the concerts and the dances of which she had real and heard but of which she knew nothing by l l l l i experience Ida é. Now. she was going to her first concert with Mr. Joseph Heron. There was u larger crowd than usual outside Qliccil's llull that evening, for the concert was really an important one for which some of the greatest singers lizid becii cuguged. In addition to Pulli. Suntley. lidwurtl Lloyd. and other famous professionals. some distinguished unin- tcui‘s were to perform, and royalty. as We presented by the popular and ever urni- able Prince. had promised to patronize the affair. . N _ “Quite a swell show, ain't it? said Jo- seph. as he pushed his way into the ctowd and looked over his shoulder at the long line of carriages setting down their occupants. "I'm glad you consented to come: it would have been a pity =f you'd missed it." “I hope we shall be able to see the Prince from our seats!" said Isabel. whose eyes were more widely open than usual. and her mouth half agape With ex- citement. "I'm always stuck in some cor- ner where I can't see them, when the ROY- ul family's present." ‘ 7 They succeeded in making their way into the hall. and after Joseph had held a dispute with the man who had shown theri‘ into their place, and who had mud- dled the tickets and their numbers, they settled down. and Ida. looked I l‘OUIld. Though their seats were in the third row. she could see nearly the whole of the large ball. and she found the sight 3. no- vel and impressive one. Her interest in- creased as the admirable band played the first number with the ‘precision and feel-I ing for which the orchestra. at the Queen s Hall is famous. 'Iu the interval between the selection and the song which was to follow. Joseph pointed out some of the celebrities who were present, and whom he recognized by their photographs 11 the illustrated papers. . . n "Regular swell mob. isn‘t it? exultingly; “there isn't a, seat I‘ house, excepting those three in the stalls. and I suppose they'll be filled up pre- sently by some swells or other; they al- ways come late. Aren't you glad you ve come?" he added. with a languishing glance. . Amidst a storm of welcome. Patti came forward to sing. and Ida, listening With rapture, almost forgot her sorrow‘as she passed under the spell of the magic V0100 which has swayed so many thousands of hearts. During the cries of encore, and unnoticed by Ida, three persons, a lady and two gentlemen. entered the smile. and with a. good deal of obsequ-iousness. were shown by the officials into the three vacant seats. I One great singer followed rapidly after another, and Ida, with slightly flushed face and eyes that were dim with tins-bed tearsâ€"for the exquisite music thrilled her to the coreâ€"leant back, With her hands tightly clasped in her lap, her thoughts flying back to Herondale and those summer evenings which. in some strange way. every song recalled. She was unconscious of her surroundings, even of the objectionable Joseph, who sat be side her as closely as he could; and she started slightly as lie whispered: "Those seats are filled up now. dea' who they are? They look particularly so." ' Id-a nodded mechanically, and paid no heed. Presently Joseph, who was one of those individuals who can never sit still or be silent for long at a theatre or con- cert, nudged Ida. and said: "Look! there is one of them standing up! Why. I be- lieve it isâ€"" He borrowed an opera- glaes from the man sitting in front of him and levelled it at the stalls. One of the new-comers, one of the gentlemen, had risen from his seat, asd with his back to the platform. was scanning the house with a pleasant smile on his handsome face. "Yes, ‘it is!" exclaimed Joseph, ex- citedly. “It's Sir Stephen Orme! Here. take the glasses and look at him! That gentleman looking round the house, the one standing up with the white waist- coat, the one that came in with the other two! That's the great Sir Stephen him- self! I saw him once in the City; be- sides. I‘ve seen his portraits everywhere. That's the man who has created more excitement on the Stock Exchange than any man in our time." Ida took the glasses which he had thrust into her hand and held it to her eyes; but her hand shook, and for a mo- ment or two she could distinguish no- thing; then, as the mist passed away and her hand grew steudici', so that she could see Sir Stephen, he bent down and said something to the lady sitting beside him. She looked round, and Ida saw distinctly for the first time, though fashionable he said. in the I won- classyw London was tolerably familiar with it now. the beautiful face of Maude Fal- coner. With her heart beating painfully Idzi looked at her, noting with a. woman's quickness every