Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 20, Number 17, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 19 October 1889 — Page 2

Began in The Mall August 17th.<p></p>Beautiful

Nancy understood so well what the pressure meant, and once or twice turned her sweet dove's eyes upon her friend, just to show tier that there were no tears there, aud that she need have no fears for her composure. And last of all there was Mr. Earie, tall and straight and commanding in presence, with his handsome old face set like a mask and his white hair as well brushed and spruce as ever. Ah! but it was a terrible wrench for him, parting with his only son on such an errand and almost at the same momenta thought flashed into the minds of Nancy and Beautiful Jim alike, a thought which said. "Alas! he is so old, so frkil, and his belief iu his only son is so great. I am so glad we kept silence, for though it is a pang for us—knowledge would have held the bitterness of death for him."

Almost unconsciously Nancy slipped her liund within his arm and clung to it but the old man mistook her meaning. "Don't give way, my dear," ho whispered "let them see the Earles can give up their best for queen and country—even the heir." lie hud forgotten her interest in Beautiful Jim he only remembered that his boy. his heir, the last of his name was off for tho wars, and might never come back. iS'uucy dropped the arm! She forgot nothing!

Not. that tho old man noticed anything. Ho was intently watching for the last glimpse of the handsome young face of his only son, mid as the train moved slowly out of tho station amid cheers and tin* i'rantie waving of handkerchiefs to the piv and jolly strains of "The Girl I Left ln-him! Mo," he gave a jfreat gasping aigh. which molted Nancy's momentary nm -r mid made her clasp his arm tighter tii :i over.

And then little Mrs. Seton, who had joked and laughed and chcored nmiwaved with tho U'si

iuh 1:mi£

as hej: ijdthfdl

major's head was thrust out of«s£fie carri:i win-low, suddenly created a diverti.seniont. by breaking down altogether int passionate torrent of tears, lluit oven tin- dullest of thoso who had wondered at whathey called her "spirits" but a few moments before, wondered no longer, but snid among themselves, as they wiped their own eyes, what a bravo lit tle woman she was, and what a treasure the big major possessed in her. "Oh, I am going out at onco," the little wor-.in was saying brokenly at that moment to the sympathetic woman on whose breast she had poured out all her long penl feelings. "lie said I wasn't to, but. 1 .hall. Why, he might be wounded out there, or ill, and who would nurse him, I wonder? lie never can bear any one but me about him, If he's only got a headache. But, all the same, when you've never uouo anything for yourself in all your life, ana never even gone a long journey alono, it's no joke to face going out o" India, or still worse to Burmah, without, a soul to help you to do a^ thing."

Nancy Earle, who was standing by, took her hand. "My dear," she whispered. "believe mo, it's far harder when you arc so placed that you cauuol go uUt whatever happens, when you know that, even if you hear the worst and you feel vou are wanted ever so badly, you are bound at homo by ties and restrictions which you cannot break. Oh I it is nothing to let one's husband go, compared with the one who is everything and yet nothing to you."

Mrs. Seton dried her eyes and looked tip. "Yes, he told me a good deal about it, dear," she said, kindly, and with scarcely more than a faint sob catching her breath, "and be sure if he is in need of my help he will have it. I'd do anything for him for his own sake, but I'll do It for yours as well now, I promise you." "How good yon are," Nancy whispered, fervently, 'small wonder he is BO fond of you. Mrs. Setou. Some day, perhaps, I shall be able to do something for you, and if 1 over can—oh, how I shall jump at the chance of being able to do it."

By this time the people were gradually •clearing out of the statiou, and as the handsome dean had given his sturdy arm to Mr. Earle, Nancy and Aileeu followed in their will with Mrs. Seton.

