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BY M.T.CALDOR. INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION CHAPTER XII (CoNTiNrr. "How can It be your duty, Eleanor, if aa you said and it made my heart leap with Joy you love me, how can it bo your duty to give me up and marry an other? O, Eleanor, dear Ellie, think ot my life-long devotion, my stern sacri fice, that refused to hear even a single word from you my unceasing toll and ,'lncredlble exertion to fit myself to stand in these doors a suitor for your hand, without a blush of Ehanie! To have gained the long-prayed-for posi tion, to find my love returned, and yet to lose you have you thought how ter rible a doom it is for me? Can it be a duty that would crush our hearts in tho fulfillment?" She wrung her hands. "Forbear, O Walter have pity on my weakness! All last night I wres tled in my agony to seo tho right, I came out of the bitter waters calm in self-renunciation, knowing it was my duty to give you up. Neither your grief nor my own anguish must drift me away from the position I defined then. Dear Walter, my childhood's friend, my protector and comforter al ways, help me now to be true to my own convictions of right!" ; There was a solemn pathos in her tone In her white face and imploring eye that rebuked Waltex's personal grief. ' "Eleanor," said he, impetuously, "If I could see any reason for it if it were not so contradictory to all my Ideas of right I would be wiling to bear my own pain to aid you!" 1 "Be sure I must be well convinced of .the right of it ere I peril your happiness and mire. If you knew nil you would be the first to bid me God speed upon my atoning sacrifice." Walter was looking steadfastly into ;the beautiful face. Coming suddenly forward, while lip and cheek paled be neath the intensity of hi3 emotion, he held out his hand. J "It Is enough. I will bid you God speed row. I renounce my hors. Ellio my Ellie, for whom I have lived, and striven, and hoped. I will give you up, even unto another's arms." ; Lady Eleanor's head drooped torward to his shoulder; her cold white cheek .touched his; her brown curls flung .their sunny ripples against hl3 jfcty locks, while her quivering lips whis pered: , "God bless you, Walter! It Is pleas ant now to think how short is earth how enduring Heaven!" . He wrapped his arms around her, pressed her passionately to his hoart, and then put her away. A step on the threshold startled them. Lady Anna hr stood within the doorway, her sad glance wandering from one agitated face to another. She was evidently greatly moved, yet she came in with her accustomed 6tately grace, and greeted Walter with the usual saluta tion; then turning to her daughter, she said mournfully: i "1 see how it is, my child; you deceiv ed me last night, and my worst fears when I knew Mr. Vernon had returned are verified. I see that you love each other." ) No answer came. Eleanor turned way her tearful face and Walter, his sensitive spirit stung by the thought that she would consider him as an in terloper, raised his head In haughty si lence. I "Eleanor, Eleanor!" came In a pite ous voice, so full of yearning tender ness it seemed to convulse the poor glrl'8 heart.' "I asked no sacrifice of you. I should love and bless you still It you left me tonight to fly with the man you love. Hear me solemnly declare I dare not even advise you to marry oth er than him who holds your heart. Go and be happy, my child." i Walter bent forward Joyously, but Eleanor only shook her head. ) "I know you do not ask it, mother, but I know It is right it is best, and it will give you peace. Walter himself has given me up, and blessed my effort." ; Lady Annabel looked wildly frcm one to the other as she faltered: , "But If you love each other, how can he give you up, or you take yourself from him?" ' "The consciousness of doing rleht will enable us both to conquer our 111 !fated affection will it not; Walter?" Perplexed, grieved, hc.irt-crushed, Walter could not refuse the pleading look In those blue eyes, and he answer ed "Yes." s What was his astonishment to see Lady Annabel fall on her knees, and, catching her daughter's hand, bathe it .with tears and dry It with kisses, i "yiy grand, heroic child!" cried she. 'Will Heaven permit such Innocence and worth to atono for the sin of oth ers? I will pray that your noble sacri fice may not be needed; and yet 1 own, if it Is completed, a mother's eternal gratitude will be yours. Ah, my own Eleanor, your pure hand ehall lift away from me a load of remorse, and carry to another atonement for suffering and loss. But It must be free and volunta ry not from fear of my displeasure remember that." :, She sank down into an easy chair and raised a handkerchief to her face, while a violent fit of coughing ensued. The lace meshes came away, their snowy texture marked by vivid spots of blood, j Eleanor sprang to her side la consternation. "Mamma, mamma," cried she, "you are ill; this excitement Is killing you!" She waved them back and whispered with a wan smile on her deadly face: "It Is nothing new; it will pass prppently." "Mamma," said Eleanor with a new air of determination and energy, "once for all, let us settle this subject. I know the constant worrying about. It is destroying you. Here I am a willing, voluntary mediator, thankful so thankful, my darling mother, to be able to brighten