small detail of the hand- some face with its wealth of bronze-gold hair. A presentiuieiit flashed into her mind and weighed upon her heart as she looked. a presentimcnt which was quickly verified. for the man on the other side of the beautiful woman rose and looked round the house. and Ida saw that it wu: Stafford. Her liuud gripped the opera-glass tight- ly. for it was in danger of falling. She felt as if she were stifling. the great place. with its sea. of faces and its rings of electric light, swam before her eyes. and she felt sick and giddy. It seemed to her that Stafford was looking straight at her. that he could not fail to See her. and she shrunk back as far as the seat would allow. and a. sigh that was a gasp for breath escaped her lips. which had grown almost as white as her face. In taking the glasses from her. Joseph no- ticed lier pzillor. "What‘s the matter?" be you feel ill? It's beastly hot. like to come outside?" “No, no." she pziiited. with difficulty. “It is the heated um all right now»~l begl of you not to moveâ€" not to speak to me." She fought. against the horrible faint- iiess. uguiust the shock which had over- whelmed her: she bit her lips to force the color buck to them. and tried to keep her, eyes from the full figure. the handsome; face against which she had so often Dr0>5» ed her own: but she could no: it was . if they were drawn to it by :i kind of {as cinution. She saw that he looked pale. und haggard. and that the glance with! which be swept the house was :1 weziriod' one. in strange contrast to the smiling. complacent. and even triumphant one of lit; fuller. “Are you all right now?" "I \v;sli I'd brought {1. bottle of smelling- sfllts. Will you tonic out and get some thing to drink waterâ€"brandy? No? Sure uskod. "Do Would you asked Joseph. you‘re all right? D;d you see Sir Sun pllt‘n.‘ I wonder who the lady is beside lum? The other man must be Sir Stephen's son. for he's like li:u:. llc‘s almost .15 great :1 personage as Sir Stephen Illlllot’lli you see his name amongst those of people of the highest rank columns in the get beautiful air. after :i pause. “No: that color myself; I'm gone " He glanced fashionable The lady :7 hasn't sin in the newspapers, lie wen: I admire on black l Sonic swell or other, I’ll be bound I lllolllllullllgiy .itl .. “gm-M4 When the interval expired. Sir Stephen and Stafford resumed their seat. and. with .1 sigh of relief, Ida. tried to listen to the music: but she. scemcd to bear Stuf- fortl's voice through it. and was obliged to shut her eyes tlizit she might not 500 him. In iiiiclivi-ly, and from Joseph}; (IP- sci'iption. she knew that the beautiful girl. with the complexion of u lily and the wealth of brouzcgnld hair. was Maude l-‘ulconci'. Why was she with Sir Stephen and Stafford? Was it. indeed. true that they were engaged? l'p to the present moment, she had cherished a doubt; but now it seemed impossible to doubt any longer. For how many minutes. hours. years. would she lmve to sit with those two before her. her heart racked with the pangs of jealousy. wilh the memory of happier days. with the ghastly fact that he hud gone from her life for cvei‘. and that she was sitting there a. spectator of his faithlcssness. Every song H‘f‘lllf‘d to mock her \vi‘cicbcdncss, and she had to battle with the med (li‘b‘ll‘O to bnl'lllz to her feet and cry aloud. In a kind of dream she heard the strains of the national anthem. and saw Stafford rise with the rest of the undi- cncc. and \vntchcd him as he drew the costly cloak round Maude Falcmier's white shoulders: in a dream allowed Jo- seph to draw her arm through his and lead her down the crowded staircase into the open air. “Splendid concert !" ly. "But. you leek tired, Ida. a cab to the station But let's wait minute and see the Prince come out." They stood in the crowd which had formed to stare at his royal liighness; and as luck would have it. Stafford, with Maude Falconer on his arm, and follow- cd by Sir Stephen. passed in front of them. and so close that Ida shrank in terror lest Stafford should see her. Some of the crowd, some Stock Exchange peo- ple probably, recognized Sir Stephen, and spoke his name aloud. Ida saw Stafford's face. darken with a frown. as if he were ashamed of the publicity. as he hurried Maude Falconer to the carriage. A mo- ment. or two after. the Prince appeared. there was an excited and enthusiastic burst. of cheering.