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It was hot at Wood Green: but it was hotter still in Mayfair. where the season was drawing to a close with all the Sign: of a long-spun-out, and exhausting disâ€" solution. Women were waxing pale under the prolonged strain of entertainments which for the last, week or two had been matters of duty rather than pleasure. and many a. girl who had entered the lists of society a blushing and hopeful debutante “'{t‘h perhaps a. ducal coroner in her mind‘s eye. was beginning to ihink she would have to be content, wiih, say, the simpler one of a. vicountess; or even to Wed with no coronet at all. Many of the men were down at Cmves or golfing at gt. would have to be c_ont4 simpler one of a. wcou wed with no cm‘onet at men were down at Cmvc Andrews; and thcse 11 were detained in attend which continued to sit hen," as Howard said. for the coming of the August. before which ‘ themselves the House-1 bring about their long But one man showed But Hess step the l the s There is no e x like success; and Sir Stephen wag drinking deeply of the deh- cious draught. He had been well knoym for years: he was famous now. lou could not, open a newspaper without com- in: upon his name in the City article. and in the fashionable intelligence. NOW it was a. report of the meeting of some great company. at which Sir Stephen had presided. at another time it Occurred in a graphic account, of a big party at the house he had rented in Grosvenor Square. It was a huge mansion, and the rent ran into many figures; but, as Howard re- murked. it did not matter; Sir Stephen was rich enough to rent every house in the square. Sir Stephen had taken over Lhe_ army of servants and lived in a. state which was little short of princely: and lived alone; for Stafiord. who was not fond of a big house and still less fond of a, lgu'ze retinue. begged permission to re- main at 'his own by no means over-luxur- ious but rather modest rooms. Andrews; and thcse unfortunates who were detained in attendance at the House which continued to sit. like a “bljoody hen," as Howard said. longed and Sighed for the coming of the magic twelfth of August. before which date they assured themselves the House~muat rise and 50 bring about their long-delayed holiday. But one man showed no sign of wear}- nees or a, desire for rest: Sir Stephens step was light and buoyant. as ever on the hot pavement of Pall Mall. and on the still hotter one of the City; his face “(as 11:; cheery. his manner as gay. and his vaice as bright, and free from care as those of a youngrinan. It is not improbable Lhat he would have liked to have absentee! himself from the Brand and lavish enteriainments wlth which his father celebrated the success of his latest, enterprise; but it. wna not pos- eible. and Stafford was present at the din- ners and luncheons. receptions and con- certs which went on. apparently \vithoui arbreak at Clarendon House. 7 . ‘ Indeed. it. was necessary that he should be aresent. and in attendance on his fiancee who appeared at, every function. Maude was now almost as celebrated as Sir Stephen; for her beauty, her reputed wealth. and the fact, that she was enza ed to tho son of Sir Stephen. lmd raised 81‘ to an exalted position in the fashionable world; and her name figured in the news- papers very nearly as often as that of the great financier. She had stepped from obscurity into that notoriety. for whlch we all of us have such a morbid craving. almost in a, single day; and she queened it with a. languid grace and self-possession which established her position on a firm basis. Wherever she went she was the centre and object of a small crowd of courtions; the men admired her, and the women envied her; for nowadays most wo‘ men would rather marry wealth than rank, unless the latter were accompanied by a long rent rollâ€"and in these hard times for landlords. too many English noblemen have no rent roll at all, short. or_long _ Except-in: his father's, Stafford went to very few houses, and spent most of his time. when not in attendance on Maude. in the solitude of his own chambers. or in the smoking-room of one of the quietest of his clubs. Short as the time had been, the matter of a few weeks only since he had pal-ted from Ida. he had greatly changed; so changed that not seldom the bright and buoyant and overbright Su‘ Stephen seemed to be younger than his son. He was too busy. too absorbed in the pursuit of his ambition. the skilful steering of the enterprise he had so suc- cessfully launched to notice the change; hut‘it “we noticedAhy others, and especial. 