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R ^ I^UED^SEnKX-^EKI^^ l. m. geist's sobs, Pubu.her., {~ % 48iniIS JTcirspapcr,: i!or thij promotion of the political, Social, Agricultural and Commercial Interests of th< geopt^. j ,E"^';oi2K0?,,Jv'""ra'"cl^"ctestablished 1855. YO.RKVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1913. >fO. 88. 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4s 4* 4s i A DAR] * ^ 4? * By ETTA i ^ CHAPTER XXIII. Rejected. In a cozy sitting-room of the villa, on the morning after the concert, Ethel Grevlock sat alone, reading Tennyson's "Maud." Breakfast was over. Aunt Pam had gone to her own chamber. Godfrey Greyloek was writing letters in his library, and the baronet?she did not know where the baronet was, until, of a sudden, the door opened, and he walked quietly into the room. Ethel closed her blue and gold volume, but too late?his gray eyes had alighted on the poem. "The good-looking tenor sang the garden song delightfully last night," said Sir Gervase. She felt her cheeks burn. "Yes." . "Decidedly the fellow has talent. While walking in the grounds this morning I took the liberty to call at Rose Cottage, and ask if your mother had wholly recovered from her indisposition of last evening." Ethel looked up and then down. "And what did you learn?" "That Mrs. Greyloek was quite well ?she had gone out for an early morning drive." Ethel wrinkled her smooth brows in surprise. "An early drive! How very odd! She is not much given to that sort of dissipation, especially in weather like this." and she glanced toward the win dow, against which big drops were already splashing. There was silence for some moments. broken only by the discordant cry of a peacock on the terrace outside. Sir Gervase stood like a figure In bronze, gazing out Into the dreary day. ICthel leaned back in her chair and watched him through lorg, drooped lashes. She was in a morning gown of creamy white, decked with violet ribbons. Her yellow waves and curls were all gathered into a big shining knot. Outwardly she looked as serene and white as a day lily; inwardly she was in a fever of uncertainty and nervous expectation. After covertly eyeing the tall figure and brown face for a few moments, she said lightly: "A penny for your thoughts, cousin." "You underrate the value," he answered, turning and hashing upon her a look which made her eyes fall; "they are all of you." The book of poems slipped from her hold to the floor. Simultaneously both went to pick it up. On the blue and gold cover their hands met. The baronet seized the white fingers and held them fast. "Ethel, you know what brought me to America?" he cried out sharply. The long dreaded crisis was upon her at last! In reckless, undignified 1 * ? Knroalf fV/\?v? him Q T"1 H I nasie, sue iuie ireinvu ?? > ....... ?? rushed toward the door. But he reached it before her, and barred the way. "At least I am entitled to a hearing, am I not?" he said, reproachfully; "and to an answer, Ethel?" She faced him, gray with dread. "What do you wish to say to me?" "I love you!" he answered, with simple dignity. He had struggled with the charm of her beauty?he had mistrusted her. but the fateful words were out at last. She tried to speak, but no voice came; she could only shudder. "I love you!" repeated the baronet, with a sudden great passion throbbing through his voice; "my whole future happiness is in your hands! I swear that I am a thousand times more eager for the alliance, by which your grandfather hopes to unite the two separate branches of the family, than he or any other person on earth can be!" She heard the cry of the peacock on the terrace with considerable desire to crush the' bird for daring to intrude his hideous voice on her despair. Sir Gervase stood waiting for a reply. She made one superhuman effort and recovered her speech. "The alliance of which you speak is ?impossible!" she said. "You mean that you will not marry me?" "I will not marry you!" Plain words; they left no room for ( doubt. He was rejected by this handsome, wayward American girl. "May I ask"? "Ask me nothing," she Interrupted, wildly, "for I cannot answer. Be content to know that you and I can never ?never?never be anything to each other!" He looked unspeakably pained. "Ethel, you refused Dr. Vandine on ho ernund that vou loved another. ^ This, as you know, I heard by accident. Is it for the same reason that you now refuse me?" "I will not tell you!" she cried defiantly. "Say no more. I appreciate the gnat honor you wish to do me. but I must decline it. My reasons I cannot give." "For heaven's sake, Ethel"? "Hush! If it is the Greylock fortune." with a mirthless little laugh, "which you covet, cousin, "take it in . welcome: but me?really you must leave me out of the matter." He colored wrathfull.v. "That is an unprovoked insult, is it not, Ethel? Do you really believe me to be that contemptible thing?a fortune-hunter? Have I w.in from you no better opinion after all these days of friendly intercourse?" She was dumb. "Let me hope that I may some time be able t<? show you the mistake you have made," h<- said, in a proud, aggrieved tone, moving a step nearer the door, yet looking back with passionate yearning at the drooped golden head and dejected figure. Still no reply. He held out his hand. "(lood-by. cousin," he said bitterly. She would not see the hand, nor touch it?had she done so. her self' control must have given away. "Good-by," she coldly answered. K DEED \+ * W. PIERCE ^ 4 He turned on nis neei ana leu tne room. Was it a stifled cry he heard as the door closed behind him? He stopped, listened, but all was still. He crossed 'he hall to Godfrey Greylock's library, ntered, and walked up to the table, 'here sat the master of the Woods, riting his letters. What has happened?" said the latter, startled by the look on the baro- 