- and at. last Joseph forced his way out of the crowd and found a. cab. They had some little time to wait for the train, and Joseph. after vainly press ing some refreshment on Ida, went into the refreshment/room and got. a drink for himself and a cup of coffee for Isabel, while Ida. sank back into a corner of the carriage and waited for them. Joseph talked during the whole of the journey in an excited fashion, darting glances every now and then from his small eyes at the white face in the corner. When they got out at the station. he offered Ida his arm and she took it half-unconscious- ly. The path was too narrow to permit of three to walk abreast, and Joseph sent Isabel on in front; and on some trivial excuse or another contrived to lag some little distance behind her. Every now and then he pressed Ida's arm more close- ly to his side. looking at her with side- long and lirgering glances, and at last he said. in a. kind of whisper. so that Isa.- bel should not hear: “I hope you've enjoyed yourself, Ida. and that you're glad you came? I don't know when I've had such a jolly night, and I hope we may have many more of them. Of course you know why I’m ‘so happy? It‘s because I've got you With me. Life‘s been a, different. thing for me since you came to live with us; but I dessay you've seen that. haven't you?" He laughed knowingly. . "I have seenâ€"what?" asked Ida, trying to rouse herself and to pay attention to what he was saying. “I say I suppose you‘ve seen how it is with me. Ida, and why I am an haltered being? It is you who have done it; its because I'm right down in love with you. I've been going to say it for days past; but. somehow. though I dessay you dont mean it, you seem so cold and standoffisb, and quite different to other girls when a man pays them attention. But I dess 3 you understand now. and you‘ll treat me differently. I'm awfully in love with you. Ida. and I don‘t see why we shouldn‘tbe engaged. I'm getting on at the office, and if I can squeeze some money out of the guv’nor, I shall set up for myself. Of course. there'll l~ :i pretty how-d'y-do over this at beam. for they're always wanting me 1.) ni.1.ry money, and unfor- tunately youu- lost yours. Not that I mind that, mind you. I believe in follow- ing the diciatts of your 'eui't, and I know what. my 'eart says. And now what do you say. Ida?" _ And he pressed her arm and looked into her face with a confident smile. Ida. drew her disengaged hand across her brow and frowned, as if she were trying to grasp he said, triumphant- We'll have a his meaning. “171 beg your pardon, Joseph," she said. “I didn‘t quite understand-WI was thinking of something else. You were asking ineâ€"~" He reddened and pushed his thick lips out with an expression of. resentment. “Well, I like that!" he said, uneasily. but with an attempt at u laugh. “I've just been proposing to youwusking you to be my wife; and you‘re going to. aren't you?" Ida drew her arm from his, and regard- ed him with stony amazement. For the moment. she really thought that either he had been drinking too much spirits at the refreshment-room at the station and that it was as elaborate joke ou his part. or that she had lost her senses and \V'ld imagining a. hideoust ridiculous speech. too absurd and grotesque for even Joseph to have uttered. Then she saw that his face was (sober and that he had axtuully proposed to her. and, in a kind of desper- ation. she. laughed. He had been going to take her arm again, but his huiid fell to his side, and he looked at her with :1 mixture of us- toiiisliineiit uiid indignation. with such an . expression of wounded vanity und i‘cs‘eiii ‘ meat. that Ida felt almost forced to laugh ‘ again; but she checked the desire, uiidi said, as kently and humbly :is she could: "Iâ€"I beg your purdmi. Joseph. I thought it “as a~u joke. I am very sorry. But though you didn‘t mean it '1: a. jest, it is. of course. absurd. I don't think you quite knew what you were sav- . ing: I am quite sure you don't. mean it"-" "Oh. yes. but I do!" he broke in eager- ly. and with a little air of relief. "I'm in earnest. ‘pon my word. I am. I'm an:- fully lil love with you; and if you'll NI)" yes, I'l'; ..t:ind up to the guv‘uor and mzikej it all square for you." “But I say ‘No,' " said Ida, ruthcrl sternly. her lips setting tightly, lit-r l‘_\'(‘>‘ flushing ii: the darkness. which, fortu- nuiely for Joseph. hid them from line : these sight. "Please do not .peuk to me iii this way :iguiii." "Bu: look he he Hammered. h" fuce red. his thick lips twisted in un 11:: ' fashion. "do you know “but you're Joy; 7 ‘ Hug?" l "Yes." she said. more steriily Ili :. fore. "I Illllll-i i. is you who do ll . what you are saying. You cuiiiu»: to insult me, I beg vour pardon, Jn , . I do not 1iic.iii to be angry. to hurt your feelings. I think you mean to pay me u‘ great honor; and Isl thank you; bu: I cannot uctepi it. _\l'(l please tzikc this it: my final answer. and never, never, spciik l to me again in like manner," "Do you niezin to ~35" 7- " he began angrily. "Not another word. please," said I(l.l.