The dean wss trying hard to persuade the old mr.n to abandon his idea of returning home that day. and to change his quarters from tho Golden Swan to the xnone luxurious ease and quietude of the Deanery for, as he said, "It will be a change*for vou. and if you go home at •onco you will mope and get thinking of danger to the boy, when TJS vet no danger exists and besides, you do not know Blankhampton at all. though there is a good deal that is well worth seeing here, and there must ba a great many people in

the neighborhood whom yon know more •or less well." But Mr Earle was obdurate!

One more night, however, he did consent to remain at

Back numbers can be had at half price.

By John Strange Winter,

CHAPTER XXVII. OFF TO THE VAB&

Quite a crowd wan gathered at the station tho following morning to see the gallant Blankshire regiment go off to the wars. There was Mrs. Barnes with all her children and little Mrs. Seton, as brisk and as bright as a bee, laughing as loudly as if parting with her major was one of the best jokes in the world, though to more than ono who knew her best the laughter had an uncommonly suspicious ring about it. and had a quiver through its rippling thrill which told of tears not very far away. And there were the Charterhouses ana the Stantons and the Marcus Orfords, all come to do the last honors to their friends, husbands and wives alike profoundly thankful that the fortune of war had not called upon them to leave homo and all they loved behind and go out to light for queen and country in the tropica. And there was the handsome •dean, cheery and full of good wishes, and lovely Ailoeu, holding fast by Nancy Earle's hand, os if she was afraid she -should break down if she did not hold it light enough.

im.

•s iim

BW-you

Golden Swan, and

he also promised to er eat Mrs. Trafford's, to meet a select bat hurriedly gathered together company and as soon as be and Nancy had finished their somewhat early lunch, he told her that hew going'« kwp himself very quiet until dinner time, and that he did not wish to be ftisturbwL

Nancy, therefore, pat on her hat aoa went to s-ee her friend, Alleen. who was tnvd with the exertions of the morai„ 'a* two girls dawdled away the lovely September aftWWOO terrace of the Deanery. in company, ti--an hour or so, with the gins ftw residence and one or two men WWJtfca -cavalry barracks, who had found uud

way "thither I don't quite know how Then came the evening, spent as brightly and gayly—for little Mrs. Trafford knew how to make her parties go off well and her guests enjoy themselves, none better—as if the scene at tho station that morning had been the beginning of a bridal tour for some especially fortunate young couple, rather than a setting out of some of their nearest and dearest to undergo the horrors of war. And to more than one it was a welcome relief from the dreary process of sitting down to think.

CHAPTER XXVIII

STEWS AT LAST.

"If Nancy likes to come back to see you all when I am comfortably settled in town." Mr. Earle said to Lady Margaret and her daughter during the course^ of the evening of Mrs. Trafford's little impromptu dinner, "I shall be very glad to spare her. Not that I do not miss her when she is away from me. mind, but I get very well looked after in town, and can exist without her and I do not forget," with a sigh, "that she is young, and that the tastes of May are different to the tastes of December." "Oh, let us say October." put in Lady Margaret, pleasantly.

But the old man shook his head very decidedly. "Nay, my dear lady, not only December, but getting very near Christmas time," he said, gently. "Then I hope Nancy will come back to us again." said Lady Margaret, ignoring tho remark, with which, by the bye, she altogether agreed, "and stay along time."

But Nancy had no notion of planting herself for an unlimited visit in a country town, where news would be a day old and letters several posts in reaching her, and she shook her head as firmly as ever her old father could have done. "Dear Lady Margaret," she said, "I could come for a week or so, but no longer. Ho," laying her hand on her father's arm, "misses me far more than ho will own he is afraid of making me conceited, I fancy. And besides that, I never feel easy in my mind when I am away from liim. But why could not Aileeu come up and stay with me for a few weeks?'' "Well, I really do not see that there is any reason," said Lady Margaret, with a laugh.

So they settled it, and the following morning tho Earles left Blankhampton and returned to Earlefi Hope. While there Nancy had letters from her Beautiful Jim, written, or rather posted, from Liverpool and Qneenstown.