1" by Howard. Often he watched Staf- ford moving moodin about his father's crowded rooms. with the impassive face which men wear when they have some e- cx‘et trouble or anxiety which they con- ceal as the Spartan boy concealed the fox which was gnawing at his vita-Ia; or Howard came upon him in the corner of a halfdarkened smoking-room. with an exgpired cigar in his linen and his eyes fix- [1“an By that unwritten code by which we are all governed nowadays. Howard could not, obtrude by questioning his friend. and Stafi‘ord showed no signs of making any voluntary statement. or explanation. Ho suffered in a silence with which he kept at arm'sdength even his closest friend; and Howard pondered and worried in n futile attempt to guess at the trouble which had changed Stafford from a light- hearted man. with an immense capacity for enjoying himealf. to a moody indi- vidual to whom the pleasures of life seem- ed absolutely distasteful. One nftva‘oon Howard sauntered into Stafford's Dam and found him sitting in his easy-chair with a book turned face downwards on his knee. and his pipe in his mouth. Tiny. the black-and-tan wr- rier. who was lying coiled up on a cushion at his master's feet, heard Howard step on the stairs and barked sharply for a moment. then glancing at, Stafford, with a {easgurjipg‘ qir. coiled hi_m=e1f mg again ."Aslecp. Stair?” he asked. as he dropped his hat on the table and sank on to the couch. By Jove, you have the best of it in here-it is out of the sun. at any race. How that dog can lie on a. stufl‘y cushion! I lhought you were going down to Lady Brook's. at. Richmond. this afternoon?" "Was it. lhie afternoon?" said Stafford. “I'd forgotten. I‘m sorry: but my father will be there and will look after Maude.” Howard glanced at the Weary-looking face as he helped himself to a cigarette. “You're well out of it! A lady who would give a garden-party on such an afternoon as this. 13. indeed, la belle dame sans merci! Good heavens! when I think of the suffering votaries of fashion undergo in _one season. I've no pit-y left for the bemghted Hindoo women who sacrifice themselves to Juggernaut. Which reminds me that there is n ure- mendons swagger function on at Claren- don House to‘night. isn't there?" Slafiord nodded, and refilled and relit, his pipe. A "Yes." he said. "I had iorgotten it: but Maude sent me round a note to re mind me of it, and. ol‘ course. I must go. I envy you. Howard: you can stay away." “That‘s what I can't do." said Howard with a whimsical smile. "I am drawn ‘n- to the vortex; IA am dragged at the char. n reasuring air. coiled himwelf up again and subsided into spasmodic growls and whines of welcome; for me mite was fond of Howm‘d. I envy you. Howard: you can smy away." "Thin-'8 wha_t I can't do," said Howard with a whimsacal smile. “I am drawn ‘1» to the vortex: I am dragged at the char. int. wheels of thag wonderful father of yours. I am the victim of a peculiar kind 0! fascination which is as irresistible as {he mesmeric influence or hypnotism. I feel towards Sir Stephan as I should feel towards Na leon the Great. it_ he were olive. I to low and case at him, so to Inez-k. with my mouth agape. and a fam- ous smile over a countenance which I at ous same over a countenauo A mm: mm Man; or} {newepapér (which? W‘aaw anever CHAPTER XXX Or, the Belle of the Season. once flattered myself was intelligent. I am dazed. bewildered by his genius, his audacity, his marvellous courage and re- source. Do you know. Stafford. I think it would be an excellent idea to abolish the House of Lords, the House of Com- mons. the monarchiul government, and 01802 the whole business in the hqlndsmOf Staff said u gentle phen gentle monot "Bv the Wu verbial little that Sir Step much longer. â€"«:10 they ex uobly: and will get a, m knows