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<jjj ?!? (Copyright' in TJ.S. America by Charles Garvice, 1909. tHfl? *J* All Rights Reserved), *5* (g> S BY L I CHARLES GARVICE, | n »|« Author of "Just a Girl/' Xance," "The Gold in the Gutter," &&. f> **1. 1> CHAPTER I. THE SENORINA DOLORES. "Hi, Jones!" Heriot Broughton had crossed the landing and knocked at the door of the chambers opposite his own; and he had to knock and call several times before A grumpy Come in; confound you!" came in respoll>;e. "Oh, it's you, is it?" wailed Jones, raising his eyes from a brief and blinking at Broughton's tall, well-built figure in the doorway. "Awfully busy!" He jerked the reading lamp nearer to him, and his eyes flew back to the brief. Sorry," said Broughton apologetically. •"Lend me a couple of tumblers, old man, will you? I've got a party on." Jones frowned and rubbed his hair up. A party! I know what that means: no end of a row and hullabaloo. There, in the sideboard; get 'em for yourself, will you?" Right. Thanks," said Broughton in his pleasant and cheerful voice. "We'll keep both my doors shuts, and you shut both yours. You might drop in when you've got through this brief." Jones moaned, shook his head, and bent lower over his papers. Broughton got the glasses, carefully closed the doors as he had promised, and returned to his own sitting- room. He added the glasses to those already on the table, uncorked a bottle of whisky, placed a box of cigars a.nd a jar of tobacco beside it, lit up his pipe, and waited. He had not long to wait, for presently the dcor was flung open, and the first guest arrived. He was a short and rather stout young man, with twinkling, good-tempered eyes, and a mouth like a gash in his plain face. He was followed by Tucker, the artist. "Hullo, Hodges; hullo, Tucker!" greeted Broughton. Chuck your coats and hats in the corner. "Where are the others?" They'll be here in a jiff," said Hodges. "The feast is spread, I see; the feast of reason and a flow of soul, eh, old man? The feast of triumph, also. Let me be the first to congratulate you on your job." Ho held out his hand and shook Broughton's heartily. Oh, it's not much of a job," said Broughton; "only some plans and specifica- tions tx> get out." t.ions to get out." It's a beginning, anyhow," said Ilodges, and you only want a beginning. We all know how deuced clever you are, and some of us hope to live to see you knighted or baronet-ted, or whatever it is they do to punish a successful engineer." Broughton laughed modestly—the precious laugh which has the ring of youth, strength, and hope in it. Chaff away, old man," he said; "I can bear it. How's the Eaily Wire' going?" Strong, very strong," replied Hodges, rub- bing his hands. "Did you read that article of mine on the leader page this morning- article with scare heading? Not you, I'll be bound! You only read 'Engineering,' the Statist,' and dry rot of that sort. Here comes Pickles. I know his step, I know it well,' he sang in recitative. An enormous man in a shaggy OyeTooat lurched heavily into the room. It was Pickering, the literary critic and essayist, whose pen drank vitriol, but whose heurt was as tender as that of a little child. Other men dropped in, until the small and plainly-furnished room was wall filled. Seated at the head of the table, Broughton kept the thing going. It was an easy task, for these men were, most of them, as young (IS himself. full of the joy of work and warm with the glow of ambition and hope. Scarcely one of them but lived from hand to mouth, not one of them but had passed or was pass- ing through the mill which grinds sometimes fast and sometimes slowly, but always grrinds, sifting the- wheat from the chaff, crushing the feeble and chastening the Ftrong. They talked books, pictures, journa- lism, the theatres; they. seldom agreed, they wrangled, grew noisy; but they were appre- ciative of good, sterling work, were never envious, a-nd always good-tempered. Every now and then they spoke of Broughton's good fortune in getting his first job, and prophesied a brilliant future for him. It was evident that he was popular. Bruug-Iiton wag just" a good fellow"; one of those easy-going, open-hearted young men who make friends wherever tMy go, pimply because they are frank and warm-hearted, Quick to believe well cf a man and slow to speak evil. The room grew thick with the fog of tobacco, the Laughter and the good-tempered wrangling were at their height, when (Broughton heard a knock at the door. "Come in!" he shouted above the din, thinking it was Jones. The door opened slowly, and a ma.n's head appeared in the narrow space. It was a head 1\ with grey hair, a face worn and white. The hand that held the door was thin and wasted, and trembled so that the door shook percep- tihly. Broughton rose with an expression of surprise and doubt. "Who is it?" he asked. "Please come in." The head and hand remained in the same position for a moment, then withdrew, and the door closed as softly as it had been opened. Broughton had risen, and, with an "Excuse me, boys," he made his way with øome difficulty to the door and looked out. He was just in time to see a bent, shrinking figure passing round the bend of the stairs below, and he went quickly along the land- ing and looked over the rail. The man turned, glanced upward with a deprecatory S'hake of tho hood, and disappeared. Broughton went back to the room. When Jones came in an hour later he had to grope his way .across the room and make A respirator of his handkerchief, so thick WAS the fog; but he had slain his brief, and WAS presently joining in the chorus to Hodges's one and only song. Hodges's one and only song. It wa.s well on in the small hours of the morning when the party broke up and clashed noisily down the stairs. Jones re- mained after the others, because h3 had only to cross the landing. I haven't congratulated you yet on your first job," he said to Broughton, rubbing the emoke out of his eyes and stretching himself with a yawn. As a matter of fact, I sup- pose I ought rathej to condole than to con- gratulate, because now you've made a start I imagine you will be encouraged to go on with this folly of yours. You know, you rea.lly are something of a fool. Here are you, the only son, the only child, of a wickedly wealthy man, who is within an appreciable nearness of A baronetcy or some- t.hing of the kind, a.nd you ought to be clothed in fine linen and faring sumptuously every day; in fact, having a jolly good time of tt, instead of which, as the magistrate said, you quarrel with your father." Scarcely quarrel," put in Broughton quietly. We agree to differ, to separate. Don't forget