1 net's bronze face. "I have come to thank you for your hospitality and to say farewell," an- ' swered Sir Gervase. "I must leave Blaekport by the next train." The pen dropped from Godfrey Greylock's hold. H>e arose to his feet. "It is that girl!" he almost shouted. "She has rejected you!" "Yes," answered Sir Gervase, as calmly as he had ever spoken in his life. "By heaven!" shouted Godfrey Greylock, with all his old-time fury, "she shall pay dearly for her folly! How dared she defy my wishes, my commands, like this? For her sake I destroyed one will that was written in your favor?I will now make another that 9hall remain"? The baronet's hand fell quietly on the elder man's shoulder. This continual thrusting of American dollars upon his notice?yea, directly into his face?was becoming intolerable. "Pardon," he interrupted, almost ' sternly; "you will do nothing of the kind. I am not a thief, to take that 1 which belongs to another. If you ' could be so unjust as to will Miss ' Greylock's fortune to me, I should re- ' store it to her before she had time to realize her loss. For years you have ] professed for me a deep regard. I must now put it to the test by begging i you, as a personal favor, not to re- I proach your granddaughter for any disappointment which I may have sus- 1 tained today?not to annoy her in any < way concerning this affair. . To do so i would be monstrous, since she is entirely blameless. If you wish me to go from your door with no unneces- I spry regrets, you will not withhold i from me this proof of your esteem." i Godfrey Greylock struggled hard to i control himself. For years he had thought of this marriage, hoped for it 1 ?laid all his future plans in reference to it, and now it was never to be! i Violent was his wrath, severe his dis- 1 appointment; but the look, the tone i of the baronet, acted upon him like a powerful curb. , "As a powerful favor I ask this!" ] repeated Sir Oervase. "As a personal favor I grant it." answered Godfrey Greylock, almost , against his will. , "Many thanks. It would be intoler- , able for me to think that I had been ( the means of making'discord here, or j unhappiness for Miss Greylock. You pledge me your word that she shall ( not be troubled about this matter?" "I pledge you my word," replied , Godfrey Greylock, gnawing his thin, bloodless lip. "Since it is your re- , quest, I will spare that blind, foonsn girl, but," with a look full of bitter resentment, "she has spoiled nay dear- i est hopes?she has swept away every plan which I had laid for her future." ( "Since your plans could not lead to her happiness, it is best that they should be destroyed," said the baronet, sadly. I "I do not know about that," cried Godfrey Greyloek, walking angrily up and down the floor; "they manage such things better in France! Heaven , above! Did that absurd child give you any reason for refusing your hand?" "None; but it is plain that I have not been fortunate enough to find the way to her heart." "And now you will return to England?" groaned the other. Sir Gervase shook his head. "Not immediately. Some friends of mine are shooting buffalo in the far west. I shall join them and share their wandering life for awhile. Later ?in the autumn, probably?I shall sail for home." So ended Godfrey Greylock's matchmaking. Half an hour after, Ethel saw a carriage roll swiftly off down the avenue, and knew, beyond doubt, that the baronet was gone. She had looked her last upon him. Henceforth she would be to him, and he to her, nothing but a memory and a name. She stood and watched the vehicle till it vanished among the trees?she was still straining her eyes after it, when a servant opened the door and announced: "A person from Cat's Tavern to see Miss Greyloek." Ethel turned quickly, and confronted a light, shabby figure, in a common working-dress, with a plain black shawl pinned across her bosom, and a hat of coarse straw fastened over her smooth, massive braids. Again the two girls stood face to face. They were alone, too. By many strange ways Fate had led them to this hour?to this place. One, at least, of the twain was deeply moved. She looked at the beautiful creature before her?she thought ?f the secret locked in her own heart?that secret of which the other was as unconscious as the dead, and she could scarcely control her voice to speak. "A gentleman at the inn sends this letter to Miss Oreylock," drawing a sealed envelope from her pocket. "If you please, I am to wait for an answer." The heiress of the Woods changed color. Her white jeweled hand went out eagerly to meet the hrown, workworn one of the messenger. She tore open the letter with breathless haste ?it ran thus: "My Own: I have been studying the topography of Blackport, and tonight. at 8 sharp, I shall wait for you at the cairn by the old salt - pits. Now fulfill your vow, and leave all to follow him who loves you better than his own soul. Regnault." Ethel Greylock crushed the letter In her hand, and fell into the nearest chair. He had chosen an ill-omened place Indeed for a tryst. "The old salt-pits?tonight?at 8!" she murmured aloud, quite regardless of Polly?perhaps she deemed caution unnecessary in the presence of this harmless-looking servant. "Oh, heaven, help me!" The cry went to Polly's heart. But she dared not move or speak. She could only remain motionless, almost breathless, and gaze anxiously at Miss Greylock. The latter came to herself at last, saw the messenger waiting *1 ,3 Ill US UC1UI C IICI, auu iciiiciuuti tvi. "An answer," she faltered; "yes, you must take back an answer." And like a person in a dream, she went over to an inlaid desk in the corner, and hastily wrote four words: "I will be there." "Give it to the gentleman at the inn," she said, as she put the paper in Polly's hand, and then drawing out her purse, she took from it a banknote. "And