what it. And if j and throw t remark that successor. C peexjgnrobe Stafford grunted for reply. and there was silence for a minute, during which Howard turned over the pages of one of the illustrated Weeklies which lay on the liable, and suddenly he looked up and ex- claimed: “Have you seen this?" Stafiord shook his head. "I mean this portrait of Miss Falconer,‘ said'Howard, in a low voice. "It is won- derfully good." he went qn. as ho contem- plated the full-length plcture; "wonder- fully Llike hey." I ‘ n. and . A136 11] better 1 noble ! Staff. h( Stat}? a Any no. . u“: He handed the paper across and Stafford looked at it. It was an admirable repro~ duction of a photograph of Maude in evening-dress. and made a truly Splendld picture; and looking at it, one felt. in- stantly how well a coronet, even a. ducal one. would fit these level brows, beneath which the eyes looked out upon the "world With a scarcely masked hauteur and dis« dam. A man might well be proud of such a woman for his future wife; but there was no pride in Stafford’s face as his eyes dwelt moodin on the almost perfect face. the tall, svelte figure in its long-trained robe. 'The‘splendor of her beauty oppres- sedhim With a sense of shame; and with an Involuntary exclamation. which sound‘ ed something like a groan. he let, the pa- per slip from his hand, and drooped still lower 11'] his chair. The sight of him was more than Howard could bear in silence. {mdflhe rose and laid a hand upon Staf- ' “What's wrong, old man?" he enquired m a very low voice. “You are out‘ of sorts: you've been ofl’ color for some time vast. Of course, I've noticed it. I've seen the look you wear on your face now come over It at moments when you ought to have been at your best and brightest. I‘ve seen a look in your eyes when your llDS have been smiling that has made me â€"unpomforta.ble. In short, Sta-ff. you are Kettlng on my nerves. and although I know it's like my cheek to mention the patter, and that you‘ll probably curse my imDudence, I really hould be grateful if you'd tell me what ails you, still more grateful if you'd let, me help you to get rid of it. I know I‘m an interfering idiot. but I'm fool enough to be fond of youâ€"it's about the only weakness I’ve got, and I am_ as‘haxnedrof it; but there in is?» forg'rér refiélulidé‘t: He laughed with a touch of selfmrg- tempt, with an attempt at his old cyng- 0.16111: but Stafford understood the flat» tlous character of the laugh, and as he Ieant his chin in his hand. he gave a shol‘t nod. of >a&,know1edgmept. "Howard. do you remember that time when you and I were at Palermo?" he said. in'a low voice, and as if he were communmg with himself rather than an- swering his friend. "Do you remember that Italian we met there; the man who seemed so gay and careless, the man who appeared to have everything a fellow could desire. and to be the embodiment of Drosperity and success? Do you remem- ber how once or twice you and I saw_ a. strange look on his face. perhaps while he was at dinner or fooling with the wo- men in the saJonâ€"a. look as if he had sud- denly remembered something. as it’some- thing had flashed upon his mind in the midst of the laughter and music and brought him face to face with hell? You pointed him out to me one night; and we wondered what was the matter with himâ€"until he fell off his horse that day you and I were riding with him? Do you remember how. when we had unbuttoned his riding-shirt, we found the ‘D’ that had been branded on his chest? We knew then what was the matter with him. He had been a deserter. The pain of hot iron had died out long ago. but the scar remained. He was no longer a common soldier. but rich and prosperous. a social success with. perhaps. his ambition grati- fied; but 'the ‘D' was there all the time. and every now and then. even while he was ‘enjoying' himself, he could feel the hot iron burning into his flesh, and he knew within the miserable little soul of him that he was 3. our and a coward; that driven by fa-m,.perha.ps by some dev- ilish accident of Circumstance. he had lost his honor and sold himself to the devi ." Howard's face went pale and grave. "I don't see where the application comes