th"t he makes me an allowance —or, rather, has done; I sha'n't need it any longer, please the gods." "Well, quarrelled or agreed to differ; you've thrown him over and gone on your own, acting the silly goat I just to gratify AN "unreasonable whim or fancy." Broughton re-filled his pipe and stared at the fire. "No; that's scarcely fair," he said. "It isn't unreasonable from my point of view. My father wanted me to join him in the City, to make more money, to go into Parlia- ment; in short, to live the life he has lived. I couldn't do it. I hate the City and—his way of making money. I'm not ambitious— in that way, at any rate. I'd rather build a sound bridge across a mill-stream or con- sound bridge across a mill-stream or con- struct sanitary pig-sties than juggle with I stocks and shares and build a fortune on other people's ruin." Jones was leaning against the mantel-shelf, t-ad he raised his eyes and glanced with A certain significance at the portrait of A woman standing in the centre of the shelf. "Heard from Miss Mervin lately?" he asked quietly. Broughton looked at the portr a it—that of a very beautiful girl, fair, with finely-cut features, blue eyes, a trifle hard, and lips exquisitely formed, though rather thin and straight. Oh. yes," 'he said as quietly. "I hear from her regularly. She is in India with her aunt, Lady Mervin." "May I ask. without being intrusive, whether Miss Mervin knows that you have- agreed to differ from your father?" said Jones. N—no," replied Broughton; "I have not told Adelaide yet. It would only worry her. Besides, my father may come round to my way of thinking; then I should have dis- tressed Adelaide without cause." "Quite so," said Jones. Well, I'd better go off to bed. Good-night!" Broughton threw open the window and looked out. The light of a nearly full moon fell across the gravelled square and on the dingy walls of the opposite houses. London never sleeps; and the rattle of cabs and vans came thinly across the silence of the Inn. The fog inside the room vented but slowly, and Broughton caught up his hat and went out into the fresh air. Scraps of the medley of conversation re- J turned to him, but back of it all, obtruding Persistently, was the vision of the worn a.nd haggisrd face, the despairful eyes which had met his as their owner had shaken his head up at him Eroughton felt that he ought to know the man, but could not fix him; and J ,he C .tta mrsskag over the matter when a T figure emerged from the shadow of tihe gate. way and touched him on the arm.- Broughton stopped and stared; it was the man again. The melancholy eyes REGARDS him with a smile, peculiarly cynical and grimly humorous. "Yon don't know me, Broughton?" said the man. Broughton frowned with perplexity; then he exclaimed: "Why, it's Mordaunt! Great heaven. His hand caught at the thin one oil his ARM and held it tightly, as if he fea.red the ma-: would escape him, as he HAD done before. In a. flash he remembered Mordaunt, one of the most brilliant of the group of men whom Broughton's father had been delighted to entertain; Mordaunt the poet, the musician, the art critic, the foremost of the band of eager spirits whose self-appointed mission it was to bring about a. n's'w birth of literature and art. Gften, as a lad, seated at his father's luxurious table, Broughton had yielded to the spell of this man's almost in- spired rhapsodies, had admired, envied Mor- daunt s splendid genius and overwhelming versatility. And now! His eyes rapidly flashed over the pallid face, the thin, wasted, ill-clad figure which shrank and shivered in the cool air of the early morning. Come back with me," he said impulsively. Mordaunt made a gesture of refusal "Thanks; no. I couldn't stand the smoke" He coughed, and drew the thin coat across his chest. "But you came—you wa.nted to see me?' said Broughton. "Yes; I want to see you to talk to you. My diggings are near—will you come?" Broughton nodded; he was still too moved to be fluent; and the strongly-contrasted pair left the -an, and went slowly to Wilks's Rents near by, and up the stairs of one of the squalid houses to an attic under the roof. A scrap of fire was burning in the grate Mordaunt motioned Broughton to a chair—R was the only one in the room—and he seatf; himself on the table. I'm dying," he said, quite calmly, as if he were stating a fact of no particular inte- rest or importance. "Why not? Clone—you remember him? He's Sir Jabez now, you know—gave me six months; but he was san- guine—for old acquaintance' sake, I suppose, and I sha'n't run it out." He paused a moment. "You are a rich man, Broughton, or will be; the only well-to-do man I know.' Broughton refrained from contradicting him, and Mordaunt, after a pause, went on, not looking at Broughton, but moodily, absently, at the fire, as if he were commun- ing with the past. "Bo you remember Paquita? You may just remember her." Eroughton thought for a moment. You mean Paquita, the Spanish dancer? She used to dance at the Frivolity. Oh. yes, of course, I can just remember her; a, magni- ficent dancer and a very beautiful woman. Why," he smiled, "I was in love with her when I was fourteen." Many men were," said Mordaunt quietly. She was my wife." Broughton moved slightly, but said nothing. "We fell in love with each other, and were maTried secretly, so that her popularity might not suffer: Strange to say, we were happy. I was fond OF her. She's dead; died at a place called Cantala, up in the hills above Seville, her native place. I took he" there when she was paralysed. She wanteu to die at home, in the shadow of the hills, in the odour of sa.nctity and-garlic. Poor Paquita." He paused a moment for breath. There is A child." Bro-ughton started, and looked round the room for some sign of childhood's presence. No, she's not here, but she's alive. I left her with some distant connections of Paqitita'S AT Cantala; decent people. The woman's (lead, and the child is coming home -høre. 8,he ought to be here to-morrow. I hope she won't be. too late; I'm trying to keep off the fit of coughing that will choke me and finish me. S'he will come into a strange land, will be alone, helpless and friendless, when she comes—or a day or two later at most. She will be nearly penniless It worries me—naturally. I am as helpless a.s she will bo; there isn't a single soul in the world I can appeal to on her behalf- excepting yourself. And I only remembered you because I saw your name painted on the door in the Inn. I remembered you were rich, and 1-" A fit of coughing stopped him, and he rose and clutched the mantelshelf for support. It was a last chance, the.forlorn hope of a de-perat; man. Tor myself, I