THE FULTON COUNTY NEWS. McCONNELLSBURG, PA.
11UCH5MITE
&r GEORGE DARR McCUTCItEON
LUSTRATIONS WALTERS
CY DOW, VAD
Aro carPAfY
CHAPTER XXIII Continued.
15
"And I'm not so sure of that," said
she, sagely. "It lau't the way with
wen. It may not hare been love that
ha full for the physical Yvonne, but It
wasn't Mutildn that he held In his
arms. You can't get around that, nor
ran he. Matllde's soul and Yvonue's
body are quite two different "
"Gad. you are analyzing things:" he
exclaimed In amazement.
"Hut all this Is neither here nor
there," she said, flushing. "The point
Is yiis: we are going away tomorrow,
for heaven knows how long you and
I, my mother and your father. We
are going to Vienna and In St. Ste
phen's cathedral where your father
and mother were married with poor
llttlo Tberese as one of the witnesses
In St. Stephen's we are to be married.
She will not be there. She Is not asked
to come with us. She Is barred out.
Isn't It the refinement of cruelty?"
"Cruelty, Lydla? I'd hardly call It
that. It's the order of destiny, or
something of the sort. She gambled
with fate and lost out. Site's a good
loser. She hasn't squealed once."
"Squealed? I hate that word."
"I hate squealer worse," said he.
"But seriously. It knocks me all out
whenever I think of her. I've hesi
tated about speaking to father, dear.
You see, I'm In rather a delicate posi
tion. Six weeks ago I was madly In
fatuated with Yvonne. I don't deny
It and he knows all about It. Gad,
I'd give ten years of my life If she
were going along with us tomorrow.
I'd give more than that to see this
whole unhappy business patched up so
that they could start oft anew. But
I'm afraid he wouldn't take It well
from me it I asked him to Include her
in the er party. It's his affair, not
mine, you see. He'd be Justified In
considering me selfish in the matter.
It might seem as though I didn't care
a hang for his personal feelings and"
"She's his wife, however," said
Lydia, with a stubborn pursing of the
lips. "She didn't wrong him and, after
all, she's only guilty of well, she Isn't
guilty of anything except being a sis
ter of the girl he wronged."
"I'll have a talk with him if you
thiak best," said be, an eager gleam in
his eyes.
"And I with Yvonne," she said
quickly. "You see, it's possible she Is
the one to be persuaded."
"He'll never ask her," said Krederlc,
after a long period of reflection.
"What Is to become of her?" asked
Lydla, rather bleakly.
"I suppose she'll go away. It will
be the end."
, "I I don't think I could bear It,
Freddy," she said, a trace of tears in
net voice.
He swallowed hard. Then he cleared
his throat briskly. "Of course you've
observed that they never see one an
other alone. They never meet except
when someone else Is about. He rather
resents tho high handed way In which
she ordered blra to stay away from me
until I was safely out of danger. He
baa spoken of It to me, but, for the
life of me I can't tell whether he holds
it up against her or not. He says she
saved my life. He says she per
formed a miracle. But he has never
uttered a word of thanks or gratitude
or appreciation to her. I'm sure of
that, for she has told me so. And she
li satisfied to go without his thanks.
She rather likes hlra the better for the
way he treats the situation. There's
no hypocrisy about him. There's no
use shamming, Lyddy."
"I see what you mean," she said.
with a sigh. "1 suppose we Just can't
understand things."
"You've no Idea how beautiful you
are today, Lyddy," he said suddenly,
and sho looked up into his glowing
eyes with a smile of ineffable happi
ness. Her hand found bis and her
warm, red lips were pressed to its
palm In a hot, Impassioned kiss. "It's
great to be alive! .Great!"
"Oh, it is," she cried, "It Is!"
They might better have said that
it Is great to be young, for that Is
what It all came to in the analysis.
