Cheshire Observer

I u A CHESTER HINT. I Here is a hint that will prove helpful to many I Chester men and women. It is given by one of our nelghbvurs-a Chester woman. I am ploascd to give a testimonial for Doan'd backache kidney pills," says Mrs. M. Fair- clough, 25, Castle-street, Chester; "and I think it right that I should do so. in return for the great amount of good the pills have done me. "Previous to taking Doari's medicine I had suffered for a long time with distressing pain in my back—just in the small part. My back was so weak that at times I could scarcely get about, and it was a hard matter for me to get up after stooping. I was aho subject to severe attacks of rheumatism. 1 could get. no relief from anything I triod until I began with Doan'.s backache kidney pills. I These have acted splendidly in my case, and havo done me a wonderful lot of good. I shall always be pleased to speak in praise of the medicine.—(Signed) M. Fairclough." Dean's backache kidney pills are two shillings and ninepence per box ?six box,?8 for tbi?4l.?". shillings and ninepence). Of all chemists and I stores, or post, free, on receipt of price, direct I from Fogter-McClehan Co.. 8. Wells-street, Oxford-street, London, W. Be sure you get the same kind of pille as Mrs. Fairciough had.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] FASHION AND THINGS FEMININE. BY MISS IDA MELLER. I A DRESS FOR THE + BUSINESS WOMAN. I The height of the holiday season is past, but until September is out people are still coming and going. The re-opening of schools about the middle of the month or rather later takes many families home again, and business occupations forbid others from enjoying any longer the charms of seaside or countiy; but en the other hand the-re are those who, for one reason or another, defer their holidays until after the August rush and are only now taking a well- earned rest from the ordinary daily routine. The return from holiday making, no matter at what season of the year it occurs, usually means a revision of the wardrobe, for unless the holi- day consists of house-visitmg, it is the custom with many to include in their outfits clothes that have seen their best days and can be "finished off" away from home. The business woman will probably require a new dress for everyday wear on her return home, and a simple model that may possibly meet with her ap- proval is sketched in the full-length figure herewith, which illustrates a dress of black nun's veiling, with a plain skirt, stitched many times at the fOÐt. and a crossed bodice, pleated on the shoulders and decked with a few velvet but- tons. Similar buttons, but rather smaller, run up the long cuffs that meet the upper part of the full sleeves, and the vest is of fine black lace insertion and hair-pin embroidery. Th:s, of course, oculd be exchanged for a vest of light lace. The hem of the skirt should be stiffened with an interlining of tailor-canvas, as this keeps the skirt firm and in good shape, the stitching also helping to bring about the same results. The umbrella skirt is another simple and gcod DlDdd that is easily made and econo- mica!' and looks well with a single row of velvet buttons up the front; and the effect is particu lariy g?cd when the buttons arc continued up the front cf the biouee-bodice of mawrial to match, arm.ngcd with a centre box-pleat and pleats on either side. The advantage that a I vest holds over a yoke is that the former, being independent, enables a change to be made from time to time in the aspect of the bodice, the I vest being now light, now dark, now neutral, now touched up with colour. SAILOR HATS FOR THE AUTUMN. I Year bv vear the ubiquitous sailor hat take-s its place among summer fashions, and now it r,mmW to remain with us thron?houit t?e r.rom? agc 'I winter, the new consIgnments oi millinery for the coming month including a large variety of sador "hate in felt and velvet as well i., in straw. The autumn sailor hat is, like the model we have been wearing since the dawn of spring, short of brim and fairly high in the crown, and if trimmed with a broad band of ribbon and big bow of the same, or, in its smartest character, with a single handsome plume curling over the brim or a couple of feathers dexterously arranged at the left side, where the indispensable bandeau lifts the hat from the head and yields the requisite tilt demanded by fashion, the liat poised at an acute angle being still the one most beloved by fashion-makers and followers. Sketched h-re l-s a simple sailor hat typical of what bids fair to be the most popular mode of the autumn. It is of course, soft, black straw, trimmed with black and white striped ribbon, bunched up high at the left side. Similar hats in wine-red straw trimmed with self- coloured or old-pink ribbon are very good to look at. a liberal amount of ribbon serving to decorate the bandeaux. Sailor hat* of plain, coloured fo t. which ring the changes with tho&e of straw, look very well with ribbon-velvet- "1." h es and pompons: and the velvet sailor hat finds a becoming garniture in wide, soft chine ribbon, or satin ribbon, and ostrich feathers; also in big full-blown roses of silk. A VELVET COATEE. I Year by year, with the arrival of autumn, velvet and velveteen are to the fore, and this season is no exception to the rule, but has broug.ht with it a ooilcction of lovely velvets in a range of eolouris taking in all the newest and most fashionable tints. For the smart blou-se or coat for autumn wear nothing sur- passes velvet, and an excellent