don't care; a day or two, perhaps a few hours, will see the dreary game played out; but the ohild, Paquit-a's little one! I can't die comfortably for thinking of her. She has been well brought up, in the simple, country fashion of the place out there in Spain. She is half English, remember. She may give you some trouble; she will, I daresay; but for God's sake, take pity on her and me! I know how big a thing I'm asking, that I have no right to saddle you with such a burden; but you are rich—and, somehow, I think you will d> it." He turned his dim eyes, with feverish. pathetic eagerness shining through thej,R dimness, and involuntarily stretohed out his' shaking' hands with a, gesture of appeal. Broug"hton did not hesitate for a moment. He took one of the hands and pressed it. "Yes; I'll do it, of course," ho said. "Make your mind easy. I'll take charge of he.r. I IL all alone, but 1 will get a proper person to help me to take care of her. Don't worry a.bout her any more. She will be quite safe." Mordaunt returned the pressure of the strong hand and sank back in his chair. "I won't try to thank you, Broughton," he said in a low yoice.^ "That's all right," said Broughton, with A man's awkwardness at snoll a moment. "Won't you get into bed? I'll stay the night with Y£I;.u." Moruaunt shook his head. No; I'm easier sitting up in the chair here. DON t stay; I think I'd rather be alone. You might look in to-morrow morning. He would not permit Eroughton to remain; and after a while Broughton left him, intending to send Sir Jabez Clone as early as possible. He went back to hIS chambers, but did not go to bed. Though he had not yet fully recognised the gravity of the charge he had accepted, he was much per- turbed by it. Later on he had A bath, and went round to Mordaunt's room. As he opened the door a sense of calamity smote him like a chilled atmosphere. The figure in the chair was* lying back, with its arms hanging- down. Broughton hurried towards it, and saw at the first glance that Mordaunt was dead. After the first moment of shock, he went to the door to summon some one, the woman of the house; but as he opened the door a man and a girl came up the stairs. The man was old and wizened, with a swarthy face wrinkled like a melon, with small black eyes, which flashed furtively to and fro like a. bird's. He was dressed like a Spanish peasant. The girl beside him was tall and very beautiful; her face, an almost pure oval, with a complexion like old ivory; the eyes were grey, but so dark AS to seem hlack, and her hair. quite black, was thick and heavy, as black hair usually is, but beau- tifully soft; she also wore the dress of the Spanish peasant, and it set off to advantage the supple, graceful figure. These persons were so close to the door that Broughton unconsciously drew back and stared at them; and the girl and the man returned his gaze—the man with restless inquiry, the girl with calm and somewhat haughty regard. The man plucked off his cap and swept, with the action, a bow of deprecatory respect. "Senor. I salute you! Does the Senor Mordaunt leeve 'ere?" Yes," stammered Broughton. But The man spread out both hands, first towards the girl, then towards Broughton." "Pardon. Excell-snza," he said. "This is Senor Mordaunt's daughter, Senorina Dolo- res.

CHAPTER II. BROUGHTON'S WARD. Notwithstanding that for the last few moments Heriot had been vaguely prepared for the announcement, he was startled when it came. "Yes; Mr. Mordaunt IS here," he said gravely, his glance meeting the girl's steady regard with a touch of pity; but—I have bad news for you, Miss Mordaunt—I mean, Senorina. Your father HAS been very ill—I nret with him only last night—very ill." Her face grew pale and her eyes fell, the dark lashes quivering as they swept her olive cheek. With the quickness of youth and femininity she had leapt at the truth, "You mean that he is dead?" she said in a low voice, speaking in English, but with a soft Spanish accent which made the words strangely musical. "Yes; he is-dead," assented Broughton, who saw that it would be useless to attempt to break the news to her. He died in the night. I am very sorry." Her lips quivered arid her eyes filled with tears. "I will go to him, if you please," she said. Broughton opened the door, the girl glided across the narrow room, knelt beside the bed. and gazed through her tears at-.the dead face, then bowed her head IN her hands. The little man who had accompanied her stood with his hands crossed over his breast. his restless eyes roaming to and fro, as if even death could not hold his attention for longer than a. moment or two. Broughton signed to him, and the man followed him out of the room. "She will be better alone for a little time," said Broughton. I am going to get some- one-the woman of the house.. Please wait." He went down the stairs quickly, and found the landlady; she seemed a. decent body, and he sent her up to the girl. When he went up again he found the little man sitting on the stairs, his eyes and his hands moving rest- lessly; but he rose and made a gesture with a nervous hand a.s if consigning the whole affair to this young, but capable-looking Englishman. Ah, but this is sad, most mo-urnful ho said in his broken English. "We have arrived too late. and I, miserable that I arc. can do nothing to help your Excellence. I I must return at once, in an hour or two. I have affairs which demand—but the Sent. will understand? Cf a certainty I leave the Senorina, in good ha.nds. Heaven in its mercy has so willed it. I would have h P. c the Nenorina—she is to me as a daughter— but my wife, she is dead, and her last WORD.* were that I take her to her father. THE wishes of the dead, Excellenr; they ATE sacred—Soli! I am here, she is here." He stretched out his arms and bowed deprecut- ingly. Broughton was aghast, but he tried to take a grip of the situation, and to some extent succeeded. I quite understand," he said. I am sorry you must return at once. There would be so much you would like to tell me I should like to know. I oon T even know your name." Pedro Matros. I am a, vine-grower; a most humble person, Excellcnza." As as regards money?" sliggestel Broughton. Pedro shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "There is still remaining of the sum which Senor Mordaunt last sent. Senorina Dolores is in possession of it. I am satisfied with the performance of a good duty. There shall be no speech of money. If I might say farewell to the -Senorina?" He went into the room, and Broughton hurried to the telegraph office close at hand and sent a wire to Sir Jabez Clone. When he returned he found Pedro and Dolores sitting on the stairs. Pedro