Ho said that they were all well and fairly cheerful: that Tommy had been abjectly seasick up to that time, and had not turned but of his berth at all and then followed a good deal highly interesting to Nancy herself, but not bearing much on tho points of this story.

They remained about ten days at Earles Hope, not fropi choice, but simply because the houso In Hans place could not by hook or by crook bo got ready to receive them any earlier and, on the whole, it must be owned that Naucy had rather a trying time of it, for the old man was a regular town bird, and loathed the country cordially.

At last, however, the welcome news come from tbwn to say that the house was ready, and Mr. Earle becamo a different being all at once. "First train in the morning, my dear," he said, joyfully. "The very first train in the morning. "Ohl father, dearl" Nancy cried, in dismay, "Not the 5 o'clock train 1" "Oh, well, no not the 5 o'clock train. I didn't quite mean that," he admitted.

Nancy did not hesitate, but struck while tne iron was hot. "And the one at 8 is vary slow, dear," she said, mildly. "We tried it once, if you remember, and vou

found fault all the way to

St. Pancras. Don't you think we nad better say the express at 11:15? It's suoh a oomfortablo train, you know, dear." "Yes, of course—of course," exclaimed the old man, testily. "How dull you are getting, Nancy. That was the train I meant, of course." "How stupid of me," murmured Nanqy, in her gentlest tones.

She had her reward they reached London in time for her father to have lunch and then go off to his beloved club, whence he came back to dinner—not because he would not rather have dined there, but aimply from a sense of duty to his daughter—in the best possible spirits.

Nancy knew from that that he was better—that the great wrench of parting with Stuart had passed over—so she was much more easy in her mind about him, although she did not think it advisab*. to pav the promised visit to Blankhampton.

In-'ead, however, her friend Alleen came to stay with her, and the two girls spent a very pleasant time togetner. There was not much doing, and the town was still rather empty but at its worst it was a lively change from Blankhampton.

So the greater part of November slipped away, and Aileen rsturned home, leaving Nancy to her lonely life, for Mr. Earle, being almost all day at his club, could scarce be counted as having much to do with it.

The dreary winter days passed by Christmas came and went—to the household in Bans place a festive season without any festivity about it—then the old year died out and the New Year dawned.

And all this time there was no especial news from the Blankshire regiment. In every letter tVv were longing for fight* ing, to get to

front, for anything de

cisive which would bring the miserable campaign to an rri. Ana at last there came an evening hen Nancy opened The Evening Slai. rd to read: "Great Engagement in Burmah," and to see standing out, as in letters of fire, two names, Lteats. James Beresford and Stuart Earie.

CHAPTER XXIX. 8CSF8XS8 BELLS.

When the words Great Engagement in Burmah caught Ka E .as *, and ir-riedi^-ly sfter**fl .res of es resl 1 and Stuart I e. she was for a minute or two too far..: to took at the pttignph again, she •tusm ned t.p ail ber and prepared herself to .ace the r-:

The atmoanct nt was a «MI.- n.» of its kind It sji:i that a ..f Bltakthim regta.-v.t had £.* -nt tii search for Daaoitsand ....: sed by an lax— «#i native rol iv:-.h tue result of jete

She was for a minute or two too terrified. victory to the English troops. Unfortunately, however, the loss on our side had been'five killed, and eight men of the Blankshire regiment had been more or less severely wounded, one of whom had died on the way back to camp. Besides these, two officers of the same regiment had been very severely wounded—Lieuts. James Beresford and Stuart Earle.

It was, of course, utterly absurd of the correspondent out of the scene of action to have sent home such a heading to such a paragraph as "Great Engagement in Burmah"—or if he had not been responsible for it, for the person who had done so —but Nancy, poor girl, did not stay to think- of that. To her, it was the most important battle that had ever been fought in the world's history—for were not the two aoldiers in whom she took more interest than in all the rest of the army put together lying at that moment grievously wounded, if not already dead? To the shock of the moment her bitterness against her brother all died out, but it must be owned that she thought of her Beautiful Jim the most. She felt Jim's wound racking her own delicate body she felt every jalt of litter or inequality of his rough bed she thought of the heat and the flies and the absence of proper attention and she thought but little of Stuart one way or the other.