keep this for your trouble," she added kindly. Miss Greylock was always kind to her inferiors. She would have forced the money on Polly, but the sewinggirl drew quickly back. Across her memory flashed the picture of two children begging along wet, dismal streets, climbing weary stairs?the smaller always protected ind upheld hy the larger?receiving :urses and kicks as the reward of the Say's toil, and going to sleep at last In each other's arms on a bare garretfloor, under a dirty skylight. "No, Miss Greylock, if you please, rto!" cried Polly, incoherently: "I can't take your money?it would burn my hands?it would break my heart! ? Jon't ask me! I'm sorry you're in bad spirits?I'm sorry for the trouble in ^our face. Do you think I could be ">f any service to you?the least little bit in the world, you know?" The earnest, anxious tone touched Ethel?surprised her, too. She shook fier golden head. "You are very kind, but I am beyond help." The words seemed to slip out unawares. "Where have I seen you sefore? Your face is strangely familiar." "I live at Cat's Tavern," answered Polly. Miss Greylock passed her hand icross her eyes in a bewildered way, :hen smiled faintly. "Ah, yes, I remember now. You were sewing in the midst of the cats :>ne morning when I rode up to the inn-window. What is your name?" "Polly." "Can I trust you? It is imperative that no one should know of your er and here. I should be in great peril if it were discovered. Can you keep i secret?" A strange, sad smile flitted over Polly's well-cut lips. "Yes, Miss Greylock, I can keep a secret. Not for my right hand would [ tell anybody of my visit to you this morning." "Many thanks. Your face assures me that you are reliable. Some time, perhaps, we may meet again, Polly. Now, good-by." She was dismissed from the presence of the gracious, high-bred heiress. With the message to Regnault elutched in her hand, Polly flew out t>f the house and down the avenue, ind home to Cat's Tavern. "Thank God! she's forgotten it all!" she sighed to herself as she went; "something in my face seemed to stir a faint cloud within her, but she remembers nothing! And she shall never know! I would tear my tongue from my head sooner than tell her!" She reached the inn, gave Miss Greyloek's note to Regnault, who was waiting impatiently to receive it, and then went about her daily tasks, silent, undemonstrative, but with a purpose as fixed as Fate in her heart. Meanwhile up at Greylock Woods, the carriage which had conveyed the baronet to the Blackport station re turned empty. Ethel saw it come back, as she had seen it depart; then she fastened a gTeat cluster of carnations in her corsage, and with a forced smile on her lips, went down to lunch with her grandfather, Aunt Pam and Dr. Vandine, who had been invited to join the family that day. Godfrey Greylock looked sternly at his granddaughter. She was nervous and pale, and there were hollows under her lovely eyes. In spite of his wrath and disappointment, he felt his heart soften toward her. Surely she would come and explain the whole matter to him as soon as an opportunity offered. .She could not?she would not seek to hide anything from the grandfather who adored her. Rut he was mistaken. Luncheon seemed rather dull. Vandine and Miss Pam sustained the conversation. In the presence of the woirjan whom he hopelessly loved, the doctor was constrained and ill at ease. His rugged face looked worn and dejected. Plainly his unlucky passion for the heiress of the Woods had caused him some genuine suffering, and alas! It was not conquered yet. The dazzling face on the other side of the table, with the soft, gracious eyes and warm mist of hair, still* turned his head giddy, and made his heart beat like a trip-hammer. Nevertheless, he struggled bravely with his salad and cold chicken, and did his best to fight that sour fiend. Silence, from the table. Godfrey Greylock and Ethel gave him little assistance, but Miss Pam openly attacked the very subject everybody was secretly thinking. "I am sure. I cannot understand why Sir Gervase should rush away in such reckless haste from civilization to hunt buffalo and wild Indians." she said. "There is no accounting for tastes, Pamela," replied Godfrey Greylock, dryly. "We all have our whims." "Do not the savages 01 me wesi scalp the English nobility quite as dexterously as they do plainer people?" "Without doubt?when the opportunity offers." "Then I fear Sir Gervase's title will soon pass to the next of kin." "Nonsense! He has promised to return east in the autumn." "It seems to me his sudden flitting is scarcely Mattering to any of us?eh, Ethel?" Thus appealed to, Ethel looked up, with a suspiciously cheerful smile. "I admire the baronet's adventurous turn of mind," she answered: "of such stuff are heroes made. Do not j fret about him. Aunt Pamela?he is capable of taking good care of himself." As they all arose from table, Godfrey Greylock pressed near to his granddaughter. "Have you anything to say to me. my dear?" he asked, in a low, anxious voice. She turned a shade paler, but shook her head. "Nothing, grandpapa." His wrath kindled against her with new force. She did not mean to confide in him, then. Ethel dined that day at Rose Cottage. There, a new trial awaited her. Mrs. Iris, who kept a close watch on the villa, already knew of the baronet's departure. She flew at Ethel as soon as the latter was seated in the pink boudoir. "Oh, you foolish child!" she cried i out, almost fiercely. I know what you have done?you need not tell me. The day will come, and soon, when you i will rue your folly! How could you 1 refuse that man for?for?any reason i whatever? Is not your grandfather, furious?" "I fear he is, mamma," answered i Ethel, wearily; "but as yet he has said i nothing. Do not talk of the matter, please?I am ill today, and out of i spirits." i Mrs. Iris's delicate face looked l pinched and old with anxiety. She ] felt, just then, as if the sword of Dam- < ocles was. suspended above her head. She had compromised with the man < at Cat's Tavern, but what was to be done if Godfrey Greylock should cast 1 out Ms granddaughter, as he was like- I ly to do, in case he discovered her in- l trigue with Regnault? The detested mother-would surely share the fate of < the child. Whichever way she look- i ed, dangers threatend. < "Ethel! Ethel! had you married the baronet, all would have been wen. i Sheltered in his love, and wearing his name, you could have defied our en- ] emies. And I- would have gone to England with you, beyond the reach 1 of?of everything. But now you and I i must stand alone, and meet whatever < Fate sends. 