thus little of your trial, j I am sorry you should know how much it cost me to relinquish Walter, but be lieve me, I shall conquer it bravely Once entered upon the path, I shall not shrink; I shall never repent." Lady Annabel raised the soft hand to her lips and whispered: "I consent. May Heaven forgive me if I am wrong! After all," she added, "it may never be required cf you. We may never find him, or he may have chosen another himself." "Ah, yes," responded Eleanor sooth ingly, "we are making a great deal of trouble before we are sure there Is need of It. But you, Walter, must never hope for anything except a friend's af fection, a sister's love." Walter sighed. "So be it, then, I submit. May I know the name of him who wins the treasure I lose?" "His name?" repeated Lady Elea nor, dreamily. "I do not even know it yet." "What inexplicable mystery i3 this?" ejaculated Walter. She shuddered while she answered: "Be content, Walter, and ask no more." "My children," whispered Lafij An nabel, "one thing I must require of you. The Intention may be sincere and gen uine, but the heart be treacherour. Mr. Vernon, I request you to continue your visits as usual. The tcRt. must bo i plled by actual trial. If my daughter can learn to school her own heart. It Is well; if not, I would rather die myself than take her from you." She rose from her chair, signed for Eleanor to support her, and bidding him as courteous an adieu as if only ordinary conversation had passed be tween them, left the drawing room. So ended thU exciting, perplexing, sorrowful interview; and restless and miserable, haunted by a thousand ab surd misgivings, Walter returned to his studio. Ho remained a week away from Colllnwood House, during which time he met tho admiral, whoso easy, unrestrained manner showed he was ignorant of all that had passed. CHAPTER XIII. 1113 ONLY event of importance meanwhile oc curred at a private party to which he had gone with his fast and warm ad mirer, Viscount Somerset. They were in the midst of a gay crowd when the young lord, touching his arm, said formally: "Mrs. Dacre, allow me to present to you our distinguished artist, Slgnor Vernonl. Vernonl, the Hon. Mrs. Da cre." Absent-minded and sad. Waller had not heeded the lady's approach. There : was no way to avoid an interview. She stood before him. her genial face aglow with smiles, her fair white hand ex tended toward him. One moment Walter's fierce eyes ' glowed upon her; his haughty lip curl- I ed in scorn; then turning upon his heel, he ejaculated: "No, no, I shall never take that hand i In friendly greeting," and vanished In ' the crowd. J The startled Mrs. Dacre colored crim son, and the tears rose to her eyes; but J seeing her husband's anger, she passed' on eagerly, endeavoring to soothe tho fierceness of his indignation at the in sult. The viscount hunted up Walter later in the evening, and said with grave, I embarrassed face: i "Upon my word, Vernon, I hardly know what to say. I'm afraid you've made a decidedly ugly business. Da i ere is In a rage, and declares your pres j ent popularity shall not save you from i a horse-whipping, If you vefuse to give him satisfaction. In fact, slgnor, it was rither a hard thing. I was taken aback myself." j "No doubt you were, and exceeding ly Indignant, my noble friend. I was grieved myself that it should happen, but I would die a thousand times rather than touch that woman's hand." The viscount looked up as if doubting his sanity. "Somerset," said Walter again, in a smothered voice of deep emotion, "if you met a woman who had wrecked the happiness, perilled the life, and blasted the pood name of the drad father you loved once better than life, would you take her hand in yours, though eti quette, courtesy, and tho whole world demanded it?" "No," was the prompt reply, "but still I am mystified. Mrs. Dacre Is a lady 6t Irreproachable character thero Is no mistake?" "No," replied Walter, bitterly. "I know she was admired, respected and prosperous; she is none the less my. father's deadliest foe." "What is to be done?" asked the per plexed viscount. "Dacre's friend will wait upon you to-night." "What a duel? A mode of settle ment pa despicable rts it is abhorrent! Well, well. It matters not. I cannot avoid it; you would all believe me a coward if I refused; so 1 will stand and let him shoot me, for wrong ray own soul so much as to raise a deadly weap on against the life tho Creator gave, I will not. Let him shoot; it Is meet tho son should perish as well a3 the father, through Annabel Marston's means." Th kind-hearted Somerset was real ly grieved and troubled. "Is there no way to avoid It? Dacre demanded the reason for such insulting conduct; can I not hint something that will satisfy him?" "You may say to that woman, I could not take her hand, because I am Paul KIrkland's son, who knew Anna bel Marston of Lincolnshire in days gone by. Mark her face when you speak the name." Throughout the next day Walter was in no enviable state of mind. All things looked gloomy and threatening. The sorrowful fate before Eleanor the mystery of the motive that should make her thus voluntarily immolate herself upon the altar of duty the hard strug gle and desolate, loveless iife before himself the bitter resentment for his father's wrongs all disheartened and dismayed him. He was la no mood to grieve when his friend returned