Later on Brood Joined them In the
courtyard. He stood, with his hand
on bin son's shoulder, chatting care
lessly about the coming voyage, all
the while smiling upon the radiant
girl to whom he was promising para
dise. She adored the gentle, kindly
gleam In these one time steady, steel
like eyes. His voice, too, of late was
pitched In a softer key and therj was
the ring of happiness In Its every
note. It was as If he had discovered
something In life that was constantly
surprising and pleasing him. He
seemed always to be venturing Into
fresh fields of exploration and finding
there something that was of Inesti
mable tilue to his new estate. Every
"ay he .as growing richer, happier
and yet poorer when It came to self
appraisement. All his life he had
boarded the motives and designs that
applied to self. He had laid by a
great store of hard things for his old
age; they were being wrested from
blm by this new force that had taken
possession of him and he saw how
Illy he bad Invested bis powers. He
appraised himself very lowly and with
an, ever lncreasb j shame. Rich, how-
EFFECTIVE WAY TO TEACH
Indirect Method and Concrete Example
Alike Praised by Writer In
Magazine.
The Indirect method and the con
crete example are the most effective
ways to teach, according to a writer in
Leslie's. The girls' canning clubs, or
ganized throughout the South by the
general education board, cooperating
with the federal department of agri
culture, have not only taught thou-
ever, was be In humility, conscience,
remorse; on these three treasures be
laid the foundation for his new for
tune.
He spoke of the morrow without the
faintest indication in his manner that
It was to bring a crisis In his own af
fairs. His brow was clear, bis eye
sparkling, his serenity undisturbed.
If there was a thought in bis mind
of Yvonne he did not betray it by a
single outward manifestation. His in
terest was centered in the two young
people and their Immediate future. It
would have been easy to believe, as
he stood there chatting gayly, that
there was no one else in all the world
so far as he was concerned. Quite
casually he expressed regret that poor
old Dawes and Rlggs were to be left
behind, but of Yvoune not so much as
a word.
Lydia was something of a diploma
tist. She left father and son after a
few minutes, excusing herself on the
ground that she wished to have a good,
long chat with Yvonno. She did not
delay her departure, but hurried Into
the house, having rather adroitly pro
vided Frederic with on opening for
an Intercession in behalf of his lovely
stepmother. Her meaning glance was
not wasted on the young man.
He lost no time In following up the
advantage. "See here, father, I don't
like the idea of leaving Yvonne out in
the cold, so to speak. It's It's pretty
darned rough, don't ou think? Down
in your heart you don't blame her for
what she started out to do, and after
all she's only human. Whatever hap
pened In the, past we well, It's all In
the past. She"
Brood stopped him with an Impera
tive gesture. "My sou, I will try to
explain something to you. You may
be able to understand things better
than I. I fell In love with her once
because an influence that was her own
overpowered me. There was some
thing of your mother In her. She ad
mits that to be true and I now believe
it Well, that something whatever It
was is gone. It can never return.
She Is not the same. Yvonne is The
rese. She is not the woman I loved
two months ago. She"
"Nor am I the boy you hated two
months ago," argued Frederic. "Isn't
there a parallel to be seen there, fa
ther? I am your son. Sha Is your
wife. You "
"There never was a time when I
really hated you, my son. I tried to
but that is all over. We will not rake
up the ashes. As for my wife well, I
have tried to hate her. It is impossible
for me to do so. She Is a wonderful
woman. Hut you must understand on
the other hand that I do not love her.
I did when she looked at me with your
mother's eyes and spoke to me with
your mother's lips. But she is not
the same."
"Give yourself a chance, dad"
"A chance? What do you mean?"
"Just this: You will come to love
her for herself if only you will let go
of yourself. You are trying to be
hard. You "
Again Brood Interrupted. His face
had gone very pale and his eyes grew
dark with pain.
"You don't know what you are say
ing, Frederic. Let us discontinue the
subject."
"I want you to be happy I want"
"I shall be happy. I am bappy. Have
I not found out the truth? Are you
not my beloved son? Are "
"And who convinced you of all that.
sir? Who Is responsible for your preB
ent happiness and mine?"
"I know, I know." exclaimed the fa
ther In some agitation
"You'll regret it all your life if you
fall her now, dad. Why, hang It ail,
you're not an old man. You are less
than fifty. Your heart hasn't dried up
yet. Your blood Is still hot. And she is
glorious. Give yourself a chance. You
know that she's one woman in a mil
lion, and she's yours! She has made
you happy she can make you still
happier."
"No, I am not old. I am far younger
than I was fifteen years ago. That's
what I am afraid of this youth I real
ly never possessed till now. It I gave
way to It now I'd well, I would be
like putty in he.r hands. She could
go on laughing at trifling with me,
fooling me to "
"She wouldn't do that!" exclaimed
lils son hotly.
