The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-20
IF MY FIRST WIFE
LMhirrt.r krAsrN-

you.
 There was an embrace, and the lady burst into tears
 "Lesbia hath no, beaming eye "' cried Frank kes,on, barrister. who had lcst leaped down from the dog-cait, alter a cold drive from the station at Kamiord to his brother-.n-law handsome place, me Coppices. Calkston, where that new relative had settled after his return from Australia, where he had been sent-the younger son of good old country iamily-to see what he could do as wha, IS euphoniocsly termed a squa,ter. He had squaited ,o some advantage. the ra,es having been kind; and. after making a moderate fortune, he had sud- denly doubled l; by marrying the widow of colonial magnate.
 At the lady's deslre-her will being par amouni-they were on their way ,o Eag land. when one nigh, they were awakened by an awful crash. and rushing on deck. they toand all Tn confusion. Some vessel tad run into them during fos. GU; the grea, Aastral liner down below the waters edge, and during the neN; half hour there was rsht for lie.
 John Audas behaved admirably. When the rush was made for ;he boats he knocked down half q dozen towards one after the other and by sheer strength helped the cap,a.a 10 send oti the inst boa; properly manned with half the wo man passengers, merely sipulailns that his shreking elderly wife should be one. Then he helped with the next. and got that of safely, before beng overpowered, for mad rush easued, the other boats were filed anyhow. ana al las. the cap sain, second mate, half d dozen men, and the brave young passenger were left alone upon the deck of the sinking ship, with just time enough to lash few spars together. throw them overheard. and then trust themselves to this frail support be- fore the vessel went down.
 From this raft they were picked up ex- haus,ed, half dead, by passing ship. having seen no more Of the boats. all of which came on before many hours had passed; and thus il was tha, ohm Audas found himself widower a, thir;y-nve and tar from inconsola5le. for report sad his existence with the rehc; of the colonial magnate had been Of the kind ,o which some people give very unF.eas- an, turn.
 So little, indeed. was the handsome young colonisi affected by his loss that. after settling down at the Coppices, where he reveled in the life Of country gentleman. year had hardly passed before he was sutor for the hand ot Lrsbia Resson. the daughter ot the old vicar of Calksion. and the belle of the country ball.
 Matters followed one another in the mos, prosaic way John Audas was be- yond reproach for a son-in-law: his woong was downrish, and honest, and the lady found the bluff. sun-orowned. well informed fellow -albe, he vas far from clever-quite a contrast and relief after the insipid "iocals ot the neigh borhood. So the resul; was that, alter rather short intimacy. Iohn Autas pro- posed, was accepted, Frank Res,on came from the Temple to be present a, hts sIs- ter $ wedding; and nos that. SIX months later. he had run doxn 10 spend few days at the Coppices, to have a htile shooting, he found her thin. pale. care worn. and ready a, a word 10 burst into tears.
 Why, little Lesby," he cred. with all his old betting ways. "wha, Is l, :: Surely ack Is no, behaving badly to you:'
 No. Oh, no. It is nothing, Frank !; am a little hysterical."
 '' But il is something" he exclaimed. I'll have Il out with John.
 My dear Frank, you'll make me wresched if you say a word
 Oh. well, fl you take that tone. Af x..,ff hax But came down here for res, and to have bit of enjoyment. and ind you IT tears"
 ~Yes, yes; and i,'s all my nonsense. Frank, dear. There. l,'s all gone now. It's the weather. l think.
 Where's John
 Either in the stables or down the gar den. I'll send for him
 ~Oh, I'll go and look him up. SUD- pose he'll be glad to see me.
 Why, of course, dear. He has been talking about nothing else since he heard you were coming and making no end of plans"
 "Ah. that's right" said Frank Res,on, smiling.
 And I'm SO glad you've come. Frank. dear. lou see. I'm afraid I'm moi mueh of company for dear lohn-not such good company as-as l think his hrss wife was.r
 Well, you're deal better company than she is now
 -I1l try very hard to take an in'eres, in his pursuits. bu, I'm so stupid. Frank, that I'm afraid he gets out of patience.
 "r1l tell you what it IS. Lesby,' said Frank Res,on, biuntiy, If you s~o peo- pie can't be happy in this glorious place, with every luxaY about you. and only to speak 10 have whatever you please, you deserve-you deserve there, don't know what you don't de serve!"
 "Yes, dear, we do.r said the lady meekly. An, here comes dear John