The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-17

Well, must say prefer quiet horses; one feels so much more al ease.'
 "Pshaw, my dear. wouldn't give a guinea for horse that any one could ride. th at took no more notice of steam engine than of hayStack. They have just the same dead level of indifference that is the ideal excellence of the young man of the period, who hears with equal apathy of railroad accident or revo- lution."
 Well, suppose they only follow. the fashion, just as in their coats and col lars"
 But what an age it must be that makes dead calm its acme of good style, and substitutes Jack Poynu for Ranger or Charles Surface"
 Good heavens. Diana You don't mean to say you read those horrid old plays! Mamma would not let me study such things on any account
 Nonsense! As if they could be worse than the French plays one sees now, or half dozen English ones could name. Al least, I enjoy the male characters more than in ours. They were infinitely more sparkling, and don't believe they NCIC Oit WlCkC0Ci Al OOtlOn-
 "Ah, Di, I'm afraid you will never get married at this rate
 No, dear. As some one says of Mor- ris, shall die the serene martyr of a mean and melancholy time
 You must have had plenty of offers :"
 "Oh, dozens. all couched in the con- descending brevity with which the preux chevalier of the day designs to express his wishes. Now, just contrast the men we have been talking about. Worship commences by shower of more or less readable velses, which you have the op- ton of reading or committing to the i flames. You casually drop your hand kerohief into a running stream or down preclpice, and your adorer throws him. self after 1t, and restores 1t at the risk of his life. After while he throws himself on his knees-both knees, mind-and begs you to save him from destruction. You relent; on leaving you he meets his rival glance IS enough; swords Hash out'-so did Diana's eyes-"and wo to him who flinches.'
 "Horrible said Patty
 Will this suit you better. Strephon strolls lazily into the room remarks on the weather: allows himself to reciine in- 10 sea, by your side, and suggests that you should become Mrs. Strephon. EH sorlla. he meets his rival; treads on his toes . they exchange abusive epithets, light cigars-and-oh, pathos .-cut each other al the club
 Well, that's b tier than fighting said Patty.
 And infinitely safer. We'll my dear, i perhaps after all you are right. We mustn't take our idea Of the class from Sir Harry Wildair there's |. darling name for you They only show what was considered the thIng. daYsay l am getting fearfuily grabbed. Yon see when a girl has money she becomes the center oi :, circle of deception. Let's change the subject. How well that habit hts you"
 ''lt feels rather strange. You see so seldom ride al home
 An. of course. Now to me habit Is second nature, as some one says. feel infinitely more comfortable in one than ! in d low dress. l purposeiy lent you my regular riding-hat. for wanted to see how should feel in this new fangled af. fair. I'm afraid it wouldn't suit crashing through bullhnch; one wants some thing stiffer for that. What's that!" she cried, as an indistinct sound came down the wind. and both horses i pricked up their ears. The hounds they must have come all the way from Marlford. Oh, Patty" sad Diana trembling with excitement. I'd give any. thing to be with them"
 Then do go. dear.r said Patty with an effort at self-sacrihce that was enormous Il shall be safe enough. Withers will take care of me"
 Well, he's just down in the road there Keep along it. and you'll just cross the line they are taking l really must-coms Terry" and away went Diana, habi tossing and eyes glistening, and vanished gloriously.
 Patty turned her horses head back to- wards the gate of the field they had turned into. and got safely out into the road. Some distance down il she could see Wlthers, the groom. who was havin. } little difficulty with his horse. which was plunging and curveting in diago- nal position. as is the manner of eager horses. performing an equine balance step without advancing particularly. On Crusader catching sight of his companion in ill-doing, he proceeded to initiate his actions with considerable amount oi exaggeration. Patty, finding him burst ing into a canter, attempted to take up the curb-rein, but only succeeded iu get ting both in an inextricable confusion. Then she clung in terror to them with both hands, on which the irritable Cru sader fought himself into a confused can- ter, which developed itself into a smar, gallop, dashed past the astonished With CTS and stampeded.
 ] Our friend the major had been riding a line of his own for short distance, and was separated from the res, of the field by the breadth of pasture. when he heard the quick-repeated rattle of horse going at full gallon in the road at the other side of the high hedge, parallel to which he was riding. and in another mo- ment he saw through the twigs the horse he had looked in vain for at the meet tear past him at mad speed, the blue habit streaming back as the wearer | Swaved in the saddle holdinU thA r~;re