She had already dressed for dinner, very simply and plainly, in a dark velvet gown, with her pretty, slender throat just showing from out of its soft lace ruffles, and as she sat by the fireside, her little tender hand somehow got stealing up and down the soft velvet of her gown, until all at once the luxury of her surroundings struck her with a sense of wrong, as if by living among them she was doing a positive injury to him who needed them so much more than she did, and to whom, at that moment, they were an impossibility far out of reach.

Not that &he could help lierseif—her duty tied her hard and fast in her father's housfe, just as fate had sent him to meet what had already perhaps proved his death—her father was so old and—aud then, oh! she suddenly remembered* him In the midst of her own trouble, rcmefcibered that ho would seo tho even papers at his club, and would for news from tho front ceive the intelligence of without in any way having it br^keji^to

Quickly cltnest. as tho thought struck her, she jumped up and ran down into the hall, where the fire was blazing away cheerily and casting pretty gleams of light up the tall quaint screen which formed a sort of chimney corner to it. There was nobody there, so without waiting to summon a servant to inquire if ho had returned home, Nancy turned and ran up the staircase again, going this time to his dressing room.

He was not there, either, but as Nancy

fwice,

mshed open the door after knocking his man Darby came out of the bedroom with a can of water in his hand. "Has Mi* Earle returned yet, Darby?" Nancy asked, breathlessly. "Not yet, Miss Earle," he answered, with a glance at the little horseshoe clock on the chimney shelf "and it Is twenty minutes to 8, rather less, for that clock is a minute or two slow." "There is awful news from Burmah, Darby," said Nancy, trembling. "There Vi»» been a great engagement—and Mr. Stuart is wounded, severely wounded." "You don't say so, ma'am," exclaimed Darby, who, in common with all the servants both in Hans place and Earles Hope, detested the heir to the old name. The tone was not very sympathetic in fact, it expressed the well bred surprise of a good servant rather than sympathy at all—but he was sorry for Nancy, and his thoughts went straight to the effect the news might have upon his master. "I hope the master wUl not sea the papers at the club, Miss Earle," he said, anxiously.

Nancy was about to speak, when a furious peal at the bell of the outer door Bounded through the house. "There he is," she said, and ran but of the room and down the stairs just as the servant, who had oema np from below, opened the door.

Bat it was not her father and instead of his tall and striking figure appearing oat of the gloom of the winter's evening, a short, stoat and roseate gentleman walked into the house. "Oh! Sir George," Nancy cried, recognising one of har father's most intimate friends. "My dear young lady," said Sir George St. Leger, kindly, "I am sorry—but there is sad newel" "I have seen the papers—I know," Nancy answered, quickly. "And father?"

to hi "II

:«tt:.-..

By this time he had drawn her to the fireside, and was holding both her hands in his. "I am verr sorry, my dear, that your poor father has seen them too," said he, very kindly, "and the shock—it's* no pse my trying to spin it oat I told them at the dab that I was the wrong mm to send on an errand of this kind," be broke off, "Oh! go on. Dontkesp ms waiting," Nancy said, imploringly. "Tell me tho worst at once. Is he deadf "Oh! no—no—no, my dear child," cried the little old gentleman, eagerly "certainly not—nothing of the kind. But it was a very great shock, of coarse, to oar dear did friend, and ha had a kind of seizure-* faintness, or something of that sort, and toey are bringing him home, aome of the others, in his own carriage so I took a cab and harried on to say it wooid be safer to get the doctor here as quickly aa possible. Just a precaution, you know, my dear," pressing her hands ere l.o ^*t than free.

hand which was nearest hK O" «a: '..tcraiag time. "3o w:: -roa for Dr. Da. a^on't lament, Darby have

everything ready for my father, have you not?" "Everything, ma'am," said Darby, who been prepared for trouble of this kind from the moment the young mistress had told him the last news of the young master. "You would like me to stay until they oome, or is there anything that I can do, my dear?" asked Sir George, kindly. "Oh! no. There is so little that any of tis can do," she answered, hopelessly "but do stay, please."

