The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-11-10

About five o'clock Captain Crawford sIolled into the drawing-room. in search of amusement. There was Mrs. Lord ready for him, auayed in her most fas- cinating tea-gowns but perhaps he had had enough of her society in the hunting 1 field, for he did not take the chair beside 1 her, and, declining tea, went into the inner room, where he found Ethel buried ! amongst the cushions of a huge arm chair, reading novel, from which she merely looked up on his entrance, and then took no further notice of him.
 You seem very comfortable he had no intention of starting conversation.
 "I am, thank you, she replied, just glancing at him over her book, as he leaned against the mantelpiece, and then continuing to read.
 Captain Crawford was beginning to have notion that this little lady, though she was small and fair, and blue-eyed. might be able to amuse him if she chose: but she evidently did not choose. and he was much surprised ,hereat. Without being quite so vain man as Alice Lay ton had been pleased to represent him, he was accustomed 10 be petted by the far sex, and. though he had occasionally experienced hard snubbing. this careless indifference was something new so new that m order 10 fa,hom Il. he exer,ed himself 10 make another remark.
 What have you been doing with your self all day."
 Medi,ating this tune not ever rais- ing her eyes.
 Meditatlng
 "Nes-on ny baii-dtess for to-mor- row.
 Then there WAS silence again, till i.thel looked up with an mpatien, air that said plainly. '' wish you would go away and leave me in peace. which reused spirit of opposition Tn him, determining him to | stay; but he could not make up his mind to go so far as to offer another observa- ton. How much longer Ethel would have read, and Captain Crawford have stood before the ire, glancing at her fur lively, and stroking his moustache, it is impossible to say. for, after the silence had lasted about two minutes, Mrs. Lord came in. She looked suspiciously al Ethel but addressed herself to Captain Craw- ford.
 We are gong 10 play billiards won, you come, Captain Crawford: Indeed you must we cannot do without you.
 Can't you: Miss Raine. do you play billiards:"
 "Sometmes.
 You had better come too.
 = No, no, this evening"
 oh. you mnst.n said Alice, who had jus, entered. :" ou really can play well"
 . l can't. My heroine IS being chased by wild bull, and the hero, who has only one leg. Is looking on helplessly over the hedge. really can't leave them in that deplorable position with out knowing what becomes ot them"
 No, indeed said Mrs. Lord. with great enthusiasm " never can lay down Il novel when once get fairly into it."
 In point of fact. she never took one up, nor book of any kind, except fashion able magazine: and yet she contriyed to make herself agreeable te men and she walked Captain Crawford of now before he could say another word. Alice lingering to observe:
 "l don't think you will succeed at this rate
 Indeed That's your opinion. is 1t :: But, Alice, you maligned that poor man dreadfully, l rather no. don't: but he is rather nice.
 "Oh. Ethel. E,hel.' began Alice. but hearing herself called, ran oil. without bestowing the advice she had intended for her friend
 The men were all out shooting, the best part of the next day. so that even Mrs. Lord had very little opportunity of monopolizing Captain Crawford. How ever, when she came down dressed for the ball, she was indeed arayed for con- ques,-in pale yellow satin, with dia- monds sparkling in her dark hair. Ethel was all in white and looked her very best; but. alas. her very bes, faded into insignihcance besides the widows stately beauty But she was Tn exceeding high spirits. so much so that Mrs. Layton, who took motherly interest in the lonely girl whom nobody kept in any sort of order, deemed it bes, to take her with the ma irons in the landau, sending her own steadier girls in the omnibus with the rest of the party. Ethel was inclined to sulk in consequence of this arrangement; but, as her companions did not take the least notice, she tound II expedient to re- cover her temper before they arrived a, their destination. She danced the first valse with Tom Grainger, and saw that Captain Crawford had Mrs. Lord for a partner. Everybody who did not know was asking everybody else the name of the woman in yellow satin and diamonds and all who did happen to know gave them selves airs in consequence In fact. Mrs. Lord carried all before her: and Captain Crawford did not exactly dance attend ance on her bu, followed lazilv in her train of admirers.
 \ conviction began to force itself on Ethels mind that this ball would no, be the scene of unequaled pleasure she had expected no, for lack Of partners-she always had plenty of them but even a superfiuity of partners IS not always sui hcient for happiness, though no doubt to well-resulated mind il ought to be :; Ethefs, howevetsyas well-regu- lated mind. For some time she con-