The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-09

k dollars in good hard money for a spring hat. as she did when she was staying here in Apul. But I've no faith in their call culations, and never had
 MT. and Mrs. Riggs, however, had am- bition which the family never dreamed of. Hiram's tastes had always been of refined and literary nature, and several stories of rural life which he had ventured to send with fear and trembling 10 a popular monthly magazine had been ac- cepted and iberally paid for. And Elizabeth. though she could not trim hats, and abhorred the dress-making business. had delicate fancy with her pencil in illustrating the ideal dreams of others. and she, too. tried her luck, and succeeded in the artistic world, much to her own amusement And as time went on their good fortunes became more pro- nounoed. MT. Riggs wrote satirical novel under the nom de binme of :. Paul de Saver" which had wide and brilliant circulation Mrs. Riggs illustrated a popular poem which was brought out in an edifoa de iuxe at Christmas. And the young couple became the fashion.
 The Biggscs of Biggsville, not being literary, were long time in finding out that their kinspeople were succeeding in the world. At first they declined to credit the thing at all, having a settled idea that the book-making business" as they persisted in calling it. was but grade above the avocation of a rag picker. But at last when they re- alized matters, they decided that Hiram and Elizabeth ought to be encouraged.
 |" I've never been to New York" said old Mir. Biggs. Folks tell me it's quite stirring place. guess I'll go and stay spell with Hiram's folks. And it'll be good opportunity for mother to buy her self that new alpacky gownd she's been cacklin' about this ever so long,"
 " don't see why shouldn't sec the world as we'll as other folks remarked Mrs. Briggs, senior.
 shouldn't wonder if went along too, to get look at the fashions,' said Miss Iosepsha.
 Well. while we're about it," sug- gested Mrs. Horatio, Why don't we make up party and get excursion tickets cheap: I've always wanted to see what the city was like myself, only don't care about paying hotel prices"
 Mrs. Luke entered with ardor into the scheme, and the old man sat down. with single sheet of fibrous paper, muddy inkstand, and stumpy steel pen tied on stick with a thread, to coneoct letter. in which he formally notified " Hiram folks of the pleasure they might prepare themselves to expect
 The document was brought just as Hiram Riggs was getting into the spirit of his mornings work in his study. with Elizabeth dreaming at an adjoining table, and the breath of a vase of Niphctos roses pertaining all the room.
 My dear said he, looking aghast at his wife, what are we to do? All the family are coming to visit us, With the proof-sheets of my novel coming in. and i your etchings of Wild Rose only half completed."
 We must do the bes, we can. Hiram" said Elizabeth, perplexedly knitting her pretty brows together.
 My darling child. there's no best about it." groaned Hiram, tearing his hair-which. being brown and curly, looked none the less pituresque for the ] operation. ou don't know the peculiar ities of the Riggs family as do. lou will be dragged up and down Grand street. Eighth avenue and the Bowery from morning until night and you will have to visit every show. theatre and pie turc-gallery in New York, and pay all the bills. Your housekeeper will be picked to pieces. your dress criticised. and ten to one my mother will offer to come here aRd take care of the baby. while losepha will volunteer to improve your most cherished drawings
 Mrs. Hiram Riggs glanced with terror at the plump baby who, in charge of its white-capped nurse. was being carried up i and down the pavement, in front of the house. Then she looked pi,eously around the pretty Brussels-carpcted library, with its deep crimson-curtained bay-windows. its tall Drac.cna plants in malolica vases, its oil-paintings and Ia- panesc scrolls. its cage of green para quets. and shelves of China and bric-a- brae. and pictured to herself the whole Biggs family spreading themselves over its sacred precincts. She was only human. too. this young wife: she could scarcely help remembering how Mrs. HoTaiio had snubbed her when she first came. timid and shrinking bride. to the Riggs farm 1 house how Mrs. Luke had once refused to lend her :, cents, in Hiram's absence, to pay charges on telegram, alleging as reason that if wasn't never good policy to have business matters between relations" nor how old Mrs. Biggs had cried and said that Hiram had shown dreadful poor judgment in selecting his wife while Miss Josepha had taken i especial pains to contradict every state ment she made. and Luke and Horatio had ignored her altogether.
 Hiram laughed. My little darling" said he, :" l can interpret that look. You shall not be tormentcd out of your exist ence to become convenience to a swarm of relations-in-law. who don't any of them care copper cent for you. If they had treated us decently il would be differ ent matter. As it is"
 But, Hiram. you can't send word to your father and mother and brothers and sisters no, to come" pleaded Eliza- beth