"I don't blame you for defending
her. It's right that you should. I, too,
defend her In a way. You are forget
ting the one important condition, bow
ever. She has a point of view of her
own, my eon. She can never reconcile
herself to the position you would put
her In If I permitted you to persuade
me that "
"I can tell you one thing, father,
that you ought to know if you are bo
blind that you haven't discovered it
for yourself. She loves you."
"My Bon, you are dealing with a
graver mystery than you can possibly
suspect the secret heart of a wom
an." "Well, I'm sure of It, father I am
absolutely sure of it."
"You speak of giving myself a
chance. Why do you put It in that
way?"
"Because It's the truth." proclaimed
sands of girls how to can scientifically,
but have indirectly opened the eyes of
as many mothers to the possibilities of
home system and home development,
and have exerted strong and helpful
social influences on hundreds of farm
ing communities. The method has been
to assign to each girl Joining a can
ning club one-tenth of an acre, and
to teach her how to select the seed,
to plant, cultivate and perfect the
growth of the tomato plant When the
tomatoes are ripe, the girls meet first
at one home, then at another, to can
his ion. "You've missed a good many
things, father, because you nover gave
yourself a real, honest chance. I"
"We'd better drop the subject, Fred
eric," said Brood, an abrupt change in
his manner. "There is nothing more
to be said. Matters have shaped them
selves. We will not attempt to alter
them. I cannot reconstruct myself in
a day, my boy. And now, let us talk
of Lydia. She "
"All right, but bear this In mind:
Lydla loves Yvonne, and she's heart
broken. Now we'll talk about her, If
you like."
Lydla had as little success In her
rather more tactful interview with
Yvonne. The Incomprehensible crea
ture, comfortably ensconced In the
great library couch, idly blow rings of
smoke toward the ceiling and as Idly
disposed of her future In so far as it
applied to the immediate situation.
"Thank you, dear. I am satisfied.
Everything has turned out as It should.
The wicked enchantress has been
foiled and virtue triumphs. Don't be
unhappy on my account, Lydla. It will
not be easy to say good-by to you and
Frederic, but la, la! What are we
to do? Now, please don't speak of it
again. Hearts are easily mended.
Iok at my husband al e! He has
had his heart made over from top to
bottom In a rough cruclblo, it's true,
but It's as good as new, you'll admit'
In a way, I am made over, too. I am
happier than I've ever been In my life.
I'm In love with my husband, I'm in
love with you and Frederic and I am
more than ever in love with myself.
So there! Don't feel sorry for me. I
shall end my virtuous days in peace,
but I shall never slt-by-the-fire, my
dear. Tomorrow you will go away, all
of you. I shall have the supreme Joy
of knowing that not one of you will
ever forget me or my deeds, good and
bad. Who knows! I am still young,
you know. Time has the chance to be
very kind to me before I die."
That last observation lingered In
Lydia's mind. Hours afterward she
thought that she had solved its mean
lug and her heart was sore.
CHAPTER XXIV.
"I Cannot Come to Him."
The next day came, bright and
sweet, and as fair as a blue sky could
make It for one who looked aloft But
eyes are not always turned toward
the unclouded sky. There are shadows
below tbat claim the vision and the
day is bleak.
The ship was to sail at noon.
At ten o'clock the farewells were be
ing said. There were tears and heart
achesand there was fierce rebellion
in tho hearts of two of the voyagers.
Yvonne had declined to go to the pier
to see them oft and Brood was going
away without a word to her about the
future! That was manifest to the
anxious, soul-tried watchers. In si
lence they made their way out to the
waiting automobile. As Brood was
about to pass through the broad front
door, a resolute figure confronted bim.
For a momeat caster and man stared
hard into each other's eyes, and then,
;Si if obeying an Inflexible commend,
the former turned to glance backward
into the hallway. Yvonne was stand
ing In the library door.
"Sahib!" said the Hindu, and there
was strango authority in his voice.
"Tell her, sahib. It Is not so cruel to
tell her as It would be to go away with
out a word. She is waiting to be told
that you do not want her to remain In
your home."
Brood closed his eyes for a second,
and then strode quickly toward his
wife.