was talking rapidly in a low voice and gesticulating, and the girl was listening with bent head and tightly clasped hands. She rose as Broughton came up, and stood regarding him with great mournful eyes. Half an hour later Broughton got her to his chambers, and was persuading her to J partake of the breakfast which Mrs. Clen- nam, his landlady-a good-hearted woman, who was already touched by the beauty and sadness of the young girl—had hastily pre- pared. Dolores was silent for a time, but presently Broughton gently wooed her to talk. Leaning forward- with her elbow CIl: the table and her head resting on her hand, she spoke in A low ycice, a kind of mono- tone, but with no trace of shyness or of gauchorie; she was absolutely self-possessed and free from fear, and every now and then she raised her eyes and regarded him with an ingenuous, gravity. Xo; I have not seen my father for many, many years," she said. His face has I "Yes; he is—dead!" scarcely dwelt in my memory. I am sorry that he is dead; it makes something in my HEART to ache. Yes I was brought up by Pedro and Juanita. They were good to me; they were like father and mother." She was silent for a little while, then she said in a low voice: I suppose I will have to go "back to Spain, to Cantala? My father is dead, and I do not know of any relatives; I do not know any- one in England." •] I do not know any of your father's rela- tions," said Broughton, and I think it would be difficult to lind them. I imagine he led a very solitary life. But I do not think you ought to go back to Spain. I've had no time to tell you as yet; last night your father, who is an old friend of mine, consigned you to my charge—care; in fact, I—I—he appointed me your guardian." He made the announcement with some natural embarrassment; but she received it with a little gesture of calm surprise and regarded him steadily, and it was Brough- ton's eyes which were downcast. She con- siclered the matter for a moment or two, theon said "My father, he was not rich? The room' was poor, he was not well clad." "There is no trouble about money, Senorina," Broughton cut in quickly. I am glad," she commented simply and irno.&ently. I feel that it will be gc-od for me to lie under your care." Her eyes dwelt upon him roflectingly. "J think you will be kind to me." You may rest assured of that, Senorin.a," said Broughton; "and—and I hope you will be happy." Yes," she responded, as simply and as innocently as before, "I think I shall be happy." I siha.LL have to leave you for a little while," he said, after another pause. "I will send my landlady, Mrs. Clennam, to you." She inclined her head. "Mrs. KLA—nom?" she paid. It is difficult to speak it, but I shall try." Broughton went to Mrs. Clennam, and, to some extent, explained the situation. Mrs. Clennam caught her breath and stared at him commiseratingly, but with the quick- ness and shrewdness of her class rose to the occasion and grappled with the emergency. Broughton's w-ard would occupy one of the tiny spare-rooms, and Mrs. Clennam's daughter, Matilda, would sleep in the other, and would act as general servant, while Mrs. Clennam herself superintended the menage. We must do the best we can, sir," she said; "and I daresay we shall get on very well, for she seems a very nice young thing, and ^PERFECT lady, though furr'n, which is MOS^^NGULAR, when you come to think of it. But A takes one all aback to think of a younr; gentleman like you being saddled, all of a, moment, as you may say, with a full-grown daughter. But there, sir, we're all in the 'ands of Providenoe, and there ain't no use complaining." Broughton tried to con STOLE himself with this hopeful reflection, and, doubtless, it helped to sustain him through the trying time which-immediately followed; but it may be. safely said that not until after the funeral din he realise the position in which Fate had placed him. With the quick rebound of her youth a.nd Southern temperament, Dolores quickly recovered from her grief and melan-' choly. She had calmly accepted the situa- tion, and she slipped—glided rather—into the character of Broughton's ward with an ease which matched her physical grace. which matched her physical grace. With the assistance, of Mrs. Clennam, Dolores had procured some English clothing. Though her plainly-made black dresses did not become her as well as the picturesque cost.ume in which Broughton had first seen her, her beauty rose triumphantly above them, beauty so marked and so extraordi- nary that, when he was walking with her, Broughton was somewhat embarrassed by the attention she attracted, an attention which Dolores, who was singularly free from vanity, did not appear to notice. It was evident that she was quite content, quite happy; but poor Broughton, it is need- less to say, did not share her serene con- tentment. "Up to the. present he had, so to speak, kept the existence of his ward A secret-; he had denied himself to his friends a.nd companions, had Ogiven out that he was in the .country; but, of course, he knew that the secret could not be kept long, and that HIS friends and the world generally would talk." There was scarcely a minute of the day in which he did not think a-nd worry about her, and at last he had come to the conclusion that he ought to send her away, not to school—she was too old for t,ba,t-but. say, to the oa.re of some lady who would finish the girl's education and look after her. It would bo A strain on his resources, but he must manage it in some way" or other. The initial difficulty lay in breaking his proposition to her, and -as he lay back in his chair and looked at the beautiful head a.s. humming the while, she bent over his socks he tried to bring his courage to the sticking podnt. "I wish you wouldn'T worry about those socks of mine, Dolores," he said. "Mrs. Clen- na.m can do them very well." She can do them, but not very well," said Dolores. "Besides, I like mending them. I cannot read all day AI you do; a book, it makes me tired and sleepy, and there is so makes me tired and sleepy, and there is so little to do." J "What did you do when you were at Can- tala?" he aeket3,. She shrugged her shoulders. "I helped tend the vines a.nd with the wine-pressing; then there were the cows and the horses. We all had to work, for Pedro is net rich. But there are no cows and horses here. What do your English girls do?" "I—I don't exactly know," replied Broughton. "Nothing, I think. Oh. well, they play the piano and—and do fancy needlework, I suppose." "That sounds to me very useless," she said, snipping off her wool and surveying the sock with her head on one side. "It is like the people up at the castle at