'Whom the gods design I to kill they first make mad!' I am sure i you were mad when you rejected Sir ] Gervase Greylock." I Hannah Johnson passing through 1 the room at that moment, cast a ma- i lignant glance ct the heiress of the 1 Woods, but the latter, for once, did 1 not see the obnoxious waiting-woman. ' "Mamma," she said, gravely, "I do t not understand you. What enemies i have you and I? Whom need we fear?" < Mrs. Iris colored. ' "Everybody has enemies," she an- ' swered, irritably. "It will be your fault?yours only, Fairy, if we are cast out of Greylock Woods. I have play- I ed my cards shrewdly?acted my part well, but I fear?I greatly fear, you I will vet involve us in common ruin!" "Mamma, you are very severe. It 1 was impossible for me to m^rry Sir Gervase Greylock." "Blind, foolish girl!" 1 "Yes, mamma, I am that, and more," ' answered Ethel, sadly, "hut I think you exaggerate the trouble I have ' brought upon you by disappointing 1 grandpapa. He loves me?he is not ' the vindictive being that you suppose 1 ?ho will not visit my sins upon your head." 1 "That remains to be seen," snapped ^ Mrs. Iris. "My dear Fairy, you have had your way, but you will yet find that it costs one a great deal some- j times to have one's own way, especially in a love affair." She was sulky and petulant during dinner, and Ethel left Rose Cottage early?glad to escape from this mother, whom she had neither loved nor 1 trusted?this mother, to whom she had never confided a secret in her life. Twilight had begun to gather by the time she reached the* villa. Fortunately Godfrey Greylock was dining out. Ethel went straight to her own chamber. It now lacked but a few minutes of 8 o'clock. She opened her wardrobe and brought forth a cloak, hat and veil, of plain gray. These she put on. She took nothing of any kind. Once she seized a pencil and paper as if to write, stood for a moment irresolute, ' then put them down again. Plainly she had no word to leave behind her for those who had hitherto been her nearest and dearest. An ormolu clock on the mantel struck the hour. Was it the joy, the eagerness of love which turned her face as white as death?which made her tremble from head to foot? Reg nauit naa canea ner ana sne must go to fulfill her vow made under the dripping trees of the schoolyard, in the anguish of parting, weeks before. But the spirit that waited to guide her steps was not joy. Outside in the corridor she heard Miss Pam giving orders to Hopkins. She stood and listened till the voices died away; then she flew swiftly and noiselessly down the stairs, and out of the house. CHAPTER XXIV. At the Cairn. The evening was what the day had been?gusty, and full of clouds, and fitful splashes of rain; but there was still light enough In the sky to guide Ethel Oreylock, she flew down the drive into the highroad. She started for the cairn. Her chief fear was that she might encounter her grandfather's returning carriage; but Kate favored her. She saw no living creature. Turning into the narrow path that led from the highway, with a swift, determined step, she descended to the old salt pits. He was there, leaning against the heap of rocks and rubbish?tnat monument which Mercy Poole's hand had raised tu her false, dead lover. Yes, it was his own dark, splendid self, in cloak and sombrero, with the stagehem air which she remembered so well, and ardent eyes that anxiously searched the gloom, up and down, and round about, for the coming of his "fair ladye." To beguile the time of waiting he had lighted a cigar?its red spark burned like a star in the darkness. As Ethel Greylock s step sounded on the soft ground, Regnault threw away the weed, and rushed to meet her. Instantly she was in his arms, clasped close to his heart. He was covering her pale face with his kisses. "My darling, you are late!" he cried, reproachfully. "I began to think that you, too, were afraid of the ghosts." She did not return his caresses? only stood and received them like a statue. 1 "Why did you choose this place for f a meeting?" she faltered, with a shud- 1 dering glance at the calm, the old pits, and the low salt-meadows, over which t the twilight lay like a pall. "It Is an t evil omen. Do you know what happened here?years ago?" x f Yes," answered Regnault, airily; "I have been at Cats' Tavern all day, and a have heard the whole history of Black- c port from the loss of the first fishing S boat, down to the story of your father's death. But surely yoy are not superstitious, my darling? I choose this 1 place of meeting because we were not c likely to be Interrupted here?I un- f derstand the Blaekport native shuns c the spot as he would the pestilence, g You cannot think that your father's spirit would harm you, or any one dear to you, Ethel? It is the living, not e the dead, that we have to fear. Why * did you run away from the concert t last night? I had meant to reach you > through the crowd, in spite of your v grandfather, in spite of the English i baronet, but you vanished, and the Bopl went out of my voice?I sang on, t bia without