So Sir George drew her down on to the cozy couch, sheltered by the tall Chinese screen, and together they waited during the few minutes, that seemed so interminably long, before the sound of the carriage was heard without.

Naturally enough, Darby was the first to approach the carriage, and as soon as his eyes fell upon the helpless and motionless figufe of his master, he looked over his shoulder at the butler and said, imperatively: "Get Miss Earle out of sight—it's paralysis."

Thus bidden, Jones did his best, but Nancy was close behind him. "I am quite prepared for anything, Jones," she said, with intense calmness. "Don't waste time trying to persuade me to go away—they need your nelp."

She was not unreasonable in the least, although she would not be put away from her father's side when she felt that he needed her the most but she stood asido to let them carry him into the house and up the wide stairs to his own room. "He will recover from this a good deal after an hour or so, my dear," said Sir George. "No, Sir George, he will never bo any better," she said, mournfully. "He has not strength enough to bear up against a shock like that—ho is so old and so frail.

Even Sir George could not think of anything to say—and, in Jiis heart of hearts, he confidently believed that his old friend was dead already." There was the sound of a hansom dashing up to the door, and then the doctor came hurrying in. "Yes—I've heard all about it." he said, as Nancy met him.. "A pity—a pity. A shock like that is a nasty thing to fight against at Mr. Earle's age however, I'll go straight up, if you please, Miss Earle. Well, yes—I think you had better let me go first. I won't keep you in suspense or away from him a moment longer than is absolutely necessary." Then he, too, disappeared up the stairs, and Nancy sat down on the sofa again to wait for news with the best patience she might. "You want to be going—your dinner," she said, wearily, to Sir George. "No—no—I am dining at tho club—any time will do. I could not leave without hearing what tho doctor says, In any case," he replied, hastily^ and so they sat on side by sido while the clock in tho cor ner ticked steadily on, not speaking much —rather, indeed, holding their breach to listen for the first sound that should eomo to thom from the hushed and quiot chamber above. Dr. Davies did not keep them waiting very long, for In about twenty minutes ho came down again, treading quietly, as medical men do. Nancy rose and went to meet him. "We can»do nothing at present," he said, gently "for au hour or so your father must be kept perfectly quiet but I have given Darby complete instructions what to do until tho nur^o combs. I will send one in at once, loss you like to wire to St. John's nouse for ono—use my name, and ask for Nurse Provis if she is there. I will come back again in au hour.7 "I may go up to him?" Nancy e.?kcd. "Oh! yes but have you din

1..'

No?

Then get a glass of wiue and some strong soup, or something of that kind bofore you do so and do not touch him or disturb him in any way, even if ho seems uneasy and restless. He knows nothing, and.at present, suffers nothing win' over." "Very well," said Nancy, obediently.

Sir George St. Leger bado her good-by then, saying that he would look in on his way home later in the evening and ask after his old friend. "And if there is anything that I can do, you will command me?" he added. "Oh! yes, Sir George, I will indeed, and thank you so much," returned Nancy.

And at last sho was free to go upstairs into her father's room, to go and sit beside him, to watch him as he lay helpless and unconscious upon his bed, with Darby, his faithful man, at hand to do all that medical skill could advise, until the nurse should come. And after a while she came. A small, slight, brown haired woman, with & fair, pleasant face, and good, bright, hazel eves. She came in as she haa lived in the room all her life, her footsteps making no sound, her light gown no rustle, and she stood beside the bed and looked down upon her now patient, while Darby repeated In a whisper the instructions which the doctor had given him.

