The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-01-13

| iSnt thar noel ! must tell Laura"
And before either could speak she was
out Of the room.
They were alone. The night on the
beech. three years ago, came up before
them. like the slide Of a magic lantern,
Each could read the others thoughts. as
/ plainly as an open book. Neither spoke.
they could no, find words bu, in the
midst Of the uncomfortable silence the
family trooped in, and explanations were
IN order.
Both tined TO explain at once. how they
had met abroad. quite a casual acquaint-
ance. This latter both appeared anxious,
noticeably anxious, to impress upon the
audience.
Soon Cousin lngersoll was Installed in
the position OF pet of the household,
And at tea although he was merry and
quite the lite Of the company, to person
who knew him better than his cousins, he
appeared pre-occupied and constrained,
for all his Wit and gaiesy. and every now
and then he cast quick glAnces as Flor
ence, whose eyes were on her plate, and
who, early in the evening, pleaded a
headache and retired.
| While the voices Of the merry company
below we're the loudest. she sat at her
open window. thinking. thinking of him
who still held her heart captive. and Won
derng II he had forgotten tha, they once
loved.
How long she sat there She could no,
tell. but coming back 10 lite and present
thoughts. she found the voices below had
ceased. All MAS quiet: the moon WAS
high in the heavens and shedding the
same sIivery light over the green gafdca
and lawn that II had on the golden shores
of Italy, three years before. Every one
Was asleep.
She could no, res, now. with that bflgh,
moon reminding her at once OF love and
PAIN and slipping on a light shawl, she
crcpt out into the park.
In and out among the shfubbery she
walked, tying to bring drowslness upon
her, but seemingly to no end.
His; -
Her blood froEe IN her veins and her
heart stopped beating. She had not
: though, before the grewsome place, and
she the only one abroad, and the great
house wfapt in slumbcr. The sound
seemed 10 come from the bushes on her
night. and at the Same time she heard a
rustlIng OF the leaves. Her first impulse
WAS to fly. but her limbs refused 10 move
she was rooted to the spot by terror.
-. HIST once more.
Overcoming her momentary paralysis,
she turned to fly towards the house, a
cold pcrspirauon standing IN beads upon
! her face.
tlossy"
The name arrested her flying steps. All
terror left her. Turning. she slowly
hoarse voice proceeded. Her face had I'M
dersonc marvellous change; fear had
gwen place TO rage, her handsome feat
ures drawn and distorted. her whole APP
: pcarance ~as that of a mad woman. She
seemed unable TO control herself.
She walked with trm step directly 10
I the bushes which concealed tins midnight
visitor, and without fear pulled the leaves
and branches one side. disclosing a
wreiched looking. besotted man. stlil
young in years. but oh. so old in misery.
She did not seem surprised. bu, peer
ing in al him. she oried:
Wha, brings you here. you wretch !:
. Did not tell YOU three years ago never
to cross my path again. OF would de
nounCe YOU To the aathorities, Have
YOU not brought, misery enough upon me
tina, you follow me here: Nhat do you
= sss.stt smenes-l ~saPase - yoa-shal- NJ,
have II Go and sianc. starse: You
have wrecked my happiness and that .,
every one who has shown you one gram
OF kindness. tell you. you have re-
eeiNed the last q ut # ON me. while you
| 4 bnt, l.,,.f4tat !. Id
hlm. She Kissed again. TO, 30 and
starve. |, is the best you can do.
Her rage knew no bounds: she trem-
blcd from head ,o foot, and her ycs
flashed and d.la,ed
Don't bc rough on a fellow. SIS.
whlncd the wretched creature. Just i
few shIllings. TO buy bread. bread.
Rum you mean cned the furious
woman. = No, one penny. do you hear
no, penny. Now go, and don, lie, me
see your miserable face while you live
No. nor when you die. Don't lie, inc see
you again on earth
You won't give me money. be
growled sullenly, no, relishing the angry
tone Of the woman.
Not penny
Then ! must have your Jewelry. SIS,
and with quick movement, he sprang
clear OF the bushes and seiring her by
the throat. tore at bauble which hung
about her neck.
Don't scream" he whispered hoarsc-
ly. or III choke you -
A quick step sounded on the gravel
path. there was a heavy blow, fall, and
Harry Ingersoll was holding the gasping
girl in his arm, while the miserable Great
ure whose fingers had a minute ago been
abou, her throat, was sinking off N the
darkness
Florence. darling. are you hun ?
The words were quick and low. but She
heard them. and looking up into his eyes
for a moment. she shuddered. and then
releasing herself from his arms. she passed
her hand slowly over her eyes. sith long
sigh.
= No, not hurt, thank you. | guess
will 60 IN, please"
She turned from him as she spoke, and
was moving toward the house. lngersol