Inspiration." a The wind swept drearily across the " marshes. Far off the pulsing sea, * stored by coming tempest, made a I mournful sound on the rocks. Rain 1 paltered down at intervals. The gath- v erihg night, the sounds In the air, the very sky that lowered overhead, seem- a ed! ominous of evil. c 'jMamma fainted because of the heat, and was carried out?I followed s her," answered Ethel Greylock, in p y faint voice. She broke from her lover and lean- t ed against the cairn. Her feet were r now on the very spot where her fath- d er fell. "Arthur, it was strange that you d should come to Blackport in this way." i He searched her face with keen, ap- y prehensive eyes. r "Strange??not at all!" he answered, with forced carelessness; "I had an opportunity to attach myself to the r Orpheus troupe, and accepted it, on y learning that the company was about to'visit Blackport. This morning I 1 purposely quarreled with the mana- i; ger, and broke my engagement. The I troupe departed from the .town hours y ago. I lingered only to secure you! My love, how white and strange you look!?how unlike the girl that parted I with me at the school! I 'fear that " titled English snob is making your life i a burden?tormenting you with his y fletestable suit?exhausting your pa- g tience and forbearance?eh, is it not so?" g She caught her breath. "Sir Gervase left the villa this morn- " ing," she answered. "B.v heaven! that means you have j given him his conge, Ethel!" g "Yes. Oh, hark! Arthur, I hear a i footstep!" Y "It is the wind. You are nervous j tonight?your hands are like ic?T*"r eagerly seizing them and pressing to c his lips her ringed, white fingers. r 'Ah, Ethel, I find you ten times love- r lier than you you were at school, and a my passion for you has increased a hundredfold with separation. Now tell f me, how is It with your love for me?" j A night bird out on the dim marsh- t es uttered a plaintive cry. In the fail- e Ing light, the rude cairn seemed to j frown upon the pair. Some old weeds f and bushes growing about the old salt- c pits rustled weirdly in the wind. Ethel Greylock made no reply?only e shrank from her lover's gloating eyes e and was dumb. "Why do you not answer?" said t Regnault his voice growing soft and ^ persuasi\? "The despotism of Love s is that one must leave all and follow > him. Are you ready to go with me, r Ethel??ready to reward my devoted love, at last? You see the clump of r. trees betwixt this spot and the high- g way? A carriage is waiting there, t We must reach Blackport station in g time for the evening express." e Still no reply. Was this maidenly 1 diffidence?womanly perversity? She stood on the ground that had been her 1 father's death-place, and looked at t her lover?at the picturesque figure, e cloaked to the heels?at the handsome face under the wide hat. Behind her was home, kindred, and the affection 1 which had nourished and protected r her for long years. Before her j stretched the great strange world, to I be conquered with him. Her silence I alarmed Regnault. He put his arms t boldly around her. c "Come, my own, come! You swore to be mine when I should call you?I call you now! This very hour you must marry me. Do not ask me to f wait longer. Delays, as we both know, ( are dangerous. In a day or two we will return here, and sue for your c grandfather's blessing. When he t finds that we are married he will yield t to the irrevocable and forgive us." ^ She freed herself quietly and firmly v from his embrace. c "I cannot go with you, Arthur," she t said. I It was like the bursting of a bomb, i He fairly staggered. s "You cannot go with me??and why?" f "Because," with an eloquent thrust- v ing out of hands, "everything Is t changed between us since our parting c at the school!" c He could not mistake the tone, the r gesture. It was now his turn to be s dumb. f "To keep my oath," she went on, c steadily, "would be a greater sin than C to break it. It was rash and foolish f ?it was forced from me unfairly. I V seem to have lived ages since that morning?I am not the same person you trusted then. We must part here, Arthur; part for ever, for I no longer 1 love you. I came to this place tonight solely to tell you this." c "You no longer love me?" he echoed, r in a sort of dull amaze?he had never J dreamed of such a catastrophe. "Who has poisoned your ears against me, t Rthel? Great God! has your mother 1 dared"? Her astonished look cheeked him in time?slew his suspicions at once. "My mother!" said Ethel Oreylock; 'what can she know about you?" "Not anything, of course?pray pardon me. I talk at random?I am dazed. How did this state of things come about?" She drew away from him with a sort of sad dignity. "I cannot tell. I did not want to be fickle, inconstant. I tried to remain true to you, but the change was'' wrought in spite of myself. Despise me, and leave me!" He was very calm?too calm foi lonest wrath. His clay-white fact jleamed unpleasantly under his somjrero. "You no longer love me!" he repeated in a strange tone; "say it once nore, Ethel." "I no longer love you!" she replied irmly. "Enough! I need no explanation?] tm not an idiot. The whole matter an be compressed in three wordsSir Gervase Greylock!" Silence. "Why do you not deny It?" cried itegnault, with sudden fury; "you annot! You are throwing me over or that fellow! His title has won the lay?that, and the fear of losing your rrandfather's money. I see it all." "Ynn Arr " qHa onau/arpH nolmlv 8 no desire to wear a title, no feat wen of displeasing my grandfather vhich stands betwixt you and me, Arhur; but I have ceased to care for 'ou. I know that what I felt at school vas but a brief delusion?the foolish nfatuation of a romantic girl." "Whence comes this new wisdom, his extraordinary enlightenment?" he iaid, with thick, difficult utterance. 