substitute is good velveteen, which, for blouses, is even pre- ferred by many to velvet, since it haag.s mOfC softly. Tito choice of a smart outdoor costume frequently rests with a doth skirt and velvet Eton or bolero coat, and many an autumn suit is made on these lines. The smart little coat sket.ched is of wine-red velvet, worn with a skirt of cloth to match. It is threaded at the neck with soft satin ribbon in a shade rather brighter than the velvet, and the ends are finally drawn oat tli rough cord ring", and arranged in a series of loops. The coat is cut with spade fronts and ruses shorter at the sides, and the sleeves hang abraight to the elbows, where they are rolled back to form cuffs and finished with lace ruffles. This coat offers a suggestion for the renovation of a last year's model built on Russian lines, with a belted waist and with or without a short basque, the formerly long sleeves being shorn off just below the elbows and provided with natural or added cuffs. The same design works out very well in seal-coloured velvet or plush, also in black chiffon velours, in which character it may be recommended as a season- able substitute for the black taffetas coat that has been so popular a feature of summer fashions. FUR NECKLETS. The Marabout stole dies hard, and although it has been worn to an excess that soon renders a fashion commonplace, and is no longer smart, it even takes its place among autumn fashions, for the reason that nothing has arisen to act a.s all adequate substitute—price and effect taken into cons deraton. Those who aio not limited as to cost will always find charming neckwear in the ties, boas and stoles of good fur, one of the most useful little wraps being the necklet of sable, or sonic less expensive fur, worn as a tight band round the throat and a single pend- ant end hanging below the left shoulder. White fox and eriuno and1 silvery chinchilla are among the luxuries of diiess for the autumn, these; delicate furs depending for their beauty on the. purity and spotlessness of their condition, and requiring considerable care for their perfect presei vat on. THE MOIRETTE UNDERSKIRT. I (me of the most important aids to the euc- cess of a skirt Is a well-cut petticoat, which, unless carefully fitted and kept flat about the region of the waist, is apt to considerably upset the appearance of the outer skirt. Moiretto is accorded a place of honour among materials lX-6t fitted for the composition of a petticoat, for tho reason that it possesses just enough stiff- ne-ss to prove an admirable set-off to the skirt, and at the same time is soft and smooth to the touch and devoid of the sateen-like limpness that has tho disadvantage of rendering a petti- coat too ol nging and impeding the. free move- ment of the knee-s Again, moirette wekirs far better than silk. The newest underskirts are made with side-front plackets, and are quite close-fitting on the upper part and cut with an ample flow below, emphasised by frills and flounces. LEMON JUICE FOR THE FINGER-NAILS for the benoht ot the hands and hnger-naiis it is a good plaii to keep a out lemon on the toilet table, and use it from time to time by squeezing the juice from a quarter of the lemon in a teacupful of hot water. a.nd d pping th? nai!s into the mixture until all stains, grease and cfiit leave thorn. This not only cleans the nails, but makes them more easy to polish afterwards, and with brisk rubbing with tho towel they be- come beautifully transpaient without the use of a brush or leather. However, should a brown ring still remain under the nails, this may he I removed by gently rubbing, under the nail, with a peoe of clean linen, dipped in the lemon solution. It is said that the skin at the base of the nails wou'd' never require cutting if the nails were daily rubbed with a quarter of a lemon and the skin pressed downwards with the towe-L A CORNISH CAKE The old bridal custom of sending out wedges of wedding-cake to friends and relatives is one not willingly cast aside; but the modern "wedge" is often nothing more than a few loose crumbs, hardly wort.h the cost of postage. It is, or was, I am told, a custom in Cornwall to send along with the wedge of Bride's-Cake a small slice of Bachelor's-Cake, the recipe of which was given to me the other day by a friend in whose hoilse it is always to be found among the homo-made cakes, This delicious Cor, nisn gateau is rnaae win. Kalf-a.-pound of flour, a quarter of a pound oach of butter and sugar, two or three eggs, a heap cf teajtpoonful of cas- sia powder, a level teaspoonfu' of V>i co.rUmat« of soda, and some currants and candied peel. The ingredients am mixed together in the same way as for an ordinary plum oake, and, if re- quired, a little milk is added. The eake is then turned into a greased1 tin and baked in a brik oven. As a substitute for cassia powder, where there is any difficulty in obtaining the latter, powdered cinnamon may be used—but in h lesser quar.t ty. The cake should be a rich brown colour when cooked. I BANANA CUSTARD AND JELLY. I Bananas lend themselves to various modes of cookery. They are excellent used for banana custard and banana jelly. The latter is very ouq,?r d azi d j e? quickly made by the aid of a cake o? orange jelly, diseolvc-d in the usual way. and pouted upon rounds of cut banana laid in a ohina mould or glass d sh. Baiiana custard consists of thick boiled cus- tard. stiff enough to set when cold, and poured, like the jelly, upon sliced banana. These two cold dihes are delicious for luncheon or supper.