saying Dacre would only be satisfied with a full apology. The lady, he said, remem bered seeing once or twice In Lincoln shire a drawing-master named Kirk land, but was not aware how that should affect Slgnor Vernon l's conduct in the least. "Let him shoot a dozen times If It will comfort him any," said Walter, sarcas tically. "I can't say but I shall be the greater gainer by the operation. I will leave him an explanation of her 'once or twice.' Go back, and let him fix the place and tlmo for the heroic deed. I will be on the spot, and I v.ill slantl as quiet, be sure, a3 tho be3t target h,e e ver shot against. Life has no charma; let him send me out as quick as possible." "What would all London say to hear this!" cried the viscount In despair. "S!gnor Vernonl, the worshiped, petted artist, already crowned In youth Vth tho laurel wreath, ready to throw away his life so recklessly. Ah, my friend. I might hint at a more powerful reascm for you to seek escape from this. Lady Eleanor Colllnwood, our pride and star, before whom so many plead in vain, looks upon you alone with favoring eyes. Will you forsake that enviable position?" "Hush!" Interrupted Walter sternly. "No more! Go at once and settled thl3 wretched business!" The viscount left him, and Walter flung himself upon the lounge and tried to sleep to escape the maddening tu mult of thought. The effort was as vain as If the Boft dama3k had been lined with thorns. Then he rose ?.nd paced to and fro, two hours or more, when his errand boy handed him a brief line from Somerset. "To-morrow, at eight In the moruisg, at Blackheath." He read the line two or three times and then said aloud: "And this, then, is the end of all ray high hopes, my unceasing endeavors to die in a duel! I must see Eleanor again; she need not know it is a fare well interview, but it will be a consola tion to me possibly to her also if the worst happens." TU HE COXTINCED.) LANG'S WONDERFUL DOG. Did Some Very Kemarkablc Thing Ac cording to the Verarlnaa Narrator. A Newfoundland named Oscar bo longing to myself had often listened with much interest to stories of rescue of drowning persons by dogs, says Lang In Longman's Magazine. I hap pen to possess an engraving of Land srer's "Member of the Humane So ciety." Oscar would contemplate it for hours and study the pose in the mir ror. One day two little children were playing alone on St. Andrew's pier and I was sketching the ruins ttt a short distance, Oscar running about on the pier. I happened to look up and saw Oscar, as if inadvertently, but quite deliberately, back one of the children (Johnny Chlsholm by name) into the water, which is there very deep. The animal then gave three loud howls to attract attention (he had been taught to give "three cheers for Mr. Glad stone"), Jumped into the water, rescued the child and carried him, "quite safe but very wet," to the local photog rapher's, obviously that the deed might be commemorated by art. Nobody saw tho beginning of this tragedy except myself. Oscar, when brought home, deliberately rapped out "Humane So ciety" with his tall on the floor, but, much as I appreciated his intelligence, I could not, in common honesty, glvo him a testimonial. This preyed on his mind; he accompanied a party to the top of St. Rules' tower and deliberately leaped from the top, being dashed to pieces at the feet of an eminent dlvlno whose works he had often, but unsuc cessfully, entreated mo to review in an unfavorable sense. His plan was to bring the book, lay it at my feet and return with the carving knife in his mouth. Uneorillnra. Ungodliness always leads to lawless ness and is destructive. It affects the home, the community, and the life of tho nation. We can only exist as a nation when we foster and cherish morality and religion. Rev. E. J. Mauler. GAMECOCKS BRAVE. ARE THE MOST COURAGEOUS OF LIVING CREATURES. ralnfal Tet by Kentucky Breeder Short but UrlllUnt Ctreer ot Jleflanc He Jlas Earned 83,000 for 111 Otruer. N the animal king dom self-preservation is the strongest instinct, says the -New York World. Courage is its dis regard. Under this definition the game cock must without doubt be awarded the palm as being the most courag eous of all living creatures. A game bull terrier will fight to tho death, but it is doubtful it any dog would begin a fight with a live coal burning into his spine. The coal would take his thoughts away from the other dog and turn his energies to getting rid of the coal. A live coal does not affect a gamecock's ferocity. A famous breeder of game fowls in Kentucky recently determined to as certain if possible what amount of pain would disconcert a thoroughly good gamecock. He tried several measures without avail before resorting to a final and supreme test. This enterprising and unfeeling gen tleman selected two fine birds of equal weight and put them through the usual conditioning and training for a battle. During this period they were kept in email pens, where they were in con stant view of one another, though un able to "get together." When they were fit to fight they were first heeled with spurs In the usual manner. Then the experimenter by means of a leather strap with an iron socket set in it strapped a live coal to the back of each bird's neck at its base. They were then faced in the pit and freed. The coal3 burned through the feath ers almost Instantly, and the