in. Stnfl‘.” he said. “I don't see that any- thing in your caseâ€"position, resembles that poor wretch's." stgfl’ord rose, his tape grim and stern: "No: and I can't show you, Howard." he said "Do you think that, poor devil would have bated his breast and shown that ‘D' to even his dearest friend? Good gracious. man, why do you badger me! Am I to wear the cup and balls always. do vou expect, me to be dancing like a. clown. every moment of the day? Do I not play my part as we!) as I can? Who ga_ve you the right 30 _pee_r and pry_â€"" _ “Forgive me. old man! I didn't mean to turn and rend you like this. I know you see there is something wron . There is. But. I can't. tell you or any at er man. There are some things that have be he homain silence, some marks of the brand- ing-iron which one dare not show to even one‘e dearest. friend; Howard turned aside and began to put. on his glovea'wmh great care. Hi hand shook and his \‘oice also. slightly, as without raising his head, he said: “Sure there's no heln for in. Staff?" "Sure and certain." responded Stafl'ord. “Not. even your wit. and wisdom can be of any avail. I won’t aek you not, to speak of this agmn: it. isn't necessary; but- I will ask you never. by look or sign, to remind me of what I have just said to you. It escaped me unawaree: but I'll keep a better watch on myself for the future, and not, even the knowledge of your sympathy shall lure another moan out- oi me." He made a gesture with his hand and threw his head back as it he were sweeping something away; and in something like his usual voice he said, with :erfect- calmness: “By the way. Maude asked me to tell you not to be late tonight; income before the crush ar- rivee. I think she is relying on you to help her in some way or other." He recovered suddenly from the fit. of fury and gripped Howard's arm as he 8.1- moet. shrank back from the burst of des‘ pairing rage. _ ‘ RE; the whole board to be that his 01-. Can 3’ robe with pE'Emded' over by "a'i ‘m‘e, ‘1" siibixld like m 5011 will prove a, worthy )u fancy y‘ourrself in g! Ii’é1§y0t-iined corouet Sir Ste usual draw]. said: " ‘Wa-ke and call me early. mother! I will be there in good time. Miss Falconer docs me the great, honor of permitting me to flatter myself that I am sometimes of some slight service to her. I imagine it is something about the cotillon, concern- ing which I am absolutely ignorant, and am therefore capable of offering any amount of advice. I am a whale at, giv- ing advive. and my only consolation is that no one is Over foolish enough to fol- low it: so that I can humor my little foible without suffering the terrors of re- sponsibility. Au tevoir. my dear Stafford. until this evening. Goodbye. Tiny! What a selfish little beast it is; he won't even raise VhisAh‘ead l" _ ‘ ~1,‘,,,,AL, 4.”. Jumu uan hymn. Stafl’ord laughed and picked up the dog by the bcrufi‘ of its neck, and it nestled against him loungly. and licked his cheek. Howard went downstairs, still put- ting on his gloves, and as he opened the door. he swore under his breath fervently. In obedience to Miss Falconer‘e com- mand. Howard presented himself at, Clar- endon House at a. comparatively early hour that evening. There were some guests staying in the house, among them Lady Claneford. who was still ob- liging enough to play the part of presid- ing genius}; bu}, th‘eynwere gall resting or .1.» A...“ lug fiuuua. uuu IIqu "v", ..... .o-....,, _, dressing for the ball, and the drawing- room, into which a couple of superbly liveried footmen showed Howard. was empty. But presently he heard the Iron- frou of satin. and Maude Falconer swept in: her beauty. the splendor of her dress. the flashing of the diamonds in her hair and on her neck and arms, her queenly presence, almost made Howard catch his breath. ». . s. #_A__ .LA sha senrtly Sunny. She stood. calm and statuesque, but with her eyes downcast for a. moment. then she raised them and looked at, him. “About this cotillon,“ she said; then aha hrnke off: "Do you know what is go- asked. looking down. "I saw ‘him a few hours ago," he replied. "at his rooms." "At his rooms." she repeated. with a slight, frawn and a quick glance. “ 'e promised to come to Richmond. Why did he not do so? Is heâ€"ill?" “Ill?” said Howard. raising his .brows and smiling, for he knew the meaninivof loyalty to a friend. "I never saw _un in better spirits in my life. he was quite hilarious." Her eyes flashed upon him keenly, but he met them them with his slow. cynical Emilie “He must have been very difierent 10 what he usually is." she said. “I have not. seen him laugh sinceâ€"since we left, Bryndermere." Her lips came Lightly to- gether. and she looked at him and then away from him. Howard, you are his friend. his cJosest- friend. I want you to tell meâ€"â€".