The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-10

ing in the ieafIess woods and down the vide old chimneys, a voice seemed to whisper in his ears of a neglected duty the choice of his heir. Dacre's Grange, though an uneptailed property, had been held for many generations by the same family. It must never, if possible, fall into the hands of strangers. John Dacre had been early impressed with that idea :; and. though various circumstances-dis- tance and uncongenial temperaments had prevented any intimacy hitherto with the several branches of the Dacre family, II HOW occurred to him to send 1 for his many cousins, that he might see for himself which was most suited 10 be his immediate successor, and divide among the rest the family possessions as he might sec fit.
 They came al once, these amiable and disinterested relatives, and were now till- l ing the house of sickness with some of ] their own fashionable fnvolity. On the eve of their arrival John Dacre expressed all his wishes and thoughts regarding i them to his humber kinswoman. anet 1 Thorpe who, was anxiously arranging his room for the night, setting his medicines and restorativcs IF order almost with un- necessary attention. She made no ob- lection 10 any of his plans. but merely as- sured him ,ha, everything was in readi- ness for his cousins reception
 And now, Janet,' sad the squire, Tn 1 conclusion, Il have one more favor 10 ask of you. one last kindness, after so many-so very many.H
 You have only to tell me what it Is, dear sir,' she sad simply. That you will take this" he said, handing her little folded slip of paper Ia eheque for five hundred pounds "as Ii very, very triiiins expression of my gratitude and love, and use il to buy any trlnket you may fancy-keepsake, if you wlil"
 His voice grew husky here: and Ianet Thorpe. fearing excitement for him. tried n el-.:., change ..he s.h;;-c.-
 Il will take it," she said quite frankly, while bright flush mantled her cheek for moment-''l will take il and do as you say. Thank you sincerely. And now you must go to sleep. Let me say goodnight.
 And then she seemed glad to escape rom him as fast as possible hut sine returned on some trfling excuse to see fl all was right in the sick room. and again she said goodnight.
 Early the next morning Janet Thorpe was gone-no one knew whliher or why i: but she was certainly gone It was some days even before II was 2scertained that she had joined the Carlisle mail at Pen nth and travelled by that to HayIey. the nearest railway station. She had taken no leave or farewell of any one nor had she asked aid or advice from any. But she was gone. All this had happened eight days before. ard the squire was evidently much nearer his end than when she left He would see her no more, he said to himself. bitterly. [; rning his face to the wall. as II to shut ou, the light of a world that had now no comfort to give him Hc would ailoE no search to be made. no questions to be asked. She had right to go or stay as she chose SO he sad and he had only gratitude 10 give her.
 IT, Tn his heart. I: sometimes perplexed him to think that she had so willingly. even eagerly. accepted the money he of- tered. when on all previous occasions |, had been impossible io get her to take the smallest sum, he kept ,hls perpleNity to himself: and, if any one knew of the folded paper in anet ThoSpe's possession. it was at least not through him.
 One afternoon, a, Saunders Archibald. the old Scotch butler at Dacre's Grange, stood ~meditatlvely at the hall door, a heavy lumberIng chaise rattled up quickly and, 10 his great astonishment, slight female figure darted out, a small pair of hands grasped his fervently, and a very familiar voice asked, in an asitated whis- per:
 Tell me, tell me-is he still alive? 2"
 Guide us and sauf us a. Miss Janet.." exclaimed the old man. "Wha, gar ye leave him We've far broken Lis heau..'
 But he lives ?''
 Her white lips could hardly form the words
 .'Ou, aye-at least he's no list game yet" replied Archibald cautiously.
 Janet Thorpe il was she-hurried back a, once to the chaisc, and dragged from its recesses huge mass of furs and railway rugs. which, however, after re- moval, disclosed the substantial form of man. of fifty or sixty, very German looking. with long gray beard and ca pscious wide-awake.
 Thank heaven, he still lives! Oh. come quickly to him!'
 "Aeh, H,mm<i,' said the German, shaking himself free from his last wrap. T am not yet half awake, my goot friend. This is vat you call hard work"
 Paying no attention to his remon-- stranoe, Janet Thorpe turned quickly to the bewildered Archibald. and half whis- pcred in his ear:
 Archibald, this is the great German doctor-Dr. krakenbein. you know-the one your poor master would not send for. He has wonderful skill in that terrible malady of his ; he may yet save his life. Slip him quietly into his room withou, saying a word. If he is asleep. so much the better. Remember, il is life or dca,h.''
 'Eh, Miss Janet. darna," began the old man but something in the eager look oi the girl touched his heart. and he