'Who learned you to read your own leart so well, Ethel?who but the englishman? Confess that you love ilm?that your rejection of his suit vas but a farce?" Even by that failing light he could lee the guilt and misery in her downRSt face. "I have confessed enough," she aniwered, drearily; "all that it concerns 'ou to know." In Regnault's languid southern naure there was a tiger, usually dornant, but now the beast leaped sudlenly up to cruel, savage life. * "The carriage is under the trees yonler," he said, hoarsely. "Everything s prepared for our flight, and now 'ou refuse to go with me?you throw rre over, like a heartless Jilt." She was very humble and ashamed. "After all I have said, Arthur, is it iot simply impossible for me to go with 'OU?" "And you think I will give you up ike this? A thousand times, no! It s too late to change your mind, Sthel. If I have lost your love I can et regain it." "Never!" "Then I will take you without love." ie put his arms rudely around her, I am a desperate man, and I love you inspeakably. Willing or unwilling, 'ou must he mine, Ethel?you must ;o with me!" Indignation and alarm struggled together in her pale face. "Release hie!" she cried, haughtily, or I must call for help!" "And who would hear you In this dace?" he scoffed; "who but tht rhosts? I will not release you, Ethel fou have made a ruffian of me?you lave aroused a legion of devils in my leart. What! Do you think to shake ne off now, you heartless, treacher>us girl? Be careful how you drive ne to extremes. You shall go with ne, Ethel, or never leave this place ilive!" Wicked words, hissed out like a blasl rom a furnace. He was in a towerng fury. She stood un white anci launtless, disdaining to struggle igainst his brute strength, but flashng on him such scorn and amazement rom her lovely eyes as might have rushed him then and there. "This spot, where my father suffer(d. would be a fitting place for suci i tragedy!" she answered, bitterly 'At last I see you as vou are, Arthur; he scales have fallen from my eyes ferHy, I deserve these threats and Inults for my supreme folly In meeting ou tonight?for the still greater folly f once dreaming that I loved you." ?InA okAob fVia lnnc aalt pTfl.Q.i 1 IIC Wiiiu onuur\ me i "?*e? wu>w ?n the low marshes, the light waf ;oing fast; rain splashed down on th( aim, and behind it, in the sheltering tloom, crouched something, darkei tven than the twilight, but neithei Sthel nor Regnault saw it. "If you have humiliated me enough et me now say farewell," she exclaim d. "I trust we shall never meel igain." His hold upon her tightened. "You cannot say that word to me,' le cried, like one frenzied. "I woulc ather take my farewell of life than o1 rou. Hark! You hear that whistle' t is from the driver of the carriage; )e is growing impatient. For the lasl ime I ask you?Will you keep youi >ath, Ethel? will you come with me?' She made a gesture of aversion. "No! no! no!" "Then, if I cannot have you, nc ther man ever shall?least of all, Sli 5ervase Greylock!" A sudden, ear-splitting scream rang >ut across the old salt-pits and ovei he marshes, but the voice which utered it was not Ethel's. In the deef jloom a figure leaped up from tht veeds and rubbish at the base of the airn, and rushed, like lightning, bewixt Miss Greylock and the man whe leld her?no ghost, but a palpitating mman body, filled with desperatt itrength and courage. On Ethel's failing sight flashed a ace, like a falling star. There was a vicked exclamation from Regnault he glitter of something like a shafl if blue light. A hot Jet spurted out in Ethel?drenched her in a sudden ed rain. Then followed a second ihriek, which ended in a choking gurjle of blood, and there by the rude aim, on the evil spot where Roberl Jreylock had perished long years beore, Ethel threw out her powerless lands and fell prone upon the earth. (To Be Continued.) Pointers About Rice.?In the annua rade edition of the New Orleans Pica une a rice company devotes a whole >age to the exploitation of the merits if rice as a food. Some of the statenents in the advertisement are wort! emembering in a time like this, wher neat is altitudinous in price. Rice, ror example, is more nuinious than <vheat, rye, oats, corn, poatoes, fat beef or lean beef. There ii is much food value in one pound of Ice as there Is In three pounds of poatoes or 1 8-10 pounds of fat beef. A bowl of rice for breakfast is as nitritlous as two strips of bacon anc wo eggs. The same bowl of rice foi reakfast will carry one as far as e >ound of steak. Rice is the most digestible cereal t is wholly assimilated in one hour t takes more than three hours to direst white bread. Any man can live by eating twc >ounds of rice the day. Some rice eaters, however, make a nistake in wanting the rice white ind with all the hulls taken from it rhe hull taken away from rice is fed o cattle in the form of bran. It is ust as nutritious as the rest of th< p-ain.?Richmond Times Dispatch. ; HOLD BACK THE COTTON. Such Is the Advice of Governors' Conference. REDUCE ACREAGE ABOUT 25 PERCENT i ' The Way to Protect the South's Great Staple Is to Diversify Crops, Live at Home and Get More Money for 11 Enough Than the World Will Pay i for Too Much. The farmers of the south must with! hold from the market every remaining hale of the present season's crop of cotton and follow this with a concert ed and binding agreement to reduce next season's cotton acreage at least ' 25 per cent If they hope to restore the south's great money staple to a normal price level and retrieve the losses ' sustained by reason of the present low 1 prices. This is the plan which the conferL ence of southern governors adopted * at its concluding session in New Orleans last Tuesday, to secure Imme1 dlate relief from the depression in the price of the staple. As a means of securing permanent relief from such changes and to guarantee