The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-09
A BACHELORS wooING.
sY uEs. BELLE !. NASLoyE.

HY MRS. BELLE !. NASLoNE
 As Ellery Hampton threw himself in his easy chair before the glowing bed of anthracite his genial, handsome face wore an expression that betokened good will toward himself and all mankind. The pitiless December storm raging with ou, only enhanced the comfort of this favoriie apartment of our bachelor friend. There he indulged in untrammeled free dom. Each inanimate object had long since become friend that sympathized with his every mood. Indeed, they had come to have meaning to him akin to human. ~ 1 shall have no feminine bric- a-brac-- here." he said. No inoompre- hensible designs in silk and wool shall dangle from man,el and chair to mar it's beauty" It low, we'll filled book-shelves, surmoun,ed by the silent, inspiring faces of scholar and poet, the few well-chosen pictures, the warm, rich, yet subdued. tin;s on floor and wall, certainly gave evidence of the good taste and rehne- men, of its occupant.
 As Ellery sa, gazing into the fire, out of is depths rose vision of his past life He saw himself, child of summers, standing beside two graves, one still fresh with flowers laid but yesterday upon 1t. Throwing himself beside it, his childish sorrow found vent Tn passionate sobs. Gently he was drawn away by the loving arms of Aunt Cem and folded in her fond embrace Dear Aunt Glenn " he softly murmured. ," how patient and ten der the love she has lavished upon me since ,ha, dark day. Through childhood, boyhood and early manhood this love has been my guiding star. And now :ha, success has crowned my efforts VIC two ind swee, eonien, in this bachelor home. No love-siok fanoies lure me from its repose. Bah That folly a, least have escaped" And with light iacgh he reached for the fresh magazine wi,h is uneu, pages
 pon the fable lay an unopened letter, open he read
 DEAs O. CT N The siFueg,eis almost o.rr De.eai a=4s been isc reward of my fife >o.k. have nai he strength even he -. now 10 search fer cause further. I ssos- B.y ryes the bitter Ast with tui one askTei. M' s..sfas iiy.en. my motheFess = ! ',.lst lea4a acne. For the sake of old emcfscs q saeet V gone days. lnp.orc se4r guardian eafe for my h:ld can write longer. t3ooa night and good bye.
 Your oid trend, HNl. ANDERSON
 The face ,ha, now gazed into the glow ins hye ne longer bore IS serene eNpres- slon. Sar9EIse. pl,v. and even a shade oi annoy ince passed over the handsome ieatures. laof Hal " he sad a, last. w:in 4 deep si.b s.icy hear; 50 no- a.e and .!3e seseF ea better i..e The otl memories afe .atier. sweet and for :helr sASe lo.r eiai3 shall md ! home ~,,h us. Us better nature had ,ri- afnphe,. ana ;he el;ct tha: vas soon on .;s way ore tender woras tha; sooihed ;he y rs hea., Il tai- i:iend, and i, nd Ne.soc'- for ire ione.v orphAn ,igl
 \ few days ai;er. .l.ev Hampton srcuet; to home sight. sa6-faced S-. ;s. sae N ts sery kindly re- eived. ..o:h t..ety are, Aln, em iried b make ne >cItowine ehia ieei hat she had in- ace0 cone ssaiaas friends Be. as the days passed the loneliness af the grea, house became oppressive :2 her. Aln, Ciem, ~ .f tei .lnd. b..l resened nature, alnos; repe..es. ne sensitive hlld ti- cry A.waNs had brIgh; smile and word Tor aeI p.. :; Wa, sny ,., he rie,aln : auo eveEsng mel they me:. She fel, veTv sratct.. to the>e ,rlenas tor the oeau- ;ia. home so freely aiiereA her. 6a; her eeas, ached isr ne lovlns words inc ready sympathy that hal made her ONT s.mp.e home the sweete>; spot on earth. 70 when k.legy amour ed ,o her his in- ten;lon of placing her m a distant sem mary to nnish her edG a;len she could scarcely restrain her eager fov. Young IS she was she had acquired. as her father $ da.ly companion. habits of study and love tor books. In study she nigh, }, least md some relief from the bitter sense of solitude tha, oppressed her.
 Passing hastily over he nex, i've years of Helen $ Sono0i lie, we md her l. [ < ! lovely, sensible girl. whose warm, gen erous nature has endeared her to every accuaintanoe She has finished her course of study with high honor. and ,o- day Is leaving forever ,his kindly shelter ,ha; r..s been io her both school and nome. X feeling q. dread steals over he, as she thinks oi he syea, silent house :ha; $ henoefoyth ;o be her home. hcY vacations. wIsh the exception of the :irs:. lad been spent with aei dear trend and room-naie. Katie Sn,Ners. And TOW poor Helen :et. tha; tor ;fe second sime n her fife she was .eaYlns rue and trusted frsenGs ge 70 asain among s,Tan- gers. Letters. kind bg; formal had come occasionally from Mg Hampton very liberal had been the monthly reniuanees sent, and there apparently his ln;eres; ended. Bu; as there was no other alter native Helen soon found herself whirliug rapidly toward home. Her heart sank as she mounted the weil-remcmbe,el el steps, bu, the warm kiss and hearty greet iEE of Aunt Glenn greatly assured her dropping spirits.
 Why, child. How you have grown and changed v she exclaimed. casting an admiring glance at Helen. Wha, Elley thought as he came forward to welcome his young ward can only be surmised. That he was not wholly indifferent was quite evident Instead of withdrawing after the dinner hour, as was his custom, he drew his chair near Helen, and they were soon chatting with the ease and