The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-12-10

regular or unauthorized manner But having exhausted their list of families up- on whom, aoceptably or otherwise. they had ventured to impose themselves, they had commissioned Miss philena Bangs to make overtures with view to ascer- taining what might be the prospect of a successful descent upon the Ellcsworth domicile. light skirmishing, fondly flatterlng herself that the insinuating manner and matter of her skillfully-managed advance could no, fail of at once carrying the enemy. How could any lady. in common polite ness. do otherwise than respond with a bow and d smile. and some civilly-worded intimation that their presence in her house would be more than delightful?
 But the anticipating was not forthc om- ing, and the smile decidedly frosty with which the lady remarked with an air of considering the subject closed:
 a have always thought, Miss fhIlena. tha; one of the most valued privileges oi the mistress of d home Is that of choosing her own guests and her own time for re- ceiying them.
 Miss lhilena was disconnected. but not vanquished. She had assured her friends .ha. she could get ,roundy Mrs. Files worth, and had even gone so far AS 10 hx an evening for their appearance as her unnvited guests. She continued the charge
 .' |, seems to all of us. Mrs Eilesworth. that your Heien must have awful dull times. I've never seen her al party yet. We think we ought 10 stir her up little. She's most as old as me. guess.
 Mrs. Ellesworth was getting out Of pa tIenoe with the girls insolenoe.
 Helen is sixtcen.' she answered coldly. :. IL will he time for her to go to parties when she leaves $, hool.
 .Sixtcen: Bless me. went tn doz- cns oi parties before 1 was sixteen. Tell her we'll be round when we ge, ready
 This was said facetiously. but Mrs. Ellesworth paid no attention to 1t. being occupied with listening to something Mrs. Bangs was saying. about younger child. whose lingering illness had been the oe easion ofthis. almos, her first appearance m Mrs. bangs glay parlors.
 When the Bangs mansion, bris,lins with cupalos. and Gothic points and mar veious super decoration, had reared it's front with the wonderful celerity of mod eFn architectural skill in close proximity 10 the sober substantial-looking home of the Eilesworths. the mistress of the latter had arrived Al an early conclusion that she should moi neighbor' with Mrs. Bangs. As time went on they came to the exchanging bows and smiles. or few words. as they met in the markc, or else where. but Mrs. Ellesworth had never seen any reason to desire 10 improve the acquaintance. and Mrs. Bangs never could satisfy herself as to why it was that she was unable to feel at ease in Mr>. Files worth society.
 IL puzzled her that the utmost demon- stra,ion of their abundant newiy-gotten wealth never seemed to help her here. The paint upon the architectural elabora- ton aforesaid, always promptly renewed al proper intervals. shone with splendor which put to shame the plain stoldity next door; and the small grounds with their mosiac fflower-beds were kep, with precision which gave avery homeiy and old-fashioned air to the perennials and towering shrubs alongside. Even when Mrs. Bangs took a mofnins drive. and her stylish turnout tied before Living stone Brothers Fashion Emporium. ', close beside Mrs. Eilcswor,h's little. old phaeton, with actually basket of green sroccls stuff in Il. and she stood in her taultless street suit (for Mrs. Bangs had the good sense to yield herself ,o her dressmakers taste) beside Mrs. Files worth in her waterproof cloak. the feel ing was there still And now that Mrs. Ellesworth had obeyed her neighborly instinct to call and make kindly inqui- ries concerning the sick child. Mrs Bangs felt tlus,ercd consciousness that all the neighboring' in the world would never do away with the feeling and even Miss philena had found her abundant stock O. assurance severely taxed in her efforts to place herself on familiar footing with MrS. Ellesworth.
 :" may no, he down again tonight. dears. said Mrs. ElleSwor,h to her daughter and son next younger. as she rose from hastily-eaten supper. % |. l. die. does nat seem to set any better, and dlslikes ,o have me leave him. wish your father were ii home.
 :, Let me go with you. mamma dear said Helen. If can't be any help | i can at least keep you company"
 No, thank you. dear you had better stay with George and attend to your les sons have no idea there Is much the matter with Eddie but you know l al ways think It best for those who can to keep out of a sick-room till we are sure
 She saw, as she dismissed the servant who had been in temporary charge. that the child seemed rapidly growing worse, his feverish restlessness being on the in crease, with short intervals of do1ing. and she awaited anxiously the coming of the doctor. who had promised to see him again before bedtime.
 { She gave nervous start as about eight o'clock a loud rins at the door bell re sounded the quiet house. Eddie sprung up with scream of fright and listened with dilated eyes to the sound of loud voices and laughter which filled the hall below. AS soon as sine coui,i pre-, ali up- on the trembling child to lay down, Mrs. Ellsworth ran to close the door. and caught sight of Miss Philena Bangs. head ! Il