â€"‘ But, no; you would not. sneak if you were on the rack. would you? No one sees. no one speaks; it is onl who. always watching him. see that ' ere is something wrong. And 1â€"1 am so helpless!" Theputbnz‘st was so unlike her, the dropping of the mask of pride and self- oossessxon was so sudden that Howard was startled; but. no sign of his emotion revealed itself upon the placid face, upon which his serene smile did not waver for an instant. _ _ ..-......,.n n! an ulnLauv. “I thin-k you are availing yourself of a. lady's privilege and indulging in a fancy. Miss Falconer." he said. "Staflord is perfectly well. and. of course, is per- fectly happyâ€"how could he be otherwise?" He bent. his head slight] . “Perhaps he may be a little tired. as! we are not all endowed with the splendid energy which the gods have bestowed on you and Sir Stephen: and the heat is enough to take the backbone out. of anyone less timed-'2 . ,:_\. A- :: -1.“ “allay-envy] Howard nodded, and speaking with She that. after night ‘ hue re .8319 seemed to :id. lietlmslxt 1'7 Step! 'une LOU. he checked a. sigh. as if she understood n. it was useleee to appeal to him, and .er a pause Howard said: You haven't told me the great, secret British Cycle ( sync“, . 11 not be a secret for many hours. ohen is expecting the peerage w- The official intimation should eached him by midday; but. the minister did not return to London CHAPTER XXXI wake from a reverie. and orps, with its (‘olt Gun, Fouling a Stream En Route to Join the Main Corps. ‘ry .qifi‘ggent. 10 till this afternoon and the formalities were not completed. I thing it will be announced Midnight," “GAY EURWS" I?! BAHLE WERE IN FOFR ENGAGEMENTS IN FIVE DAYS. After That Only 170 of Regiment Answered to Their Names. From a. letter penned by one of England’s wounded heroes in Alexâ€" andra, Hospital, Co-shem, HantS, England, a. lucid idea is obtained of the spirit of intense patriotism which actuartes every officer and man of Great Britain’s forces in the field. The Letter was written by Samuel Smiley, one of the pitifully meagre remnant of what was one of the nation’s crack regiments of the line, the Gordon Highlanders, known throughout the service as “the gay and gallant Gordons.” It appears that more than seventy-five per cent. of the command either perished or were wounded in the first fierce fighting on Belgiun soil. Some extracts follows 1â€"â€" Hurricane of Shell. “Alt Mons I got a crack on the knee with a. shrapnel splinter. I knew nothing of it until my officer pointed it out to me. I dug it out with a pen knife and now I assure you I feel no ill effects. Of course there is a, wound, but I’ll be surâ€" prised if it is not healed within a. week. ‘_‘I’ll tell you about the fighting at Mons, but I have absolutely no coherent recollection of Cambrai. The hurrican of she-ll there has left me benumbed, and I do not yet ne- alize that I am home. We marched out of our billets at four o’clock in the morning and took up a posi- tion on the main Paris road. Mons itself was somewhat haolrf left on our rear. “We then dug our trenchee, and much labor and love we put into the work. The ball opened at half-past eleven with a terrible artillery duel, the German shells bursting over our trenches. Our company, D, with company B on our left. held the right. side of the road. Calnpany C was in advance and the Middlesex regiment and the Royal Irish held the cross roads to our left flank in the direction of Mons. The artillery fire was continued for several hours, until a movement of infantry was observed which was evidently inâ€" tended for the Gordons. Samply