cotton farmers in the future ' against the necessity of glutting the market with his supplies in the opening of the season, the conference adopted resolutions favoring the es1 tablishment In every cotton growing state of state-controlled warehouses, anif the or>1ler>Mnn and nerindlenl nilh licatlon of statistics bearing upon the world's demand for and consumption of American cotton. The proposal of foreign banking in| terests to finance a holding movement covering 2,000.000 bales of the present crop, was referred to a special committee for further action. The recommendations of the conference follow: 1 "We earnestly recommend to the planters of the southern states to follow the example of Louisiana and so diversify their crops as to produce ev' erything necessary for consumption on the farm, and let cotton be the surplus crop even If the quantity raised , shall be 25 per cent less than the present crop, as then they will get Just as much in return for much less labor than this year's crop will yield at | present prices, will soon free them' selves from debt and be in condition without any financial aid, to sell their crops gradually as the demand shall exist, and not market the work of a ' year in sixty or ninety days as they have been accustomed to do. "We call upon our representatives in* congress to have the present crop ' reporting system so amended to report 1 the periodical publication of reliable statistics of cotton consumption, man' ufacturing and trade Information gathered from all cotton consuming 1 countries and we recommend also, and 1 for ourselves agree, that the commis1 sioners of agriculture in the cotton states gather and publish like lnfor" matlon and we suggest to the legisla tures or tne conon states adequate appropriations to this end and uniform ' legislation enabling the agricultural commissioners to act in concert and to t constitute a bureau of cotton manu' facturing, cotton trade and cotton consuming Information to the end that with the estimates of production which 1 are now furnished by the Federal ' government, there may also be estimates of demand and thus put the ' planter in position to tlx a fair price for his product. f "The members of the conference have been reliably informed that bulls on the cotton exchanges have been ' indicted in the United States courts ' under the Sherman act for conspiring ' to buy cotton and advance the price ' and if this be In accordance with the [ provisions of that act then we respectfully insist that the bears in the exchanges who conspire to sell cotton ' which thev do not possess with the expectation of a decline in price, or [ for the purpose of effecting a decline, be likew'se prosecuted. , "A fair and comprehensive system of future trading is accepted by the commercial world as essential to the t proper and advantageous movement and distribution of the crop, but It is urgently recommended that congress [ shall pass such laws as will abate , abuses and regulate future contract trading in exchanges to the end that it discharge its function as a trade utility, fair alike to both buyer and seller and to the commodity which is the subject of the fifture transactions. "It is earnestly recommended that ' the several state governments shall take appropriate action to bring about such warehousing system, or systems, as will best serve the interests of the [ producer of cotton. "In view of the apparent demand ( for cotton during the next thirteen f months, we recommend that the un[ sold cotton of the present crop be withdrawn from the market and disl posed of by a system of gradual mar ^ keting. We urge bankers ana dusiness men to co-operate with farmers ' in this undertaking. "We report to the cotton farmers | that tentative and attractive proposlI tions have been made by responsible financial interests for purchasing 2,000,000 bales of the present crop. This t negotiation is referred for development into practical form to a committee. * i "Reduction of acreage in 1912 is urged as a necessary part of any plan of holding and financing the present crop. We recommend and for our. selves agree that the governor of each 5 cotton state proceed at once to ap' point a representative in each county, who in turn will appoint a representa? tive in each school district or voting i precinct, to secure from every farmer a binding written pledge to reduce his cotton acreage in 1912 twenty-five per cent below his acreage in 1911. ' "Without discussing the merits of f pending proposals for monetary re form we recommend that in any legislation which congress may enact for i emergency currency based upon comI mercial paper underwritten by banks ' or associations of banks, provision be t made for including In these acts for such emergency currency, commercial . paper, representing transactions in . cotton goods and other manufactured products. "It is our opinion that by prompt > and aggressive action under co-operation and organization, the cotton l farmers and business men of the , southern states can speedily rescue . the present crop from impending sacI riflce and can restore the fair price i which demonstrated demand warrants, : and can insure stable values from year to year." It was decided to hold similar conferences in the future on the call of the chairman. . The committee which is to consider the proposed financing of 2,000,000 hales of the present crop is composed of Governor Colquitt of Texas and Governor Sanders of Louisiana, Governor O'Neal of Alabama, Governor Noel of Mississippi and four citizens to be appointed by the goverhors named. THE DYING PINES. r\. _A A U QaaLias uopanmviu wi rtyi IWUIVUI ? i vwnuijf to Get Information. In the fall of 1910 and winter of 1911 there were numerous requests from , correspondents for Information and assistance relating to the dying of pines in various sections of the