"Yvonne, they all want me to take
you along with us," he said, bis voice
shaking with the p4nt-up emotion of
weeks.
She met his gaze calmly, almost se
renely. "But of course, It Is quite
Impossible," she said. "I understand,
James."
"It is not possible," he said, steady
ing bis voice with an effort
"Tbat is why I thought It would be
better to say good-by here and not at
the pier. We must have some respect
for appearances, you know." She was
absolutely unmoved.
He searched her eyes intently, look
ing for some sign of weakening on her
part. He did not know whether to feel
disappointed or angry at what be saw.
"I don't believe you would have gone
If I hd "
You need not Bay it, James. You
did not ask me, and I have not asked
anything of you."
"Before I go," he said nervously, "1
jvant to say this to you: I have no
feeling of resentment toward you
am able to look back upon what you
would have done without a single
thought of anger. You have stood by
me in time of trouble. I owe a great
deal to you, Yvonne.. You will not
accept my gratitude It would be a
farce to offer It to you under the cir
cumstances. But I want you to know
that I am grateful. You'
"Go on, please. This Is the psycho
logical moment for you to say that
your home cannot be nrtne. I am ex
pecting it"
He straightened up and his eyes
hardened. "I shall never say that to
you, Yvonne. You are my wife.
shall expect you to remain my wife to
the very end
Now, for the first time, her eyes
flow open with surprise. A bewildered
expression came Into them almost
at once. He had said the thing she
least expected. She put out her hand
to steady herself against the door.
"Do do you mean that, James?"
she said wonderlngly.
"You are my property. You are
bound to me. I do not Intend that you
shall ever forget that Yvonne. I
don't believe you really love me, but
that Is not the point Other women
have not loved their husbands and yet
the product Everything Is done In
the most up-to-date style, and the girls
are taught the necessity of scrupulous
cleanliness and sterilization. Canning
club day becomes an occasion of social
Importance In which all of the family
are Included, so that Indirectly the
clubs have helped to awaken a com
munity social spirit There has been
financial profit, as well as practical In
struction and social pleasure. The
average profit made by girls reporting
In 12 states was 121.98. In the four
yeara the calming clubs have been In
yet they have been true and loyal
to them."
You you amaze mo." she cried,
watching his eyes with acute wonder
in her own. "Suppose that I Bhouia
refuse to abide by your what shall I
call it?"
"Decision Is the word," be supplied
grimly.
"Well-what then?"
"You will abide by it. that's all. I
am leaving you behind without the
slightest fear for the future. This is
your home. You will not abandon It."
"Hare I said that I would?"
"No."
She drew herself up. "Well, I shall
now toll you What I Intend to do and
have Intended to do ever since I dis
covered that I could think for myself
and not for Matllde. I Intend to stay
here until you turn me out as unwor
thy. I love you, James. You may
leave mo here feeling very sure of
that. I shall go on caring for you all
the rest of my life. I am not tolling
you this In the hope that you will say
that you have a spark of love In your
soul for mo. I don't want you to say
It now, Jnmes. But as sure as there
Is a God above us you will say It to me
one day, and I will be Justified In my
own heart."
"I have loved you. There was never
In this world anything like the love I
had for you I know it now. It was
not Matllde I loved when I held you
In my arms. 1 know It now for the
first time. I am a man. I loved you
loved your body, your soul"
"Enough!" she cried out Bharply. "1
was playing at love then. Now I love
In earnest You've never known love
such as I can really give. I know you
well, too. You love nobly and with
out end. Of late I have come to be
lieve that Matllde could have won out
against your your folly If she had
been stronger, less conscious of tho
pain she felt If she had stood her
ground here, against you, you would
have been conquered. But she did not
have the strength to stand and fight
as I would have fought. Today I love
my sister none the less, but I no
longer fight to avenge her wrongs. I
am here to fight for myself. You may
go away thinking tbat I am a traitor
to her, but you will take with you the
conviction that I am honest, and that
Is the foundation for my claim against
you."
"I know you are not a traitor to her
cause. You are its lifelong supporter.
You have done more for Matllde
than"
"Than Matllde could have done for
herself? Isn't that true? I have forced
you to confess that you loved her for
twenty-five years with all your soul.