Torada; but they were of the nobility, and one only saw them driving by in their carriages. To-RADA is a great, beautiful, grand castle, just out- side Cantala. IT belongs to the Mansanarez. They are what you call noble gentlefolk.' You are a gentlefolk.' Dolores," said Eroughton. "Your father was a gentl-eman of old family." "I know," she said proudly; "yes, he was noble, but he had not a castle, and so I had to work with Pedro and Juanita because, he was not rich; but, all the same, lie wa-s noble." Quite so," said Broughton, seeing his cha-nee; "therefore, you ought to be. well brought up." She raised her brows in astonishment. And am I not?" she asked. You are not polite. Are you not bringing me up wel!? You also are nchl-e-I know that; I can tell by-your speech, your manner; it is of the nobility." Broughton groaned inwardly and looked round for his tobacco. The pouch was on the mantelshelf, and sha rose and got it, drop- ping it lightly on his knee. In getting the pouch s'he slightly displaced the portrait of Adelaide Mervin; she looked at it, as if she had cftrm regarded it curiously. "That is a, very beautiful lady," she said; "she is as fair as a lily. I noticed it the morning I came. It is not your sister, no?" She glanced from the portrait to him. "Tell me who it is." Her NAME is Adelaide Mervin," said Broughton, colouring a little. "She is the ladv I am going to marry." a "She is very beautiful; I wish you joy," said Dolores gravely, a, she resumed her seat and her sock. "Does she do nothing?" "Just about that," replied Broughton. "And that brings me back to what I was going to say, Dolores. I've been thinking over my-my duty towards you, and I've come to the conclusion that you ought to go to some lady who would—ER—who would take charge of you for a time and—er—teach you things that other English ladies of your position learn." She regarded him steadily, thoughtfully. "Thanks." she said, with perfect serenity; but I do not wish to go. What is the use of learning to do nothing? Besides, I am learn- ing things every day; I observe the people when I go for a walk, and how they move and act. I speak much better English than I did, do I not?" "Yes, you do," assented Broughton. "You're wonderfully quick, Dolores. "Ch, yes, I am quick," she said calmly. "I shall go on learning with you. Why I trouble, then, to send me to an English lady?" From her point of view this seemed to settle the question; but presentlly Broughton returned to the charge. She listened atten- tively; once she raised her eyes to the por- trait on the mantelshelf, and then regarded him long and thoughtfully. At last she said, with a slight shrug of her shoulders and a gesture with both hands: Oh. very well. If you wish it. Certainly I will go." Broughton heaved a sigh of relief. It WAS not difficult to find a lady willing to under- take the charge, and three days later Broughton took Dolores to the respectable house in Clapham-park in which the DEMURE- and stately lady lived. To his own surprise Broughton found the parting somewhat pain- ful, though Dolores, on her part, showed no distress. The little sitting-room seemed very dull, and he himself FELT very lonely THAT night. He told himself that he was immensely relieved, that he had taken the right step, that he had done his duty; but he went to bed feeling exceedingly depressed. He miss-ed her all next DAY; he kept away from his chambers until nightfall, a.nd it was with something like a sigh that, he went up the stairs and unlocked the door. On the thres- hold he stopped, transfixed with amazement, for Dolores was lying back in her chair, with her hands folded i.n her lap, her eyes half closed. "Dolores!" he exclaimed. "Y0S; I have oomo back," she said s-erenely. with a little ncd and a smile at him. That was a very foolish woman you took me to. She seemed to think that I was a little child; she made me feel very un- happy and tired, oh, very tired. So I came back. It has been raining. Your coat is wet; you must take it off at once or you will have the ague. But be quick, please, for the dinner is ready. And I am so hungry, so very hungry! Ah, but yes, I am glad to get back! Oh, be quick, be quick! We will sit down to our dinner and forget that fo-oiis-h, that very foolish woman." (To be continu-cd.)

WRECKED NEHVES AND IMPAIRED PHYSICAL VIGOUR. A MOST REMARKABLE REMEDY IS DR. CASSELL'S TABLETS. (1) Are you a nervous wreck? I (2) Are you sleeping badly ? (3) Are you depressed and anxious? (4) Is your appetite poor? (5) Do you feel low and run down? (6) Do you feel tired and heavy? (7) Do you lack vitality? (8) Do you lack physical strength? If you sutler from any of these symptoms or are in any way weak, thin, nervous, or debilitated, or suffering from any form of physical and nerve exhaustion, a course of Dr. Ca^sell's Tablets will speedily and per- manently cure you. This grea,t remedy of world-wide repute is pure, safe, a-nd reliable, and contains just what is necessary to restore worn out tissues of nerves and organs, and is the most remarkable body builder and restorer of modern times. Doctors, scientists, and the public generally are testifying to the extraordinary qualities of Dr. Cassell's Tablets, and it only remains for the sufferer to try them and convince himself of their efficacy. Dr. Cassell's Tablets cost lOJd., ls. Hd., and 2s. 9d. of all chemists.

A PATHETIC PLEA. • ——. WOMAN'S REASON FOR A CHEQUE FORGERY. There was a remarkable development at the Central Criminal Court, London, in a case in which Maud' Kohlor, aged 36. of no occupation, pleaded guilty to having forged an order for the delivery of a banker's cheque book, with intent to defraud. The prisoner is stated to have gone to the, Standard Bank of South Africa and, repre- ÐeIJting that she was a Mrs. Rolfe, RECEIVE a cheque book, the order for which she signed in the name of Maud Rolfe. Mr. Rolfe, it wa-s stated, was a retired South African farmer, who had been living wit.h ptrisoner for some years. Prisoner swooned while the prosecuting counsel was making his statement. Subse- quently she was able to address the recorder. She Slaid:- I do think, for my own SAKE and the sake of my boy, you should consider me, because I was driven to it, and I am not really a bad woman. I have been perfectly true to this man. I believed in him, and I trusted him. as he was a, friend of my father, who held cue of the best petitions in South Africa. Having perused papers which had been handed to him, the Eecordcr said he was quite satisfied that the relations between the parties put an entirely different complexion on the case, and he would pass the nominal sentence of four days' imprisonment.