> .ind SllL' hurried forward so that they. (:Jllli‘ within bearing of Isabel. 1 Nothing more was said until they[ I‘f‘ili‘l. l LLiiuui'nzini Villa. .‘II‘F. Heron. was ‘ iit.iig up for them, and was ex-l pus mg .l hope that they had enjoyed Illf‘lIIMJlVLR’ she had a wooLlen shawl round her shoulders and spoke in an 'n- jured vim-e .iiid wi'li the expression of f1 longsufiertug lllill‘in‘i‘v'fllCll she caught sigli’ of JON“; ’ angry and sullen face as he flung 11.11259” into a chair and A LA BERLII . A cartoon from the New York Evening Telegram, which shows the view taken in the United States of German militarism. thrust his hands in his pockets. and she stopped Short and looked from him to Ida, and sniffer suspicioust and aggressively. “Oh, yes," said Joseph, with an ugly sneer and a scowl at Ida as she was leav- ing the room, "we have had a. very happy time-some of usâ€"a particularly happy time. I don‘t think!" (To be continued.) â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"’I~â€"._ WORRY (‘AN KILL YOU. It Is [sunny the Dominance of One Idealâ€"Mainly Fear. We have often heard that worry can kill even the nine-lived eat; but. we have only half believed it, and until now We have had no scientific prt. Jf that it. was so. Medical science has recently con- firmed the fact and explained how worry commits its murders. It. has reached the conclusion that in many instances of what has been regarded as 1unaey,'and from which the vicâ€" tim finally dies, the case has. simply been one of acute worry. Instead of the person dying of mental breakdown he has worried himself to death. \Vori‘y, medical science now de- fines as the dominance of one idea, usually that of fear. There is a fear of some existing condition or dread: of what may happen. The idea crowds all others from the mind, or‘ permits them only the feeblest and occasional activity. The most ter. 1-ible tyranny is the tyranny of an idea. This one idea pounds hammer- like upon one set of brain cells. It over-stimulates them, causing an unusual flow of blood to those por- tions and a dearth of it to other parts of the brain. This would not be serious if it happened only now and then. for every brain cell should be replenished by more than the usual flow of blood at times to keep it properly fed and nourished. But :1 Constant ovci‘feediiig of cells causes a congestion The cells become more and The worry grows The pound- there. more distended. more and more acute. ing of the blood against the sides! of the cell acquires a hammerulike‘ violence, The sides of the cells wear. thin. A cell bursts. There is a. so-] called “clot. on the bra-in.” Death, follows. The cure of the worry that kills is prevention. Refuse to worry. Do“ your best, and, having done this,l decline as positively to fret. about’ the results as you would decline to brink a. draught of poison. Worry; comes as an occasional visitant to: everyone, but as we shut our doors to unwelcome visitors, so we close; the portals against the entrance Ofl worry. Admitted, it. ceases to beâ€" come a visitorâ€"if: is a habit, and a; habit that destroys. The action of‘ worry upon the brain cells is most! like the constant. dropping of water! upon a. stone. At first it makes not} the slightest impreSsion upon the‘ stone, but in time it wears it away. The cells of the brain are of more delicate tissue, and the steady wear! and tear of the extra blood supply‘ in time quickly wears them out. 01', according to medical science, it is as though a garment worn day after day without change. soon falls into tatters. Examinations of the brain after death have shown a. group of nerve cells at the crown of} the head that have perished in the same way the nerve of a tooth dies.‘ While every other brain cell seems to be in ordinary condition. this group has shrunken. It is a curi- ous coincidence. and science says a. consequence, as inevitable as effect after cause. that the hair on the por- tion of the scalp just above this brain area is the first to grow white. Heat. in the scalp causes hair to grow gray. and an excess of blood in any portion of the brain causes the scalp above that portion to be overheated. If you want work done choose a. busy man to do itâ€"the other sort have no time. does make the bread and butter taste good i” T is when you spread it out on bread or pancakes, fruit or porridge, that you notice most the sweetness and perfect purity of REDPATH Extra Granulated Sugar. Buy it in the 2 and 5-lb. Sealed Cartons, or in the 10, 20, 50 or 100-lb. Cloth Bags, and you’ll get the genuine W , absolutely clean, just as it left the refinery. CANADA SUGAR REFINING C0,, LIM 83 MONTREAL. V .3 L‘ :2'Z‘fif ITED,