I have done my duty for her. Now I
am beginning to take myself Into ac-
"Everything Ha Turned Out as It
Should."
count. Some day we shall meet again
and well, It will not be disloyalty to
Matllde that moves you to say that
you love me. I shall not stay out of
your life forever. It Is your destiny
and mine, James. We are mortals,
flesh and blood mortals, and we have
been a great deal to each other."
He was silent for a long time. When
at last he spoke his voice was full of
gentleness. "I do not love you,
Yvonne. I cannot allow you to look
forward to the the happy ending that
you picture so vividly in your Imagi
nation. You say that you love mo.
I shall give you the opportunity to
prove It to yourself If not to me
When I came back to you a moment
ago It was to tell you that I expect you
to be here in this house when I
return in a year perhaps two years.
I came back to put It to you as a
command. You are more than my
wife. You are my prisoner. You are
to pay a penalty as any convicted
wrong-doer would pay It condemned
by law. I order jou, Therese, to re
main In this house until I come to set
you free."
She stared at him for a moment and
then an odd smile came Into her eyes
"A prisoner serving ber time? Is that
It, my husband?"
"If you are here when I return 1
shall have reason to believe that your
love is real, that It Is good and true
and enduring. I am afraid of you now
I do not trust you."
Her eyes flashed ominously. She
started to say something, but refrained,
closing her Hps tightly.
"You used the word prlsgnor," Brood
resumed lovelly. "Of course you un
derstand that It Is voluntary on your
part."
"For a year or a year and a half,
that's what It will come to," she
mused. "I am to stay In this house
all that time?"
operation the number of girls has In
creased from 325 to 30,000, and the ap
propriation of the general education
board has advanced from $5,000 to
$76,000. The board has spent no money
anywhere that has secured better or
more far-reaching results.
Ths Old Wheeze.
The world Is eternally plagued by a
class of estimable people who dread
the new. Their Instinct Is to club It
over the head. Since that primitive
Implement went out of fashion they
mm li,WF
Within these four wans," said be,
and his face was very white.
"Is that your sentence?"
"Call It that If you like, Therese."
"Do you mean that I am not to
put foot outBlde of those premises?"
she asked, wide-eyed. He nodded his
head. "My keepers? Who are they
to be? The old men of the sea"
"Your keeper will be the thing you
call Love," said he.
Do you expect me to submit to
this-"
He held up his hand. "I expect you
to remain here until I return, Therese.
I did not Intend to Impose this condi
tion upon you by word of mouth. I
was going away without a word, but
you would have received from Mr.
Dawes a sealed envelope as soon as
the ship sailed. It contains this ver
dict In writing. He will hand It to you,
of course, but now that you know the
contents it will not bo necesary to"
'And when you do come back am
I to hope for something more than
your pardon and a release?" she cried,
with fine Irony in ber voice.
I will not promise anything," said
be, slowly.
She drew a long breath and mere
was the light of triumph In her eyes.
Laying her slim baud on his arm, she
said: "I am content, James. I am sure
of you now. You will find me here
when you choose to come back, be It
In one year or twenty. Now go, my
man I They are w aiting for you. Be
kind to them, poor souls, and toll them
all that you have Just told me. It will
make them happy. They love me, you
see."
'Yes, they do love you," said he, put
ting his hands upon her shoulders.
They smiled into each other's eyes.
"Good-by, Thereso. I will return."
"Good by, James. No, do not kiss
ne. It would be mockery. Good luck
and God speed you home again."
Their hands met in a w arm, firm clasp.
"I will go with you as far as the door
of my prison."
From the open door she smiled out
upon the young peoplo in the motor
and waved her handkerchief In gay
farewell. Then she closed the door
and walked slowly down the hallway
to the big library. She was alone In
the house save for the servants. The
old men had preceded the voyagers to
the pier. Standing In the center of
the room, she surveyed this particular
cell In her prison with a sort of calm
disdain.
"He has taken the only way to con
quer himself," she mused, halt aloud.
He Is a wise man a very wise man.
I might have expected this of him."
She pulled the bell cord, and Jones,
who had Just re-entered the house,
came at once to the room.
"Yes, madam."
"When Mr. Duwes and Mr. Rlggs re
turn from the ship, tell them that I
shall expect them to have luncheon
with me. That's all, thank you."