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LAUGH & GROW FAT! • | HUMOROUS PARS FROM j EVERYWHERE. "Bridget," said Mrs. Grouchy, "I don't like the looks of that man who called to see you last nigli-t." "Well, well," replied Bridget, "a.in't it funny, ma'am? IEe said the iiaie about you." The girl at the telephone: Such insolence! A "stupid gocse" somebody is calling me! I wish I knew who it was. Friend isweetly): It must he someone that knows you very well, dear! Mrs. Withers (suddenly awakening)- 0-o-oh! D-o-o y-o-n want to toke my iccrjey? The Burglar Yes; and if yer make der least sound I'll take you! Miss Withers (at the top of hor voice): 31 u-r- der! Police; Police! P-o-l-i-o-e! "Heat." said tne teacher, "makes things grow larger, while the cold causes them to grow smaller." Then eight-year-old Johnnie asked the cues- tion. "Is that why the uays are shorter in winter?" Little Ethel: Mamma, what does it rain j for? Mrs. De Homely: To make the trees and Srass and everything grow pretty. Little Ethel: Then why doesn't it rain oil papa ? "Papa," said a little boy, "ought the master to tior; me fur what I did net do?" "Certainly not. my boy," replied the father. "Well," said the little fellow, "he did to- day when I didn't do my ;um." Teacher: Spell me needle-, Tommy. Tommy: N-i-e-d-l-e, Teacher: You aie wrong—there's no i in needle. Tommy: Well, then, it's not a good one, mum. Pretty Girl: Did you see the way that man looked at me? It vo? positively insulting. Big Brother: Did he stare? Pretty Girl: Sta".e? Why. no. He ran his! eyes over me. and then glanc-ed oft at some- on-e else, just as if I wasn't worth a second thought. "How doe-s your husband spend his time in the evening?" "He stays a.t home and thinks of schemcs to < make money." "And what do you do with yourself when he is thus occ.p-icd ?" "Oh, I think of schemes to spend it." Physician (with his ear to patient's chest): There is a curious swelling over ihe region of the -heart. sir, which must be reduced at once. Patient That sv.-elling is my Pocket-book, doctor. Please don't reduce it tco much. Indignant Citizen: I say, your boy threw a stone at me just now. and barely missed me. Mr. Grogan: You say he missed you? I. C.: That's what I understood myself to remark. Mr. G.: Then it was not my boy. Stern Parent: So you want to marry my daughter, eh? Young Man: I not only want to. but I intend to marry her. Stern Parent: Oh, you do! Well, have ycu any expectations? Young Man: Yes, I expect you wi:l decline to give your consent and we shnll have to elope. "I don't see, Ella, how you manage with your house-money. If I give you a lot, you spend it; but, if I don't give yon so much, you seem to get along." "Why, that's perfectly simple, my dear Richard. When you give me a let I use it to pay the debts I run up when you don't give me so much!" "Don't you come around here with any more of your patent frauds. I've been took in once, but you ain't goin' to ketch me agin." Wbit's the matter?" asked the gentleman agent. The lightning rods I sold you are all right, aren't they?" All rig-ht! Well, mebby you call 'em all right, but they've been up for more'n six months now and the lightnin' hasn't hit 'em once." The boy came into the house weeping, and his mother was naturally solicitous. "Wha.t's the matter, Tommy?" she asked. "The boy across the street hit me," he replied. Oh. well, I wouldn't cry for that," she returned. Show that you can be a little man." I ain't crying for that," he retorted. "Then what are you crying for?" He ran into the house before I could get at him." An English peer. noted for his wealth and for his determination to retain it, was once at a bazaar organised by a Continental prinocss in aid of charity. "Will you buy this cigaret.te-case.?" asked the royal lady as she offered a dainty article to the nobleman. %it his lordship said he did rot smoke. "Take this penhold-er, then ?" persisted the princess. No, his lordship never wrote. "A bonbonniere surely?" The peer avowed he never ate sweets. Finally the princess took up a cake of soap, "I thall not ask you to buy this soap!" she remarked sweetly. A well-known M.P., carrying a bag, was buy this soap!" she remarked sweetly. A well-known M.P., carrying a bag, was aoccoted by a boy near St. Pancras Station. "Carry your bag, sir?" No, thank you." "Carry it to the station for tuppence, sir?" The M.P. replied again, "No. thank you." Carry it for a penny, sir?" Again he replied, No, thank you." Whereupon the young ruffian got into the road and shouted at the top of his voice several times: Ga.rn! You ought to be ashamed of your- pelf to ask me to carry that great, heavy bag to the station for a ha'penny!" The M.P. cays that the scornful glances of the crowd made him feel quite guilty. A politician, who wa.s very successful as a spea ker although he was very far from being a teetotaler, was on one occasion address- ing a meeting when a member of his audi- enco sought to nullify the effect of his oratory by an interruption. "Will the gentleman tell me," he asked in a loud voice, "whether or not he drinks?" The speaker looked nonplussed for a moment, and the audience laughed at his apparent j embarrassment. But his ready wit asserted itself. I will answer the gentleman's ques- tion," he replied, with a smile, "but before doing so I should like to ask a question. It is this. Docs the gentleman offer the inter- ruption as an inquiry or as an invitation?" ———

WOMAN'S FALL DOWNSTAIRS HUSBAND LEAVES HER FOR A DAY TO GET ASSISTANCE. At the London Coroner's-court recently an inquest was held with reference to the death of Matilda Howitt, aged 69. wife of the assistant engineer at St. Bartholomew s Hospital Convalescent Home, Stanley. Kent, who died under strange circumstances. William Howitt, her husband, said he was 48, and had been married 21 years. He and his wife had been at Swan ley for two years, occupying a cottage on the estate. His wife was very feeble, and had fallen downstairs on three occasions. On Saturday night wit- ness retired to his rcom at 10.30, and on the following morning he found his wife lying behind the kitchen door. She told him that she had fallen downstairs overnight, and nod hurt herself very much. A young man named Hill, who slept downstairs, had not heard her fall, and witness assumed that ehe had been lying where she was found for eight hours. He informed no one of the accident, and letter on went to London with Hill to get assist- ance, having previously ca-rried his wife upstairs. His wife was in the cottage alone j from Sunday morning until Monday morning, witness having missed the last train on Sun- j day. He thought she would have got up as usual. When he got home on Monday morn- ing his wife was in a collapsed and neglected state, and she commenced shouting when he washed her. She was subsequently brought j up to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where she died on Thursday. He was not aware that she was so seriously injured. Dr. Max Onslow Ford said that Mrs. Hewitt had a fractured hip, and wa.s very exhausted on admission. Death was due to the injury, which was compatible with a fall. She had lain in the worst position she ^ould have been in. r The jury returned a verdiot of "Accident&l j death." i