KELSALLJS PUBLIC-HOUSES. T INHABITANTS' PETITION. I A petition, signed by 344 of the principal rate- payers of Kelsa.1] and the immediate district, com- plaining of the excessive number of public- houses, was presented to the magistrates at the Eddisbury Petty Sessions on Monday. It read as follcvs: "We, the undersigned residents of Kelsall and district, respectfully desire to call your attention to the number of licensed houses in this district, there being six such houses within cne mile and a quarter of each other, two being less than one hundred yardl) apart, and a third within a quarter of a mile. We respectfully urge that this number is con siderabiy in eic-ese of tiie requirements of the district, and the urgent necessity there is for taking mea»uic« to reduoe the existing number of licences. The Chairman (Mr. J. Tomkinson, M.P.), said all the magistrates could do was to receive the petition and assure the petitioners that it would receive their best consideration before the next Brewster Sessions, which would be held at the beginning of February. The Magistrates' O-erk pointed out that the magistrates would be prcpa-red to receive in tJx, usual way evidence which would have to V. given on oath.

SUMMER-END FAG. I 4 WHY YOU SHOULD TRY BILE BEANS. I In the stress and strain of modern life busi- ness mon and women can seldom find time for rest and recreation. The fight for supremacy and the struggle for existence are so keen that bcdy, brain and nerve arc strained to the uttermost. Especially is this so in the enervating summer weather, and a.t the approach of autumn most people are shewing unn istakable signs of "fag." When the body rebe's and health shews signs of breaking, so-called tonics and pick- me-ups are u-sually resorted to. Such unnatural and artificial props eoon fail to overcome the utter weariness of brain and nerve, and the danger of collapse becomes imminent. I But Bile B ans, a true and natural tonic, never fail. Ordinary tonics rely on stimulation for suocefe3; but the body cannot thrive on stimulants, which whip up the weary frame to brief, convulsive efforts, followed by inevitable relapse and greater weakness. The Bile Beans Way is Nature's Way. Bile Beans first cleanse the liver, stomach, and bowels of unnatural accumulations; then they feed the starved nerves with pure rich j blood, and by revitalising and touching up all the functions of the body, they speedily restore the jaded brain to crisp health and energy. B;le Beans for Biliousness are obtainable of all chemists and medicine vendors at Is. lAd. and 2s. 9d. t

 PLEA OF THE FATHER OF TWENTY.- I A defendant at Hank'y on Monday was successful in proving exteumÜing circumstances. He was I charged with neglecting to send his fourteen-year- old daughter to acbool, and in defence he pleaded I that be had brought up a family of twenty I children. The Stipendiary dismissed the case, with a mild caution.