"Yes, madam."
"By the way, Jones, you may always
set the tablo for three."
Jones blinked. It was a most un
usual order. Ho had been trying to
screw up his courage to inquire what
his mistress' plans were for the Im
mediate future whether she Intended
to travel, should he dismiss the serv
ants, would she spend the heated term
in the mountains, etc., etc. lie, as
well as the rest of the servants, won
dered why the muster's wife had been
left behind. Her Instructions, there
fore, to lay three places at the table
took him completely by surprise
"knocked the breath out of him," as
he expressed it to the cook a few min
utes later. She had never been known
to take a meal with the garrulous old
men. They bored her to distraction,
according to Celeste. And now he was
to lay places lor them always! It
was most extr'ordernary!
A cold, blustery night In January,
six months after the beginning of
Yvonne's voluntary servitude In the
prison to which her husband had com
mttted her. In the big library, before
a roaring fire sat the two old men,
very much as they had sat on the De
cember night that heralded the ap
proach of the new mistress of the
house of Brood, except that on this
occasion they were eminently sober
On the corner of the table lay a long,
yellow envelope a cablegram ad
dressed to Mrs. James Brood.
"It's been here for two hours and
she don't even think of opening It to
see what's Inside," complained Mr,
Rlggs, but entirely without reproach
"It's her business, Joe," said Mr.
Dawes, pulling hard at his cigar.
"Maybe some one's dead," said Mr.
Rlggs, dolorously.
"Like as not," said his friend, "but
what of It?"
"Wht of It, you infernal but, ex
cuse me, Danbury I won't say It It's
against the rules, God bless 'em. But
I will say that If anybody else had
asked that question I'd say he was a
blithering, unnatural fool. If any
body's dead, she ought to know It."
"But supposing nobody Is dead,"
protested Mr. Dawes.
"There's no use arguing with you.'
"She'll read it when she gets good
ar.d ready. At present she prefers to
. d the letters that Just came from
Freddy and Lyddy. What's a cable
gram compared to the kind of letters
they write? Answer me, Joe."
"Foolish questions like that '
"Haven't you had letters from them?
You've been tickled to death over their
happiness and their prospects and 1
"That doesn't prove that they're not
dead or dying or In t rouble or
"Maybe It's from Jim," said his
friend, a wistful look In his blear old
eyes,
"I I hope It Is, by gee!" exclaimed
the other, and then they got up and
went over to examine the envelope
for the tenth time. "I wish he'd tele
graph or write or do something, Dan
have carried an antique flintlock pis
tol known as an old wheezo. With
this they take deliberate aim and the
noise which follows Is: "Of course
there Is some truth In what you say,
but you can never change human na
ture." Now while old campaigners
like Columbus, Darwin, Cromwell and
Giordano Bruno could view this weap
on with equanimity, It did often terrify
amateur rebels Into silence, until one
bolder than the rest looked unflinch
ingly Into the bore. The reward of
his courage was this damaging discov-
Bhe's never bad a Rue from him
Maybe thlB Is something at last"
What puzzles me Is that she always
seems disappointed when there's noth
ing In the post from htm, and here's
a cablegram that might be the very
thing she's looking for and she pays
no attention to It. It certainly beats
me."
"You know what puzzles me more
than anything else? I've said It a
hundred times. She never goes outside
this house except In the garden day
or night. You'd think she was an In
valid or afraid of detectives or some
thing like tbat. God nows she ain't
a sick woman. I neve saw a healthier
one. Rain or shine, winter or summer
Bhe walks up and down that courtyard
till you'd think she'd wear a path In
the stones. Eats like a soldier, laughs
like a kid, and I'll bet she sleeps like
one, she's so fresh and bright-eyed In
the morning."
Well, I've got this to say, Joe
Rlggs: she has been uncommonly de
cent to you after the way you used
to treat her when she first came here.
She's made you feel everlastingly
ashamed of your Idiotic behavior "
"I beg your pardon, Danbury," ex
claimed Mr. Rlggs, striking the table
with his bony knuckles so violently
that the books and magazines bounced
Into the air. "Don't you evter say any
thing like that again to me. Its
against the rules for me to call you s
scoundrelly liar or I'd do It in a sec
ond." "For your sake, sir, I'm glad it's
against the rules," said Mr. Dawes,
fiercely. "I'm mighty glad."