And then Darby Went down to get his supper, and Naucy crept round to her side. "Do you think he will die. nurse?" she asked, with a world of entreaty in her looks and tones.

The nurse turned her bright eyes dpon her. "I think that he is very ill," she said, guardedly. "But do you think he will die?" Nancy persisted. "With great care he might pull round again," returned the nurse, unwilling to commit herself one way or the other.

So Nancy went back to her place again frnri took ap her occupations of watching the set gray face on which the darker shadows were fast stealing. She knew only too well what the nurse's unwillingness to speak conveyed, and there was no hope—no hope!

Ohl what sad, sad hoars they were, with the old man who had been so much to her dying before her, end in her mind the continual thought of that other one stricken down in the fall measure of his youth and strength, and lying—if it were not all over before this—in discomfort and misery, without one loving hand to help him. And thai she thought of the unhappy, headstrong, who was not 20 years had wrecked ber life bravo and gallant lover to his death—for these not risen up that obstacle to the marriage, Jim Beresford woold have left the service or have exchanged into a home regiment many months ago.

Darby crept into the room again after awhile, and the nurse pat ap a warning finger that he might make no noise. "Is ho worse?" the man asked, and in an awed whisper, but the none only closed her lips a shade tighter, and kept her ayes fixed on the sunk and haggard fsee.

Dr. Davis came very soon, havinc no neod to ask questions or make

tkm, only, indeed, raising bis little as he cast a glance at aeioas fi.-.rc.

unecn-

Bct^e go away. He »*ood at the 1 fv wand waited. Bat not fori T':." inutespassed The turn, on the d» £dked 7 an,, and tl&h*_ stated

•O.

hard on the "hoar of midnight ho one moved or stirred. Nancy sat just where she had sat for seven! hours, her hands pressed hard togethea but no sq&nd escaping her lips or an? tears falling from her eyes. And then the little clock began to chime the midnight hour, and ere the twelfth tinv stroke had rent the air, the last of the fcarles had passed away, killed by the news of harm to the son who had never been but a shame to him, and without word or look for the daughter who was only a girl, who was born an Earle, yet an Earle that did not county

CHAPTER XXX. WAITING.

Early the following morning Sir George St. Leger came to ask for Nancy, and to find out if there was anything he could do to'serve her, or in any way lighten the duties which lay immediately beforo her. "There is something that you could do forme, Sir George," she said, when she had answered his greeting, "and it is to telegraph out to Burmah for me, to get the last news. The servants are very good, and anxious to do all they can, but none of them know whom to send to and where to send, and I cannot tell them. But I thought you would be sure to know, or be ablo to find out." "To be sure, to be sure," Sir George made hasto to reply. "I will do it at once." "I can give you tho last address I had, if that would be any use." "Oh! no. I'll go down to the war office ind get the latest information as to route ind so on." "And, Sir George, it would be best, I hink, not to send my brother any news from here," Nancy said, hesitatingly. "You see it might be told to him suddenly, and just turn the scale with him, if he is very badly wounded, as they say." "I will be sure to word the message very carefully," said little Sir George, feeling a very suspicious lump rising in his throat at the thought of the double sorrow which had come upon this fragile girl with the golden head and dove's eyes.

There was a moment's silence. "And—and would you also inquire especially after Mr. Beresford?" she said, flushing a lovely shell like pink over her sweet face. "Mr. Beresford—that was the other man who was wounded," Sir George exclaimed. "Is he a friend of yours, my dear? Did you know him?" "I am going to marry him some day," she said, then she at once began to sob piteously, "if—if" "No—no—let us hope for the best. Don't think of that," the little man cried, almost beside himself with distress. "While there's life there's hope, you know, my dear, and they are both young and strong—not like our dear old frlona who went away from us yesterday, but young men in tho very flower of their strength. The chances are a thousand to one in their favor but I'll go along at once, my dear, and then your mind will bo more at rest about them," and off the good hearted little man went, and Nancy was once more left alone.