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CRICKET NOTES. The death knell of cricket has already sounded. The interest in the summer pastime is now on the wane, though it is dying a hard death. This is not at all surprising when one remembers the tropical weather of the closing days of August, and considers how much more auspicious it was than the first month of the season. After this week the attention of the majority of sportsmen will be centred on the national winter game, and the 1906 cricket sea- son will be a. thing of the past. Eaton Park on Saturday credited themselves with one of the best victories of the season. Their opponents wero Hoole, and the game was played at Eaton under a scorching sun. The Eatonians batted first, and loot Garforth when ten runs had been recorded. After this, however, Mountford and Major Clifford made a praise- worthy stand and gave the Hoole fielders some of the warmest practice they have experienced this season. The partnership was not severed until the score had been taken to 112. The Major credited himself with only 12 runs, but Mountford hit out freely, and 77 runs stood against his name when he was clean bowled by Lomas. This is the second successive high score of Mountford's, and on Saturday his total included eight boundaries and six hits for three runs. Afterwards another capital stand was made by Captain Huntsman and E. Wells, who simply broke the hearte of the visiting bowlers. The former augmented the score by 45 runs, while the latter carried out his bat for 40. At the fall of the sixth wicket the score stood at 211, and the Eaton captain wisely declared. The Hoole batsmen were never comfortable. Hill was dismissed before a run had been scored, but afterwards Messro. Walton and Daviea batted steadily, and were not separated until 46 runs had been added. The remaining wieldera of tlie willow gave a mediocre ex- hibition, and Hague and North were the only men who reached double figures. The tail end failed to wag at all, and three runs were all that were recorded by the last three wickets. The whole eleven were dismissed for 98, and the suburb team had to accept defeat by 113 runs and five wickets. Boughton Hall credited themselves with a notable win on Saturday, when they vanquished the redoubtable Rook Ferry team by 105 runs. The game was played on the picturesque Bough- ton Hall ground, whioh offered the spectators delightful shady retreats from the tropical sun's rays. Rock Ferry commenced tlie batting, buti their players were never able to face for long the deadly bowling of Rooke and Blencowe. The latter was in fino form, and was responsib le for the dismissal of seven men. Tlie total scoro realised 80, only four men reaching double figures. The home team, always bad the game in hand, and before the fall of the fourth wicket their opponents' score had been passed. The initial batsmen, Stanyor and Day. were cheaply dis- posed of for three runs. Afterwards, however, Donne and Wilson made a capital stand, the former crediting hmself wth 59 runs and the latter scoring 33, all the runs being obtained by sound orioket. Capt. Rooke and Comerford were also in excellent fettle, and knocked the baU all over the ground. On the whole the Wirral ife-idei-s were not sorry when the innings closed for 185 runs, as their task of leather- hunting under such a grilling sun was not ono to be envied. Frodsham premier cricketers concluded their- fixture list on Saturday, when they entertained Warrington second team. The home team, who throughout the season have deplored the ab- sence of several of their best men, managed to put one of the strongest combinations in the field. Frodsham baited first. Hutohings and Cross taking their stand at the wiokeis. The

PCBLI3HED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. THE HAMPSTEAD MYSTERY By JOHN OAKLEY, Author of "The Blackmailer," "A Gentleman in Khaki," "A Fight for a Name," &c., &c. COPYRIGHT. SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. I CHAPTERS 1, II., and III.—When the story opens, Ronald Normington, tho narrntor, has jutt been released after c,orving a term of im- prisonment for a cÚme which he d,id not com- mit. Four years previously he was staying in Surrey with his friend, Maynard Drew, when a jewel robbery took place at Coy ton Towers, dose by. Some months later Normington was arrested on the charge of stealing the jewels. On the evidence of Carpmaei, a London pawn- broker, of Maynard Drew, and of certain stolen articles being secreted in his rooms, he was convicted and sentenced to five yea/g penal servitude. On his release Normington visits his old landlord, Jcei Hudspirh. who believes in his innocence. They go through the evid- ence together again and come to the concl usion ihat there has been perjury and conspiracy on ¡he part of Ma.yna.rd Drew and others, or else ihat it is a case of mistaken identity. Later an the same evening Normington is followed juid attacked. A mysterious third person inter- venes, however, and his assa.ilant is left for dead. CHAPTER IV. To forward the work of establishing my in- nocence, the first need was money. On that Joe] and I were in perfect agreement, and it was the one point