Mr. Rlggs allowed a sheepish grin
to steal over his wrinkled vlsuge. "1
apologize, Dnnbury."
And so do I," said his friend, where
upon they shook hands with great cor
dlallty as they did at least a dozei.
times a day since the beginning of the
new regime.
"She's the finest, loveliest woman on
earth," said Mr. Rlggs.
"I never knew I could be so happy
as I've been during the past six
months. Why, this house is like a bird
cage filled with canaries. I some
times feel like singing my head off
and as for whistling! I haven't whis
tled for years till now. I "
"Sh!" hissed Mr. Rlggs, suddenly
backing away from the table and try
ing to affect an unconcerned examina
tion of a worn spot in the rug.
Mrs. Brood was descending the
stairs, lightly, eagerly. In another In
stant she entered the room.
"How nice the fire looks," she cried.
crossing the room. Never had she
been more radiantly, seductively beau
tiful than at this very instant. "My
cablegram where is It?"
The old men made a simultaneous
dash for the long-neglected envelope.
Mr. Dawes, being fat and aggressive,
succeeded In being the first to clutch
it In his eager fingers.
Better read it, Mrs. Brood," he
panted, thrusting it Into her hand
"Maybe It's bad news."
She regarded him with one of her
most mysterious smiles. "No, my
friend, It Is not bad news. It is good
news. It is from my husband."
"But you haven't read It," gasped
Mr. Rlggs,
"Ah, but I know, Just tho same." She
deliberately slit the envelope with a
slim finger and held It out to them.
"Rend It if you like."
They solemnly shook their heads,
too amazed for words. She unfolded
the sheet and sent her eyes swiftly
over the printed contents. Then, to
their further stupefaction she pressed
the bit of paper to her red lips. Her
eyes flashed like diamonds.
"Listen! Here is what It says:
'Come by the first steamer. I want
you to come to me, Therese.' And see
It Is signed 'Your husband.'"
"Hurray!" shouted the two old men.
"But," she said, shaking her head
slowly, "I shall not obey,
"What! You you won't go?"
gasped Mr. Rlggs.
"No!" she cried, the ring of tri
umph in ber voice. She suddenly
clapped her hands to her breast and
uttered a long, deep sigh of Joy. "No,
I shnTl not go to him."
The old men stared helplessly while
she sank luxuriously Into a chair and
stuck her little feet out to the fire,
They felt their knees grow weak un
der the weight of their suddenly Inert
bodies.
"But, Mrs. Brood, he wants you!"
came almost in a groan from the lips
of Mr. Rlggs,
Sh9 lighted a cigarette. "If he wants
mo, Mr. Rlggs, let him come and get
me," she said sending a long cloud of
smoke toward the celling as she lay
back In the chair and crossed her
feet In absolute, utter contentment.
"He will come, my dear old friends
oh, I am Bure that be will come."
"You you don't know him, Mrs,
Brood," lamented Mr. Dawes. He'i
made of Bteel. He "
"He will come and unlock the door,
Mr. Dawes," said she, serenely. "He is
also made of flesh and blood. The
steel you speak of was In his heart It
has been withdrawn at last. My friends,
he will come and get me very soon.
Ring for Jones, please."
"Wha what are you going to do?
Mr. Dawes had the temerity to ask.-
"Send a cablegram to my husband
saying " She paused to smile at the
flaming logs, a sweet, rapturous smile
that neither of the old men could com
prehend.
"Saying what?" demanded Mr,
Rlggs, anxiously.
"That I cannot come to him," she
said, as she stretched out her arms
toward the east.
THE END.
First English Medals Issued.
Medals as decorations for military
service were first Issued In England
by Charles I In 1643.
ery: The Old Wheez3 Is loaded with
nothing but blank cartridges. Sey
mour Iteming, In Atlantic Monthly.
Immutability. -In
field that I passed there
was
unearthed, not long ago, the great
country grange of a Roman lettlnr
with Its refoctory, its little cloistered
court, its baths and chambers,
storehouses. And It may all lust
hardly changing, for another thousand
years, or longer still. A. C. Benson
in the North American Review
GOULD NOT
STAND ON FEE
Mrs. Baker So Weak Couli
Not Do Her Work Found
Relief In Novel Way.