Blasted Away. “They occupied the wood to our left front. We opened on them with a, terrific Maxim fire. Poor devils, they advanced in companies of quite 150 men in files five deep. As our riflle has a. flart, trajectory up to 600 yards; you can guess the result. We could steady our riflles on the trenches and take deliberate aim. The first company of them was sim- ply blas’oed away by a. volley 0'1” 700 yards, and in their insane forma- tion every bullet was sure to find two billets. “The other companies kept ad- vancing very slowly, with their dead comrades as cover, but they had absolutely no chance, and at about five o’clock their infantry re- tired. We were still being subjectâ€" ed to a. terrible artillery fireâ€"God 3 how their artillery do fireEâ€"but we had time to observe what was hapâ€" T6773; continued.) penning on our left, flank. The' Royal Irish regiment, had been sur-l prised and ferarfully cut up, and so, too. had the Middlle‘sex. Beggar's Description. “Then followed a, scene whio'hi beggars description by me. We’ crept from our trenches and crossedl to the other slide of the road, Wherel' we had the benefit of a ditch for} cover. We made excellent progress until one hundred and fifty yards from the cross roads. There was a. small White house flush with the: road, standing in a clearing. Ou young subaltern was leading and safely crossed the front of the house. Immediately the Germans Openfdl Allllllx ulwv\.'AJ VAAV v. -__,_, a. he-llilslh storm of shrapnel at the house. They could not see us. hm” I, gue‘SS they knew Why troops shouldl pass there. However, oul‘ orders were to relieve the Royal Irish, 3nd,! asboundin g as it may seem, we pass- ed that house, and I was the only. one: to be hit». Eve-n yet; I am amah ed at our luck. “By this time the dusk had sat in. Four villages were on fire and the Germans were still shelling the plucky Royal Irish. The dead wounded were all around us. We: repulsed a, very faintâ€"hearted Uh-l lan attack, and about 9 p,m. came; our orders to retire. What a, pitifqu handful we were against rthe Ger-‘ man host, and yet we held the flow-x er of their army at bay all day. A “As you know, we created Cain" among the Germans at Mons on' that Sunday and beat them, too.;‘ They were in far too strong force for us and we just had to retire. Their “Busy Days.” “At four o’clock on Monday‘ morning they attacked us again, sq we left the milk (.303) on the d»oor-‘ step and retired again. Two fights and fifteen miles in thirtyâ€"six houns.‘ On Tuesday at two-thirty p.m. the Gordons were sent to oust somev‘ German infantry from a. position on; our left front. We had to cross a large turnip field and I twisted my} bad ankle. It was re. fine state of af-é fairs, and my company officer got me a. seat on the limber of the 128th battery, Royall Field Artillery. Ii had not been up ten minutes before they galloped into action with me. “We got. By this time the Gor- dons had disappeared, so went on! to Cambmi. It was late when we'Y got in, and I was told my regiment“ was mine four miles off. I the!) de-! cided to join some other lot and try: to get to the ‘Jocks’ in the morning,i Made the Best of II “Accordingly I attached myself to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. B Com-l pany. At six-thirty on Wednesday; morning, as they were going infbo; action, I thought, I might as well make the best of it, so I went into action with them. I fought all that day and marched aJll night, and when eight o’clock Thursday morn- ing came I saw all that was left of the gallant and gay Gordonsâ€"170 men answered their names. God knows how many more were alive. I joined up there and carried on re- tiring until we arrived at, l\'_<_)yon. I was beginning to feel the reverse of cheerful when, after they fired a, few roundshwe got our orders to make our getaway. Four‘engagements and ‘if five days. “I was compelled to go “I was compelled to go sick there. The pain in my leg was unbearabl and the doctor banged me on 3, Reg Cross train and sent. me to Rouen. I was there an hour when came the command, ‘Hurry up, hurry up] we’ve got to quit,’ so we were chiv- vied up to Havre, and, well, the-rt vied up ' you are. 93 1'1]