upon which I could expect nc aid from him, nor was I much better off myself. Twenty pounds would have more than represented ail my available assets. The salary of a bank clerk does not lend itself to any rapid accumulation of funds, and I had never been a very fervent devotee of theories of thrift. I had never been a penny in debt in my life,May i: i rd Drew to the ccntrary notwith- standing bur I had also never b< < n more than iighteen or twenty pcunds on the right side. T determined to apply to my cousin Ephraim, not beeausc I had noticed any particularly prominent traits of generosity in him, nor be- eause I had very much hope that be would locede to my request, but simply because he was the only one. Maynard Drew I ruled out of tho possibilities entirely. I believed that the story of the L500 was a pure invention on h's part; at all events, I knew that I had never asked him for the money, and that I had not received his hundred pounds. Had he stolen the jewels, and was all the reft. concocted and irranged by him with the obje>. t of throwing the burden of guiit upon my shoulders? But t here was the parson. Was he in the plot or was he an innocent instrument? Joel put it clearly when I mentioned the thing to him. "Drew sent you some money," he said. "I think we may take that for granted. At all events, he sent the parson with a letter." "Supposing he sent him at a time when he knew I was away. I was away, you know, though I don't think I told Drew." "Just so; all that is worth considering; but the chances of accident were so many. What if I had taken the letter off the parson? I should have given it to you, and the whole thing would have been discovered, supposing, that is, that it was a plot of Drew's." "If he sent the money at a time wh"n he knew I should be out and had a confederate iu this house ready to "He must have had a confederate here," aid Joel said decidedly. "Whoever committed the robbery must have had a confederate here. How could the jewels get into your room else ?" Unless I put them there myself," I said with a faint smile. "Ay lad," old Joel returned drily; "it was because the jury thought that that you went to gaol." was oSvbuc. .t. t T -1 1 A i.1 1 A- ■ 41 "Who could have been the ccn fed. rate ? I asked. "Ay, I have thought of that many times. Let me see, we had five lodgers then. A policeman and his wife were at the top—tv<c rooms they had, a bc-droom and a setting-room. Then there was yourself, and an old fellow of seventy, named Cammel, in the next room to veun;, And, fin any, there was old Mrs. Randall, who had been w:th us ten years, ajid who died here three years ago." ""hete is the policeman?" "He was moved to Chelsea, and I don't know where he is now." {.And the dd man, Cammeil ?" "He stayed with us a year off and on after penr trial, and then went to Sunderland to live with a married daughter. I daresay he is <ftad by this." i made my way early next morning to my cousin Ephraim's office in Clorkenwell, but found the name changed. It was Barlow and B.irlow now, and the Turbll. t had disappeared. However, I went inside to make enquiries, with a result that a little astonished me. The elerk glanced into my face, arid without wait- ing for me to announce the object of my errand motioned me to a cha,ir, and disappeared into in inner room marked "Private." He was ibsenf, however, only a minute or two, and an his return invited me to enter the private office. "Mr. Barlow would l.ke to eee you," he ia:d. I went forward, wondering inwardty what Mt. Barlow could possibly want with a perfect rtranger. My curiosity under that. head was very rapidly satisfied. An elderly man of thin, ilmost cadaverous, aspect, rote from his seat it my entrance and held out h s hand. he said. "Good morning. Mr. Normington," be said. "You know me?" I queried. "Not personally," he responded with a slow itn,"c "my cierk does, and he ident—gave me reur name. You are Mr. Ronald Norming- ion ?" .rOB, ves." I said. "and I came "Quite so, but I expected you yesterday. 5ur client, Mr. Ephraim Turbutt. told us that we might expect you yesterday." "Did be ten ycu my story?" I queried bluntly. "Your s t—, < h. yes, I see, yes, I think I may lav that he told us your story. e were both ideated by this time, and I was beginning to m?lect my wits. I had evidently lone what was expected in making my a.pplic' tion to Ephraim, and my spirits rose a little at tv,c-.n the faint prospect of success Mr. Barlow's words opened. "Is my cou-, Mr. Turbutt, your partner. I as ked. "Oh. no. not at all. He is our client. He has relinquished practice some years now. and I* d IS living at Hindhcad." "Is he wealthy?" "I should ssy that Mr. Turbutt was a man &f very ccnsiderabie—er—resources," be re- sponded. am very glad of that," I 6-id bluntly. "I want to borrow some money from him. Am I to see him?" "Tbat, I regret to say is net feasible," he rep.'ied. "Mr. Turbutt is travel!ing on the Con tinent But b,.fo"c he loft he gave me per- sonal instruction"?. 'I expect my oousin. Mr. Rc.r.a'd Normington, to--er--to r(.