S A QUE UK CATCH. S $Si immmmmmttm i The Flamingo, torpedo-boat destroyer, lay snug alongside her depot-ship, H.M.S., Emperor, in the curve of the river opposite the quaint old town of Harwich. There was much bu.sti-o- and excitement aboard. Amid the general din, with a keen eye for any tendency to slackness, stood Commander Owen 1'anccr.rt, furnishing the engineer-lieu- tenant of the Emperor with his personal and private opinion of my Lords of the Admi- raity. The commander brandished a tele-I gram which he had in his hand. "Look here. Stanton." he said. "it really is most annoying. Here I've got to take out my giddy "flotilla to-night. Saw the old man" i -tiociding towards the i/uiDeror's stern-walk —" this morning. No nev.s of my wretched sui). Mid-aay be hands me this." Commander Fan-court opened out the crumpled teiegram, and read, with infinite scorn Sub-l.iouteni.mt Andrews sick. Midship- man Herbert Mcnckton appointed Flamingo, to join FeliNsiowo to-day. Xo sub-lieutenant available." C-f coui.e, we shall be all right, but. wha- annoys me is the pigheadedness of the.e Admiralty people. They never will do what you ask them to if ti:ey can possibly] do anything else." Two hours later the Flamingo dropped down tile estuary. j iLa-LID It the same time, Herbert Monck- ton. Miesliipman, li.N.. was settling himself down comfortablv in a first-class carriage at Liverpool-street Station, en route to join her. Midshipman Eerbetl Monckton's journey i through London that day had been a cab1 dash ci absorbing interest from "Waterloo to L.ivcrpool-stree' Newspaper placards, of which the only contents seemed to be a short word iu iettei'3 of enormous size, caught his eye at every turn. The same stirring word—" War' —yelled by scores of pant-irg newsboys shrilly penetrated the rush and ronr of the busy bti-eets. His interview with the captain of the Luiporor was brief but satisfactory. Outwardly chewing- the. British naval officer's traditional ccclness, it was a v^ry keen and excited midshipman that at n sunset reported to Commander Fancourt, oi the Flamingo, Come on board, sir." The Flamingo oast off her moorings and quietly .slipped down the river past the other fou-r de»:-trc-y«rs. A pause as the vessels swung into line. Then a f quick signal, a tinkle of the bell, and the! Flamingo steamed out straight for the North Sea, ahead of her little fleet. From his post Monckton could see the lights of the second destroyer, the Flasher, and behind her. in single line-ahead, keeping station a cable's j length a part, came the other three. The captain of the depot-ship had tola Monek.on th.tt the- were going to sail thai { night. From Commander Fancourt, now going below for a spell. he learnt more. After joining company with the remaining five vessels of the Mcdway destroyer ffotiila, stationed rt Green-V'he, they were to find the Home FJoot. Onee clear cf the harbour entrance, the telegraph was put o-, lo .Full Speed; Ahead," and the Flamhgo shot forward with the full force of lier roaring, throbbing 7000 ) horse-power engines. The steersman well needed his steel shield to protect him from the cutting blast, thought Monckton. The night wore quickly on. with little inci- dent. Once a belated tramp sheered stupidly near their course, and had to be seared off with fiendish shrieks of the siren; and a little later what proved to be the lights of th« new second-class cruiser Cyclops came in sight. As she swept by, on her way to the new Scottish naval port at Kcsyth, isne jerked out quick hash signals at them, ihe Green- hithe destroyers had gone straight oil to Dover. No need to waii for them at the Norc. The message was passed down to Com mander Fiy'-court, who presently came up and. took charge. They cad left Foulness on the starboard quarter when suddenly a shout came from the lock-out man in the bows. There was an object ahead—something dark, he said -that looked like an "upturned boat. Can yo.i see anything-" "aid. the comman- der; "I can't." ");"0. *ir," said Mcnckton, straining over the bridge-rail, I can see nothing." Commander Fancourt sent a sharp order forward. ila-ck came the look-out's reply. He eo'iiid yee- no boa-t now. "Lubberly swab," snapped the impatient o commander, putting the telegraph to full speed once more. Johnson, go forward and tell that man if he falls asleep again-" There it is," cried Mc-nckton, excitedly. "Right close in." But at that instant, in answer to the commander's signal, the Flamingo leapt furward in her full stride again, end "he sudden jerk was too much for the mid shipman. Leaning with outstretched arm over the end of the bucge, oblivious of everything save the object in the water, he lost his balancc and pitched headlong over the side. As the rush and swirl cf the destroyer's backwash caught him, sucked him down. and swept him away, he was conscious of only one thing. His business now was to get nicked up as quickly a.s possible. One ot them probably would slacken speed in time to find him without turning. He dashed the water from his face and gave a lusty shout. Then a flare caught his eyes about a hundred yards away. Monckton knew what it was-the calcium- carbide light on the night lifebuoy Some- one on board the Flamingo had promptly pulled the loosing trigger of the buoy. Treading water, he raised himself to see more clcarly where the lifebuoy was. when his feet struck against something slippery and ha-rd. Thoroughly alarmed, he struck out to get away, but there was r.o time. The thing rose so quickly that be found him- self sprawling forward on its curved, slip- pery surface. His hands touched something cold, slimy, horrible. For tne moment he was utterly unnerved. The next instant sickening fear vanished in a gasp of relief. During this time the mysterious object had been rising out of the sea, taking Monckton with it. In his des- perate struggles to get away be had turned his back to the lifebuoy, and, by its flare, as he rose clear from the water, he saw, within a yard of his face, the unmistakable look-out dome of a submarine torpedo-boat, His next thought, however, was not re-assuring. Dread of the unknown had vanished.^ it was true, and, though highly improbable, the submarine might be British; but what if she belonged to Germany, their i lately declared enemy? Most likely she had come up for observation. Undoubtedly, placed as he was, her crew would see him. orse still, they might see the destroyers. The British submarines, ha knew, practi- cally never left the South Coast. He must get away at cn-ce -ind warn the flotilla. Too late. Even a", the thought was in his mind the circular hatch of the donie rose up and fell back within a foot of his face. No use to try to escape now. How should he hide? Ah-the dome. Behind its projection it was just possible that he might escape notice. He seized hold -of the rim and pulled himself close under its shelter. As he did so a man's head emerged through the opening. With upturned face, scarcely daring to breathe, Monckton listened and watched. The newcomer's face was turned away from him, but the muttered words contre-torpil- leur" dispelled any lingering doubt Monck- ton might have had as to the submarine's nationality. He drew himself up to hear better, when. catching sight of the reflec- tion from the lifebuoy's flare, the man suddenly turned round. The nest instant Monckton found himself looking straight up I into the ama-zed German's eyes. For an instant oniy. The following moment, acting almost by instinct, the mid- shipman pulled himseif up and let drive with his rig-ht hand straight at the German's jaw. It was a clean hit from the shoulder, and the man went down with a crash that shook the delicately balanced submarine from stem to stern. The fat was in the fire now. From the interior of the Siibmarine the voices of her crew raised in excited clamour reached Monckton's cars. His first thought was to slide off and get away as fast as he could Papting from the effort of his blow, he was raising himself to do so, when through the night air came the