Adrian, Mich. " I suffered Unit'
With female weakness and backache t,
got so weak thai
could hardly do J
Washed my dlsh
had to sit down it
when I would
the floor I would g.;
so weak that I wem ;
have to get a driti
every few minute,
ana Deiore I did m -dusting
IwouldhV"
to lie down. I
so poorly that ny folks thought I w J
going into consumption. One day
found a piece of paper blowing arou-
the yard and I picked it up and read it
It said ' Saved from the Grave t.
told what Lydia E. Pinkham's Vege'j
ble Compound has done for women. I
showed it to my husband and he aaii
Why don't you try it?' So I did, mi
after I had taken two bottles I to
better and I said to my husband, 'I doo
need any more,' Bnd ho said Yon hi
better take it a little longer anyway.
So I took it for three months and r
well and strong." Mrs. AlonzO
Baker, 9 Tecumseh St, Adrian, Mich.;
Not Well Enough to Work.
In these words Is hidden the traeedi
of many a woman, housekeeper orwiJ
earner who supports herself and is ofte-J
helping to supiwrt a lamiiy, on mcap
wages. Whether in house, ofTice, fic
tory, shop, store or kitcnen, wotti
should remember that there is one trio
and true remedv for the ills to which i
women are prone, and that is Lydia Ei
rinkham s Vegetable lxmpount i
promotes that vigor which makes woti
easy, ihe Lydia b. ttnkbam Medn
MX i Lynn, Alass.
nSflDCV HMTEI, usually (veiquu
mi.vi v fsinf, toon removes iwa.J
ana ahort breath, oltn fioj antira rtii" -r
1 s lo 85 daw Trial treatment cnt FBEy
DR. THOMAS t. (.KEEN. Suecetm M bl
rU.U.brMa a Mi. not A. laiuwwa. i.
Hard Work.
First Elea Been on a vacation?
Second Flea Nope, on a tramp.-
Penn Punch Bowl.
LOOK YOUR BEST
As to Your Hair and Skin, Cuticjnl
Will Help You. Trial Frea.
The Soap to cleanse nnd purify, IV
Ointment to soothe und heal. The;-
fragrant super-creamy emollients pre I
serve tne natural purity and beaut; I
of the skin under conditions whlctl
If neglected, tend to produce a sta'.j I
of Irritation and disfigurement
Free sample each by mall with Bock 1
Addrees postcard, Cutlcura, Dept. XV,
Boston. Sold everywhere. Adv.
Taking No Chances.
"So you're leavlug to. get married!
Mary?"
"Yes, mum."
"And how long have you known tbJ
young man?"
"Three weeks, mum."
"Isn't that a rather short time'
Don't you think you ought to v
until you knowvhim better?"
"No, mum. I've tried that seven
times, and every time the mnn changl
his mind when he got to know tn-j
better."
The Floor Did.
Jimmy, five years old, had disco' I
ered that he could do a few turns o:
the swinging rings in the gymnaslucl
of the Boys' club, following the atil
letlc example of his older brother. Bin!
as all Joy must end. so ended the hapl
plness of the young swinger. His nol.
slipped and ho landed on the floor I
His brother rendered first aid.
"Did the rings hit you?" he asked.
"No," Jimmy replied between sobs. I
"but the floor did."
No War This Time.
Critical Husband This beef Isn't I
to eat.
Wife Well, I told the butcher that!
If It wasn't good I would send joal
around to his .shop to give blm l
thrashing; and I hope you'll taw.
someone with you, for he looked pre' I
ty fierce, and I didn't like the wayt'l
handled his big knife.
Husband Humph! Oh, Veil, I m:l
say I've seen worse meat than thl-
Men Out
To Win
appreciate that brain,
nerves and muscles can be
kept up to par only by
right living and careful
selection of food.
Thousands of such men
use
Grape-Nuts
because this food yields
the maximum nourishment
of prime wheat and barley
of which it is made.
Grape-Nuts also retains
the wonderful mineral ele
ments of the grains s
essential for the daily repair
of brain and nerve tissue,
but which are so often lack
ing in the usual dietary.
"There's a Reason"
for
Grape-Nuts
sold by Grocer
' i' ! I '
2M2