The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-16

recollection of my brothers midnight sigh made me look at her intently and curiously-more so, fear, than polite ness allowed.
 Now you must decide as to whether Fleurette DoVaux vas beautiful. When l say, candidly, only one person in the world admires her more than l do, only one person is her more devoted slave than am, confess myself partial wit ness. whose testimony carries little weight. But to my eyes that day, Fleu- rette appeared thus: About twenty years of age scarcely middle height, but with dainty rounded figure brunette, with dark brown eyes, long black lashes, making those eyes look darker-such black eyebrows and such black hair . nose, mouth, and chin as perfect as could be; such bright bonny, lively little womanl
 After John had seen the last of his pa- tients that night, he joined me in the old room, and with bottle of good wine be- tween us, said
 Fl saw your beautiful Miss Dorvaux, today"
 John started as he heard her name, bu, made no reply; so determined to learn all that was to be learned.
 It was a very easy task. Old John had never yet been able to keep secret from me-it may be, he never meant to keep this. Any way, in short time had the whole history of his love.
 Fleurette and her mother came to Dalebury some months ago, and John. whose heart had been proof against all local charms, had at once surrendered. It may be, the very strength of the consti- tuition which had SO leng dehed love, made the fever rage more 6ercely. Yet. severe as the attack was. the cure seemed easy enough. He had a comfortable home and good income to be shared |; so he set to work seriously to win Fieu- ret,e's love. All seemed going on as well IS could be wished; the girl appeared happy in his society, and. if she showed him no tangible marks of preference. was pleased and ia:tered by his attentions. Yet al last, when he asked her to be his wife, she refused him-sweetly and sadly i; Is true, but nevertheless firmly refused him.
 Now although l, being four years younger, and, moreover, his brother, choose to laugh at John-call him grave. sober, and old-you must understand this IS all Tn Jest and by the way of good fel lowshlp, and that John Penn was a man that any girl should be proud of winning He was nc hero: or genius, or anything Of that sort ; but then most of us move among ordinary men and women. and only know heroes, heroines, and geniuses. as we know princes and dukes, bv name tl rI. with good provincial practice. Modesiy deters me from saying much about his personal appearance. as the world sees I strong likeness between us. will only say he was tall and well built. and carried Tn his face look of power, which right minded women like to see with men who seek their love. His age was something over thirty. Our family was good and our name unsullied. What could have induced Fleurette Dorvaux to rejec, :: Beautiful she might be but the times are mcrcenary, and beautiful girls don't win the love of man like John every day in the week.
 She is perfect" said John. You have seen nothing of her as yet. Wait until you can tathom the depths of thought and feeling under that bright ex. :erior. Then you will say was no, wrong Tn loving her as l did-as do even now"
 Has any one else won her? Was that the reason she refused you?"
 !" No one. She loves me, and me only
 What do you mean 7" asked, greatly surprised.
 .That even;p1 vhar sh. ,o1i ,,,o firmly and decisively, she would never marry me-never could marry me-even while said mad, cruel words to her, saw love m her fearful eyes. And when. forgetting all, held her and kissed her once, and once only, felt her lips finger on mine. Then she brese away and fled. bui know such woman as flcu- retie DorvauN would not suffer man $ k!ss unless she loved him. She wro;e me few lines the next day. telling me i; could no, be. begging me to not even ask why. Since then she shuns me, and all Is a, an end; so please talk no mere about it.
 Here was nice complication Here was knot to unite. John refused by a girl who loved him. l own was glad to hear him assert his belief in her love. as. somehow. it pained me to think of Fleu- re,te sporting with a mans heart. AL though, as told you. determined. at hrsi, she was not the right wife for John. l had soon recanted, and thought now how she would light up the old house. and how happy John would be with such l a bright little woman to greet him when . he returned of an evening. weary and tagged. So resolved 10 see all could of fleurette, to study her. and. if found her as good as John said. to use my skill in untying the knot and smoothing the strands of their lives. never doubted my ability to arrange the matter. had always been an able family diplomatis,.
 Dalebury is very little town: its enc mics even call it a village: but. as we boast of mayor and corporation, we l. can afford to treat their sneers with con- tempt. Different people may hold differ n ent opinions as to whether lie is pleas. an,er in large cities or small towns: bu,