Thero was a great deal for her to do naturally, but it was really only In the way of giving orders. The family solicitor camo as soon as he received the news of Mr. Earle'a death, and all the weight of arranging' for the funeral and tho other business fell upon him.

Tho d: .v wore slowly away, but Sir George did not return with news from Burijiah. Then Darby brought in the evoiintf papers^ and Nancy saw from tho c3i**r»'tsioii of his face, hat. tho worst had hi4}H ujd to ono or hot out at the front. "Which i3 it, Darby?" sho asked, faintly, feeling a deadly numbness stealing over her. "Miss Earle," he said, very gently, "you are tho last of the name now. Mr. Stuart only lived a few hours after they got him into camp. "And Mr.—Beresford?" Nancy whispered. "No mention of him, ma'am," the servant answered, "so he is alivo at all events and then he put tho paper into her hand and pointed to the place where she would find what she wished to seo.

It was so short, cruelly short, as war dispatches always seem to those who are the most keenly interested, just saying that Lieut. Stuart Earle and one private of the Blankshire regiment had died, shortly after reaching camp, of wounds received In an engagement with Dacoits on the —th.

And there was not a single word about the condition or fate of Lieut. James Beresford. However, in a certain sense, there was relief in the very fact at all events he was not dead, so that thero was a chance for him yet.

She had to wait a long time, or what seemed so to her, poor girl, beforo she got any definite news about him, for although the papers contained various short dispatches he was not mentioned in any of them.

Still no news was good news, and at last Sir George St. Leger came to her in triumph with a telegram which had come by various stages right from the fountain head. "Maj. Seton to Sir George St. Leger: Earle died almost Immediately after reaching camp. Beresford badly wounded in head and arm, but is going on very well. If no fever every chance of his getting through it. Will wire to you if there is any important change."

And after this Nancy had no choice but to sit down and wait. Still she was not and could not be idle, for there was much to be done. The putting of a large household into mourning, the hearing and approving of arrangements for a funeral which was almost a public one, of the melancholy journey down to Earles Hope, the ordering of baked meats and so on for the tenantry who would attend it, the answering of letters, the receiving and arranging of the dozens of wreaths and other remembrances, of flowers which came from far and near to show the affection and respect in which the old man had been held all these offices fell upon her.

Then the day before that of the faneral came, and early in the afternoon they went down to Earles Hope and the last of the Earles was carried into the house of his fore-elders for the last time. Yes, the last of the Earles after all, for young Stuart had been dead already some hoars when the news of the engagement in which be had been wounded reached his father and

sister.

So the long sad ev

wore sway, and the following day, blinding snow, the lengthy procession passed from ball to graveyard, and Nancy, the one who had never been of any account before, was the only Earle left of all the mood old race who had ruled at Earles Hope for many and many year.

She was h' last of than alt the owner Bat tL.it S» feeling which -very soon pr.-* !. Thei.^v-. -y -,f tor? v.»ida r* ner: :-arJy were, »r t2:oii in a

v. r,

.... r, she

::. a i. to I'-.-.i certain very un.-^n.f'.r'aUlu («rt of Lieb sant hr off Jo her ben. a without ^ny de

sire to spend more time gazing at the fast receding shores of her own country. And after that she lived the ordinary life on ship board, coming in for a large share of admiration and attention in spite of the fact, which soon becamo known among the passengers, that she was tngaged to be married to a man in the Blankshire regiment, who had been badly wounded in an affair with the Dacoits in Burmah, and that she was going to Calcutta, and possibly even further, to nurse him.

