The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-11-10

tempered, which was a sign that she vas at least not bored 50 the days slipped by. One ThuSday night, Mrs. Layton, being late, sent down message that they were not to wait dinner for her. Mir. Layton, giving his arm to dowager, re- quested the others to follow as they pleased. Captain Crawford. with more alacrity than usual with him, immediately offered his arm to Ethel, and even went so far as to exert himself to be agreeable during dinAer and Ethel made no sar- castle remarks on the honor done her, but listened to him with happy smile
 am going away to-morrsw after noon" he said presently "May I call on Mir. Raine when am in London .'
 :" He would be very glad to see you, : Ethel replied, quietly.
 Later Tn the evening she happened to be alone in the inner drawing-room looking for some prints that somebody wanted, when Captain Crawford followed her thither
 " Don't look for those things now, Miss Raine. say; you said nigh, come and see you IF London
 :. said you might come and see grand pa, E,hel corrected, demurely.
 :" have known you for only ten days but ten days in the same house together constitute "a much more intimate ac- quaintaneeship than ten years spent with Tn half mile of each other. So there's no good in my waiting to sreak You know me as we'll now as you would after twenty years. l can't make fine speeches but love you. Ethel. Will you be my wife,
 It ought to have touched her, a deolara- ton Of lore so simple and straightfor- ward, and from man that more than one charming woman had tried to captivate in vain. For the few seconds that he was speaking struggle was raging in her breast, though she stood so quietly with downcast eyes; but the remem- brance of her rash resolution was strong within her. The demons of vanity and mischief conquered. Raising her blue eyes wonderingly to his face. she said oh. so innocently.-
 am so sorry. How could 1 know you were m earnest? have always heard-indeed have seen for myself you were such hiu that it never oc-
  serious
 He looked al her for momen, ,hun- der.struck, and then walked quietly out of the room. 4 minute after she rushed out by side staircase. IL was late then. and everybody was saying goodnight in the drawing-room, so Ethel was not missed till Flora and Alice passing her door, bethought themselves of her and went in. She was sitting on the hearth rug. with very woeful countenance, and was by no means glad to see them.
 What do you want: have head ache she said, pe,ulantly.
 !" Have you. dear: You had better go 10 bed quickly ,he.i, Flora said. kindly.
 :" beiieve you are thinking of aptain Crawford, and your failure with regard to him," Alice laughed.
 :" I'm thinking oi my success" Ethel retorted. reiiee,ing that, if she had paid dearly for her triumph. she nigh, as well make the most of il. He has proposed 10 me, and have refused him"
 But she rather spoil, the effect of the announcement by bursting into tears, also considerably marring Alioe's enjoy ment. for her face, which had assumed a look of keen delight, clouded over al this finale. She was too dismayed 10 speak :: but Flora, who prided herself on having a well-balanced mind and never allowing her clear judgment 10 be dimmed by foolish sen,imen,ality. observed
 You had better have accepted him :; you would have had your ittamph just the same-in fact, greater one :: for, as il is. don't see how people are to know anything about it.''
 Ethel continued crying. and said noih- ing.
 l wouldn't distress myself abou, il, said Alice, soothingly. " He will very soon get over il"
 But this piece of consolation quite failed.
 Il dare say he will walled Ethel. But ,t isn't that. Oh. am ashamed of myself, Why did ever make that foolish. unwomanly resolve. Oh, why did you allow me: What shall do =
 :" You see wrong-doing always brings its own punishment. said Flora senten- tiously, thinking it an excellent oppor- tunity for moral lesson.
 But Ethel. far from showing herself inclined to profit by 1t, stopped crying and turned on her iercely.
 wish you would go away hate you. You are so selfrighteous. You are only fit to be the ma,ron of reform atory. Do you never, never do anything wrong:
 With this lame conclusion-fors she had meant to say something smart, only nothing had occurred to her-Ethel re- lapsed into tears again. and Flora stalked out of the room, in nj of offended dig nifty. But Alice remained to make fresh attempts at consolation.
 It will all come right" she said, no, exactly clear as to the sense in which it ought to come right.
 But Ethel was incsnsolable. IL never could come right look at Il as she would. each aspect was more hopeless than the last. He had paid her the highest com pliment man can pay woman and she had repaid him with fiippant im- pertinence. He loved her as she had hurt his feelings. Now after ,o-morow