-turn to Eng- land on such and such a date, and it ie rather more than possible that lie will call here. If so tell him I have left certain instructions con- ce-:n:ng him with ilfr. Vanneck. "Vanneck. Vanneck," I muttered "the name lee! familiar and yet-" It came back to roe with a ru-h. Vanneck, I remembered now as a friend of my cousin'p, an Australian, with a very pretty daughter, fourteen or fifteen years old. I had met both the man and the girl at Ephraim'? house, and had been. I remembered, a good deal amused at the former's shrewd, hrJf-cynioal outlook i upon zraiikind in general. I had noticed the 1 girl, too, in a merely casual way. as giving • promise of future beauty, though she was too much of a child, and tro shy to claim a more !( detailed attention. "And what is Mr. Vanneck's address?" I asked. "Holme Lea. Cranford-road, Hampstead. I made a note of it on a slip of paper, then rose to take my leave. By the way." I said, as if with a sudden ihcught; "Would it be drscrcet to enquire what connection Mr. Vanneck has with my cousin— with Mr. Turbutt?" "Not at all, not at all, Mr. Vanneck is Mr. Turbutt's private secretary and general manager." "Oh!" "Yes. Precisely what hie duties are I do not know. But he pcsseSSe6 his employer's full confidence, and any arrangements he may make will be as if Mr. Turbutt had made them. I think that ie ail. My instructions were brief and precise. 'My cousin may call here on such and such a date and if he does refer him to Mr. Vanneck.' We safd good morning, and I turned to go, but paused at the door to put another ques- tion, perhaps an unwise one. but one which under the circumstances was not entirely un- natural. "You said you knew my story" I re- marked. "Yes, I had it from Mr. Turbutt." I nearly asked him whether my cousin be- lieved in my innocence, but I changed phrasing on the spur of the moment. "What was the story he told you?" I de- manded. "That you had been for 6onie years absent from England in charge of some estates of his in Jamaica." Was he lying, or was that the story my cousin really had told him. The old man's face might have been carven in marble for any chance I had of reading into it any expression that might serve as a guide to his inner mind. As I was going out I passed the clerk who had introduced me to Mr. Barlow. "You rccogniscd me," I said. "Yes," he replied, with a rather queer look; "I was with Mr. Turbutt before Mr. Barlow bought the practice." "Uh, then, you knew me before?" "By eight, very well," he responded. "I have been away," I remarked. "Yes, sir," he replied; "so I have heard. In Jamaica, was it not ?" Not a muscle of the fellow's face moved. My own sense told me that he must know the real truth of the matter, and yet he gave no sign. He had been well-schooled, evidently, and meant to carry out his instructions in spirit and in letter. CHAPTER V. My first idea was to write to Mr. Vanneck and get him, if possible, to fix an appointment, but the doubt at; to how much he would know of me, and a dislike to putting my story on paper, stayed my hand in that particular, and I went along to Hainps-tead myself. I met with a rebuff on the very threshold of my venture— Mr. Vanneck was not at home. But Vanneck was, the maid informed me —would I see Miss Vanneck? On the spur of tho moment, and from promptings I did not stay to analyse, I answered in the affirmative, I and wa.;> shewn into a e-mail side room at the back of the hali, evidently, to judge from ite style and equipment, part office, part waiting- room. I caught a glimpse, of the other apart- ments as I parked along, and of a rather spacious conservatory at the rear of the house, and tho impression I gained was one of some- what heavy splendour, not exactly overdone, but certainly a little beyond the appearance of the exterior. Miss Vanneck did net keep me wait- ing. Indeed. I had iiardly placed my hat on the table, and myself in a ohair, ere the door opened and a girl appeared. If it fitted in with my sehcrnc to describe Conetance Vanneck I could hardly do it. Be- cause, you see, it was not only that she was beautiful, but that I loved her. I was not COHRCiüU8 of this at the first meeting, but I think it was there nevertheless, for neither am I conscious that at a Later stage my feelings underwent any striking change. I only know that throughout the wivole of my life, from the day I fir»t taw Constance Vanneck, until thus moment as I write, my heart had been full of her, and the world without her has not counted. The pretty promise of her girlhood had been abundantly fulfilled, and though the was no more than nineteen, she was already a beautiful woman in face and form. Only in her eyes did the light of childhood linger untarnished and — -v- ^.i»wiv wiiuuM n a Mfjiivu with tho passing year--whieh were to come all too eoor; for her. "My name," I said rather bluntly, "is Ronald Normington." A quick smile leapt into her eyes, and she came forward, holding out her hand. "My father expecTed you," she said. He told me he expected you. Oh, I am so sorry he is not at home." She perched herself on a corner of the table and fat swinging one dainty foot backward and forward, looking down at i-to with the utmost friendliness, and with a good deal of the care- lessness and abandon of lingering childhood. "I am afraid he will be late." she went on. He expected