words, distinctly sung J in a British gunnery lieutenant's clear monotone: Sit on the hatch, man." Monckton paused in surprise. Then like a fla<sh he caught their meaning. Hardly had he done so when he felt it .atraining to lift under him. But, as the resoure-e-fu-L Commander of the little Demon, rearmost destroyer, had anticipated. when, drifting past some score of yards away, he became an interested spectator of the brief tete-a-tet e bet-ween Monckton a-nd the r-rencii. man, the lifting power of the hatch was only sufficient to raise it beyond the dead point. It could not rise with Monckton's weight upon it. The submarine could not dive with it open. Monckton was master of the situa- TION. As the middy, sitting astride the hatch, L alert for the next move from below, grasped this fact. he fairly glowed with excitement By Jove," he laughed, this beats cock-fight. ing. What A yarn to teII-" Crack The zip cf a bullet sounded PA3 his face. This somewhat sobered him. but put ai idea into his head. Reaching behind, he found his own revolver in its place. Pulling it out, he stretched over and fired down the hatchway. Two can play at that game." he thought. The effect of the shot was to re-awaken the hubbub of excited, angry voice? in the bowels of Monckton's strange steed. Then they ceased, again. Wonder what they will be up to noxt," thought Monckton, casting a hasty glance round for his ally, the destroyer. To his surprise he saw her lights moving quickly back again on the other side of the sub- marine. She must have described a semi- circle round it in the meantime. Just then his attention was called back to the submarine by a tremor in her frame. Her screw began to revolve, and she slowly moved forward. Sitting tight, Monckton re- assured himself with the reflection that her open hatch would compel her to go very slowly for fc-ar of shipping a sea. A few moments later he perceived that she was turning round. Then he realised both the object of the manoeuvre and the reason for the Demon's rapid curve round. A sub- marine usually has one torpedo expulsion tube, placed forward, so that she can only firo in that direction. Evidently she was turning in order to direct her tube towards the destroyer's course, as last seen by her crew-a step with the Lieutenant-Comman- der of the Demon had cleverly anticipated by his prompt counter move. As the submarine slowly swung round until KI'-FKTN could not see the Demon's lights without turning, a broad circle of light swept slowly to and fro across the sea, and then settled on the submarine. It was the destroyer's searchlight. Lieutenant-Com- monder Payne had thoughtfully waited until Monckton'E back was turned towards his ship. Otherwise the midshipman would have been dazzled by the brilliant glare. For a brief space no change took place in the situation. Monckton, ready for any- thing. patiently waited developments. Com- mander Payne's strategy had inspired him with full confidence in that officer's resource. The submarine, which had been moving slowly forward. came to a full stop again. From a few words which Mcnckton caught now and then he gathered that her crew half meditated another sortie through the hatch- way. The difficulty was that only one could come up at a time, and with an armed man waiting at the top nobody seemed anxious to try the venture. Meanwhile the smaller radius and greater intensity of the searchlight showed that the Demon was coming nearer. Soon Monckton heard the thud of her screws. Closer and closer came the sound; then it stopped sud- denly. The next instant came an crder in Com- mander Payne's clear-cut voice: Stand by for rope and make fast sharp. Then jump clear." "Ay. ay," shouted back Monckton. A little bit hoarse with excitement. He knew what Commander Payne wanted. Hardly had he replied when a slight shock shook the sub- marine. and the searchlight's beams showed a line of bubblos where a Germa-n torpedo was making a bee-line for its native land. Little hope for Commander Payue and the Demon if they had been on that side of the sub- marine. Dircct-ly afterwards the rope came curling over Monckton's shoulders—well and truly thrown—and simultaneously the searchlighl was shut off. Gripping the rope fast in hif left hand. Monckton fired a parting shot dowr the hatchway and scrambled madly down towards the submarine's stern. It was thE work of an instant, but he was up to his waist in water when he reached the rudder framing, so much had his weight disturbed the submarine's balance. As he clutched the framework he heard the hatch clang to behind him. Not a moment to spare. With rapid, deft fingers he bent the rope on firm and true. Then, with a frantic yell of "Right away," he kicked 011 as far as he could into the sea. On coming to the surface after his wild plunge he swam a few strokes to make sure he war- clear, and then stopped to take his bearings. The destroyer had shifted her position. but. of course, had not proceeded very far. In the circle of hg-ht wa-s something that looked like a huge fish, half out of the water. It was the submarine, stern up. stem under, safely hooked. Monckton's heart gave a bound. That waa all right. Then he seT- out a lusty Ahoy over the water, guessing that a boat would be looking for him somewhere. Sure enough, promptly came an answering shout, followed by the welcome clunk of oars. and the next minute Monckton found himself safely inside one of the Demon's boats. Enveloped in a big coat, with a nip of some- thing inside him to keep him warm. Monckton felt supremely comfortable as the boat sped rapidly after the slowly steaming destroyer. They've stopped, sir," suddenly cried the coxswain. Lay into it. you chaps." called out Monck- ton. with renewed vigour. "Let's see what's happened now." The boat's crew. however, wanted no urging. and their distance from the destroyer and her prise rapidly grew smaller. Suddenly the coxswain exclaimed: See. sir. her hatch is open, and there's a man coming out." "So there is." said Monckton; "and look. there's a boat." The boat moved across the circle of light. and lay to alongside the submarine. The man came down from the hatch, and immediately another of the submarine's crew came up from below and lowered himself into the waiting boat. By Jove!" cried the midshipman, "they've caved in. Hooray!" And so they had. When. five minutes later. Monckton shook hands with the Commandei of the Demon, he heard the conclusion of fhe matter. Commander Payne had given the submarine a quarter of a mile's towing, and then stopped to see whether her crew had had enough. They had. Four hundred yards' continuous pummelling and bruising in their revolving, plunging prison was quite sufficient to cause them to take the first opportunity of thrusting a white rag through the hatch in token of surrender. "Now," said Lieutera-nt-Oommander Payne, as he finished, "lip below to my cabin and get into some pyjamas. You have done quite enough for one night, my lad, and not made a bad bungle of it. either." An opinion which apparently my Lords of the Admiralty also shared when, some time after, in addition to noting Monckton's name for early promotion, they gave him the junior officer's much-coveted cross for Conspicuous Service.

"I AM VERY LONELY." "I am very lonely," were the last worcle of Eliza Beckwith, of Edbrooke-street, 'who died in St. Mary's Hospital from laudanum poisoning. Deceased was a draper's assistant, but had recently been discharged. She left the following note: I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused. Go as cheap as you can to bury me. You must not worry. Suicide whilst of unsound mind was the verdict. I