They knew, too, that her brother had been killed in the same affair, and that her father had died about the same time —that she was a great heiress and the last of her name. And they all said, men and women alike, that tho fellow in the the Blankshire regiment was just the very luckiest man who had ever been born, if, indeed, he had not been so unfortunate as to die of his wound.

There was quite a wave of excitement on board when at Suez a telegram from Calcutta was brought on for Miss Earle, who, poor girl, had hardly courage enough to open It. It was short, but inexpressibly sweet: "Jim much better^—on his way here. "SETON."

Nancy tried hard to laugh over the good news, and very nearly succeeded in breaking down Into a storm of tears, the relief was so great. Then some ono called out "Three cheers for Jim—long life to himl" and straightway three rousing shouts went up for the hero they had never seen and his lovely sweetheart, In spite of a

Continued on Seventh Page.

The Light of Home.

A cheerful, healthy woman is the light of home, but through over-exer-tion in her efforts to minister to the happiness of the household, her health is often impaired, or weakness, or displacement brought on, making life miserable, and clouding an otherwise happy home with gloom. The thoughtful ana tender husband, in such cases, should be intelligent enough to perceive the cause of such gloom and suffering, relieve the faithful wife from drudgery, and furnish her with that best of frienos to women, Dr. Pieroe's Favorite Prescription, now recognized and used iu thousands of homes as a certain cure for all those delicate afflictions peculiar to the female sex. 'Favorite Prescription' is the only medicine for women, sold by druggists under a positive guarantee from the manufacturers, that it will give satisfaction in every case, or money will be refunded. The guarantee has been printed on the bottle-wrapper and faithfully carried out for many years.

The Verdict Unanlmona.

W. D. Suit, Druggist, Bippus, Ind., testifies: "I can recommend Electric Bitters as the very best remedy. Every bottle sold has given relief in every case. One man took six bottles, and was cured of Rheumatism of two years' standing." Abraham Hare, druggist, Bellville, Ohio, affirms: "The best selling medicine I have ever handled in my 20 years' experience, is Electric Bitters." Thousands of others have added their testimony, so that the verdict is unanimous that lClectric Bitters do euro all diseases of the Liver, Kidneys or Blood. Only a half dollar a bottle at Carl Krietenstein's, S. W. corner 4th and Ohio. 2

The best medical writers claim that the suecoessful remedy for nasal catarrh must be nonlrritating, easy ofaopliction, and one that will reach all the remote pores and ulcerated surfaces. Tho his-® tory of the efforts to treat catarrh during? the'past obliges us to Rdmft that only"1 one remedy has meet these conditions, and that is Ely's Cream Balm. This pleasant remedy has mastered catarrh as nothing else.lms ever done, and both physicians and patients freely concede this fact. Tho more distressing symptoms yield to it. 17-2t

Hays tho Southern Medical World "Mother's Friend" is growing in favor throughout the South and is highly recommended by physicians. We consider it indispensable to those who must know they must pass through the ordeal of childbirth. Write Brad field iieg. Co., Atlanta, Gft., for particulars. By all druggists. ______________ 17-4t

A Orcat Surprise

Is in store for all who use Kemp's Balsam for the Throat and Lungs, the great guaranteed romedy. Would you believe that it is sold on its merits and that any druggist is authorized by the proprietor of this wonderful remedy to lve you a sample bottle free? It never ails to cure acute or chronic coughs. All druggistssell Kemp's Balsam. Large Bottles 50c and $1.

LADIES

Who Valut a Btflntd Complultn

MUST U8E

POZZONI'S

MEDICATED

COMPLEXION POWDER.

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BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.

MOTHERS TflEND"

BRAD FIELD REGUUT0R. jglAWT% SOLO MYALL QRUBKBtB. Sold tv J. K. SOMES, cor.ftth and Ohio.

I.a4f 1 Thoec dul! tired looks and feeling speak volumes! Thin Bern correct# all con clitic restores .Vigor and vita 'and b? back htful in aodbe* Prepared Vr.