a letter or a telegram from you. Wil i you siav? We have a Bparo bedroom." But I rejected that suggestion very decidediy. It was extremely unlikely that Mr. Vanneck would bo a& ignorant of the fads as his daughter evidently was, and he would be anything but well-pleased to find me on his return installed as an honoured guest. I murmured something about another engagement, and rose as if to take my leave. "Oh, but you will stay and have lunch," she put in. It was a sore temptation, but I take no credit to myself that I resisted it. My thoughts just then were fixed upon Mr. Vanneck and his prob- able view of the situation. "I will Ic-cve you an address, I said, "and perhaps Mr. Vanneck will write. üh. but I am suto he will be vexed that he has missed you." she said, evidently distressed that I would give her no opportunity of making a show of hospitality. But 1 remained firm, and ten minutes later took my leave, unwillingly enough, though I hastened it even to the verge, I am afraid, of bad manners. Early next morning I received a telegram reading: Sorry I wos out. Dine with Con- stance and me at Delardi's to-night at seven. I sat puzzling over that wire for the better part of an hour. Jt. wa-s- the Constance which astonished me most, in the first place becauee the interpo'ation of the name was unnecessary unless it were meant to convey a subtle sug- gestion of cordiality; and, secondly, because its p-c-encx, there rather implied a disposition to ignore my misfortunes. W ould Air. Vanneck, I wondered, refer to my supposed residence in Jamaica, as the lawyer and his clerk had done? I determined that if he did spring that upon me I would quo;t:on him bluntly frailkly. I had a dress suit, hidden awav in the boxes old Joel had so carefully safe-guarded, and this I now hauled forth. It -as a trifle the worse for wear, and was made in the stylo of aeven years back. but when one has worn the broad arrow suit one is by no means a faddist upon ono's personal appearance. A visit to a neighbouring draper completed my outfit. and I was thus able to visit Delardi's in the semblance h ocnic of the minor of a gentleman, although some of the minor details might not have born minute investiga- tion. (To be continued )

I ATHLETIC NEWS. I ▲ I FOOTBALL NOTES. I The football season was ushered in on Satur- day in tropical weather. The condi- tions were almost unbearable for cricket let alone football. Locally, however, the en- thusiasm for the winter pastime is so great that no fixtures were abandoned. Though the post- ponement of the games might have been thought unsportsmanlike, a little consider- ation would have shewn it to be the more humane policy, to have at least adjourned the matches until the cool of the evening. The professional football player nowadays is like the gladiator of old. He is a paid servant, and must train himself to the highest efficiency, and never flinch from doing his duty against any combatants or under any conditions. On Satuiday it seemed well nigh impossible for players to chase a football at full speed round the field for ninety minutes. The sun shone like a ball of fire from a cloudless sky, I and even in the shade the hEat neared 90 de- grees. Exertion seeme d unattainable and the spectators lounged in the shade, halites and in many oases coat1essall trying to evade the sun's rays and cool their heated bodies, yet with curious lack of sympathy they loudiy en- couraged the players, who wore the same clothes as in the- depth of winter, to increase the pace and renew their exertions. Surely the Englishman's fascination for his favourite sport reaches at times almost fanaticism. Chester opened the season on Saturday with a glorious victory. The achievement was no mean one as their opponents,. Nantwic-h, are well known in Combination football as a re- doubtable eleven. The weather, as mentioned, was excessively hot, and, considering this, the attendance was large. Chester lined up as fol- lows:-G,cal, E. Coventry; left back, Jones; right back, Cooper; halves, Galley, Granger, and R. Jones; forwards, Schofield, W. Jonee, Walker, Lees, and H. Williams. Right from the commencement the Ccstrians demonstrated their superiority in the front rank. Like a flash of lightning the five for- wards zig-zagged their way down the field, and on each occasion the wing men finished the movement with capital centres which almost brought about the down- fall of the dairymen's goal. This auspicious opening was heralded with loud cheering. The attack was maintained with a persistency that augured well for success. And it was not long before the Cesit-rians registered the first goal of the season. This honour fell to Wallace Jones. During an incursion Walker passed out to Wil- liams, who, with great promptitude, shot the sphere goal wards. The custodian safely fisted the ball away, but W. Jones met the rebound and smartly banged it into the corner of the net. Nantwieh made frequent incursions into the home territory, but the backs defended stub- bornly, and Coventry'» work in the first half was of a light character. W. Jones scored a second goal during a breakaway in a similar manner to his previous success. Shortly after- wards the' Nantwich