sizzling flesh told they were quickly sinking in towards the spine. Neither bird, however, seemed to bo conscious of the acute pain which the burning must have caused. With a rush they dashed at one another, strik ing viciously. They were both fast fighters, and in less than three minutes one had succeeded in delivering his opponent a fatal thrust through the brain. The wounded cock collapsed, and, with convulsive tremor, died. The victor, with eye out, badly slash ed in the neck and breast and with tho coal still smoking in his back, picked once or twice at the dead cock and, lifting up his head, crowed a shrill, heartfelt crow. All that makes life beautiful for game roosters was at that moment experienced by this ex traordinary bird. The coal, which was still hot enough to burn a man's hand, was unstrapped and the wound dressed. It had, how ever, eaten too deep and paralysis of the spinal cord resulted, which made wringing the brave bird's neck the most merciful end of the cruel experi ment. Although cock-fighting is a brutal sport properly forbidden by the law its popularity is probably due to the fact that the game birds give no sign of the pain they undergo. Thus their battles do not shock the sensibilities of the spectators as do dog fights. In spite of the authorities hundreds of cocking mains come off within a few miles of New York every year. A chicken that has earned $3,000 for his owner is the champion heavy weight gamecock Defiance. Defiance is 6 years and 3 months old, which Is an advanced age for a game cock, but he is still in the pink of con dition, having from youth up left whis ky alone tnd kept early hours. Only three months ago Defiance wen the world's championship by killing Victorious, the talented Spanish pile that previously held the belt. This battle came off at Blissvllle, where is a celebrated cocking pit. Defiance's natal egg was hatched at Sayvllle, L. I., in January, 189a, giving him a good start in the stag class of his year. His father was a much respected Spanish brass-back cock of blue blood, and his hen mother was likewise of an excellent Spanish brass back family. Mr. John Given of EaBt New York, L. I., was under the impression that he owned the paternal Defiance, the hen layout and all the chickens, but while Defiance, Jr., was still a young cockerel he cleaned out the ranch. At the age of 6 months he discovered that he had been born to fight and illustrated his discovery upon his brother stags. Al though his spurs were not grown, he so completely discouraged several young cocks that they were good for nothing but potpie and had their necks wrung in consequence. Defiance grew very big and soon made his professional debut in the pit. He developed a quick, vigorous style of fighting, which, If he was well heeled, has never failed to put holes through the other cock's head and neck in short order. His fighting weight is now eight pounds, and he is as tough as he is heavy. In the course of his many bat tles he has cleared up about $3,000 tor his owner, and so far as knorn has never been arrested. Had DehU for Charity. The merchants of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, have conceived an ingenious method of combining benevolence with revenge. They have turned over their bad debts to the Woman's Mis sionary society of their city, thus re lieving themselves of further responsi bility for the prosecution of missions and subjecting their delinquent debt ors to a scries ot runs from the eternal feminine Jit A Child Kujoya The pleasant flavor, gentle action, and soothing effect of Byrup of Figs, when in need of a laxative, and if the father or mother be costive or bilious, the most gratifying results follow Its use; so that it Is the best family remedy known and every family should have a bottle. Unity of Faith. Men have always differed and always will on unessential matters. I do not think it is necessary that they should all agree perfectly. So while I am a firm believer in the unity of faith I do not look for the unity of the churches. Rev. A. D. Mason. The question often naked -"Why are pupils ot thn New Knit land Conservatory so uniformly successful as teachers or performers?" Ii readily answered by those who have been fortunute enough to become uoijualnted with the Institution. With an e luipment superior to that of uny other school, with both American and foreign teachers of the highest rank, with Huston, the art centre of America, to furnish tho best operas una concerts. It Is easy to ee why one yeur of study thero is better than two elsewhere. Its prospectus is sent free. On Condition. Money Lender (to lieutenant) "All right, I will prolcmg your bill, but only on one condition, namely, that during the next paper chase you scatter broad cast these little cards with the words: 'Money advanced on easy terms by N. N -.' " Felslnnlge Zeltung. FITS "topped free and permanently cared. . No (Its nf tertlint day', una of lr. Kline' Oreiil Xerve llealorer. Kree J'J trial bottle and trvotUe. Marv elous curoa. DR. Kline. Kit Arch St., J'hlla., 1'a. "I am on the trail again," said the old scout when he trod on the woman's dress. A pood resolution Is supposed to be one that will stretch u little when necessary. A roolt on the top of Alpino Peak, In Califor nia, spouts eiectncity. r. I: "Judgment!!" 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