southern states. In compliance with these requests the United States department of agriculture, through its experts and agents in the bureau of entomology, has given special attention to the subject. A thorough study has been made of the character and extent of the trouble in the South Atlantic and Gulf states during the past six months. Forest Insect Field Station 7 was located at Spartanburg. S. C., early in July to serve as the headquarters of representatives of the bureau of entomology, who, from this central point, have been very active In giving practical instructions and demonstrations on the cause of the dying pine and the remedy. Many thousands of circulars and letters of Information have been sent direct to owners of pine in all of the South Atlantic and Gulf states. Addresses have been delivered at community, county, state and Inter-state meetings of owners of pine and others interested in the protection of the forest resources of the south, and the press has given wide publicity to the movement. There is now evidence of widespread interest in this subject and we are confident that if the information already given to the people is properly utilized in a concerted effort by the majority of the owners in the affected areas, the pine will stop dying. " With a view to securing direct information as to the interest manifested by owners of pine in each community where trees are dying, return postal cards are being sent to the owners with questions as follows. The replies to these questions will indicate to what extent the department has attained its object of rendering a service to the people and whether or not further assistance is required. Questions to be answered "Yea" or "No": 1. Are there patches of dying and dead pine in your community? 2. If there are patches of dying timber have you had information on the cause and remedy? ...... By letter? Circular? Public address? or Newspaper? 3. In your opinion is there sufficient interest in saving the pine in your community so that a majority of owners will take the required action this fall and winter to prevent further l088? 4. Do you or your neighbors desire any further information or instructions that will enable you to get the beat-taaulla-ai. the least expense? 5. Give the name and address of some owner in your community or county who Is taking an active interest in the subject? If owners of pine will answer the above questions by number and mall them to Forest Insect Field Station 7, Spartanburg, S. C., it will promote this movement for the protection of their timber. . BEGGARS HURT SOUTH. Bishop Lays Failure to Get Immigrants to Them. "Mischievous mendicancy is responsible for the failure of the immigration tide to turn southward, ac cording to Blsnop warren vanuicr ui the Southern Methodist church. In an Interview, the bishop said: "More than the failure of the railways to advertise the resources of the south and more than the race problem, there are certain groups of southerners who have injured the south at the north and In Europe by m a mischievous mendicancy. "These are they who have been ready to run to northern millionaires for money to endow our colleges, and even for money to cure the alleged diseases of some of our people. Thereby they have advertised the south as a section teeming with ignorance, stinginess, mortal diseases and degenerates who were made degenerates by their ailments. "They have secured a few hundred thousand dollars by their mendicant pleas, but they have damaged us to the amount of millions, not to speak of injuries worse than financial losses. Their readiness to ask and receive any sort of gifts has presented the south before the world as a povertystricken, disease infected. Ignorant people, among whom no Intelligent immigrant would wish to live, however rich and cheap the soil of our section may be. It Is time to call a halt on all this persistent mendicancy. "Our people are able and willing to solve their own educational problems. We do not need to beg any man to pay our school bills, or teach us how to conduct our educational institutions. A super-serviceable 'Southern association' may as well dissolve or direct its missionary efforts to some other section. "Much ado has been made about the hookworm in the south, and Rockefeller has seen fit to give a large sum to be used in purging southern people of alleged lazy bugs. MT* l? an mf fhot QflV flTld 1L 13 CIIUU51I iU oo,j %?? ? ?v ? all of our people are quite* able to pay their own doctors' bills. We are able to treat our own patients and we would be still more able to care for them if our section were not so constantly advertised to its hurt by our mendicant theorists and reformers. "What the south needs very mQch Is to be let alone. She has been the clinical subject for all sorts of theorists and reformers long enough." The "Iliad" Not a Myth.?The fall of Troy after a ten year siege by the Grecian princes about 1184 B. C. has long been considered as a rather mythical foundation for Homer's immortal epic, the "Illiad." But In 1876 the excavations of Schllemann on the repuifii sue u& x i uv uiuukiu iu n^iu under the ashes of two superincumbent fortress cities the remains answering to the descriptions of Homer and a hidden vault containing goblets, bowls, vases, gems, jewels, armes de luxe and like articles in gold, silver and bronze. These treasures are now generally acknowledged to be the veritable remnants of the once vast riches of Priam, which, although depleted by ten years of costly warfare in the purchase of supplies and mercenaries and the final sack of the ruined city, were thus preserved to enrich the museums of Europe and greatly increase our realization of the wealth and art of that ancient Ilium, which we have hitherto been disposed to consider a poet's dream.?Charles Winslow Hall in National Magazine.