forwards dashed away, and Betteley placed the ball beyond Coventry's reaich. This loused the Cestrians, and they kept up a continual bombardment of the Nant- wieh goal. Wallace Jones had hard lines on frequent occasions, but he eventually succeeded in adding Chester's third goal with a splendid kick. Resuming the attack a quick shot was directed towards Lynch, the Nantwieh goal- keeper, who ran out and cleared the ball. It was. however, met by one of the Chester for- wards, who sent it between the sticks. Then one of the visiting backs, much to the amuse- ment of the onlookers, ran in the goalmouth and fisted the ball away. From the ensuing penalty Walker registered Chester's fourth gcaJ, At the interval the score icad 4-1 in favour of the Cestrians. During the first moiety the pace had been fast, but on turning round this began to tell on the players. The agility and smartness pre- viousl v noticed deteriorated. Indeed the heat seemc-d to affect everybody, and the eupport the teams received was of a mild form. Foot- ball is evidently a thirsty game, as loud laughter was created by one of the players retiring and returning with several lemonades. He was I immediately surrounded by the men of both I teams, who all tasted the liquid, with the re- sult that the game had to be temporarily stopped. On the whole little is to be said for the re- mainder of the play. It was always of a nicdiocre description and of an end to end character. The home men had the better of the exchanges. H. Williams notching two goals, and Walker adding a third from a penalty, which was awaided through Lees being badly fouled. The Nantwich forwards were no match for the home defence, and the result was that the Cestrians eventually retired easy victors by seven goals to one. Though the victory was well deserved it would hardly be fair to judge of the individual merits of the piayers. The heat infused a lethargic spirit into everybody, and the grilling sun seemed to sap aw'ay the men's strength and prevent that consistency of form that one would expect under more favourable conditions. We can, however, assure the many supporters of the ekib that the team is a stronger one than that of twelve months ago. The forwards are heavier, work with more cohesion, and pass and re-p&ss with surprising accuracy. Many of their efforts on Satuiday were spoiled by the long grass, which gave the ground the appear- ance of a grazing field. The halves are strong and exhibit sound judgment. Jones is a to-wer of strength to the full-back line, whi-ch was al- ways reliable. Coventry, in goal, was smart, but he indulged tco much in the fatal habit of dallying with the ball instead of immediately kicking it up the fieid. If only he can cease to do thie he should prove a useful custodian Shotton Swifts, in preparation for their initial struggle with Mold Junction to-day (Saturday), indulged in a trial game on Saturday. The at- tack was pitted against, the defence, and. as was anticipated, the former won, though it was by the narrow margin of only one goal to nil, the point being secured by Srwallman. Among the new-comers Williams, Jones, King, Banks and Fenwick, created favourable impressions. Evans. for the forwards, played an excellent game, and fully deserves a place in the team. His centres were a feature of his display. Dawson was the better of the backs, while the halves, Dawson, Fenwick and Williams, played well. The forwards of the "defence" team pkyed very raggedly indeed, and gave the other defenders little cause for anxiety. Queen's Fei-ry commenced the season well on Saturday, when they ent-ert-a ne-cT Hight-own In- stitute in a Chester and District League garno and won by eight goals to one. The only point scored by Hightown was from a penalty kick. For the Ferry, Jones (3), Latham (3), and Stuart (2) were the scorers. The teaan was well served in goal by Tompkins. The backs were, how ever, very mediocre. Among trhe halves. Stuart played a reliable game. The Hightown team gave a d' sappointing display, and shaped very poorly. Had it not boe-n for one or two smart, saves by their custodian, they would haw suffered a more severe defeat. If only the Queen's Ferry men keep together, they have the making of a really good team, as in addi- tion to the:r cleverness they possess a good aver- age weight. Saturday's tropical weather appeared to affect j Connah's Quay clubs in more than one way. The Twenties, who are the local champions, en- countered Kaleyards Works F.C. in a Chester and District League match on Saturday, and were taken by surprise. It was generally thought that the Twenties would win. but they had to be content with a single point. Tho: Twenties led at the interval by the only goal »eorc<l. In the eecond moiety the visitors obtained a penalty, and Arthur Riley scored. Another goal was scored, so that the second division champions led by two goals to one. Things looked die.me..i for the Twenties until Lumburg equalised. Oonnah's Quay gave a trial to B. Roberts, who played a grand game. The team had several opportunities of scoring, but they went abegging. Blucher at one point of: the game had the goal at hie mercy, but lie; allowed the sphere to roll harmlessly