The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-11

"e- 20 fememoer, f you please, to be ready at the given hour; dc not leep me
 wsiting q you did last time.s Lady Griseida was playing with her poodle, and gave derisive httle laugh Ds you hear me, G iselda ?" asked
 Humphrey.
 "I hear you, she rep'e5. and skall be ready-zt my own tim<.~ |. SAe could play on Humohreys ill., tfalned passions as on <hild*. assds she -knes t He stamped. ii foot ihaIEsati- tently. and turned q dssEcsed face oker.
 By heaseas hoEsysu try me he exclaimed. UndefdSand me once for all scriseida, Bs ready ,his evssi.g,
 A few moie h,sek looks. a fe- r,o.. polite speeches fpr me, suppose.D in- terupted she, viii laughing contempt that might have driven a calmer man than Humphrey to whife heat. No,' said her husband, in tragic earnest Be ready; or I swear that it hall be the last time I leave is ID your power to dlsobey my wishes or break my heart
 4 drcary afternoon passed. The wind moaned through the trees and wei
 
 ghosts were wailing along the passages ~lth their old-fashioned gates, and down the long staircase and across he hall.
 Tick, tick, went the clock 10 I.ady Gaseldas sitting room, and 1t told her. loudly as voice of clock could do. that it was time to go and dress. She did heat IL IL broke the sense of her novel over and over again, secretly disturbed her ease of mind, her power of enjoyment, but 1t did not send her to dress. She heard her husband come in and 20 to his room. Her maid came to remind her It was getting late, and was dismissed with nod. At last she rose from her
 ia, surveyed her fine features in the mirror, and then with leisurely steps she went into her chamber
 The carriage came around to the hall door at the appointed hcur, the servants were in attendance Humphrey walked down stairs little slowly, and sen, up to 'eil Lady Griselda tha, 1t was time to start. All the servants doted on Hum phrey, and the old butler nov glanced ptyingly a' the white changed face of his master and it's stern look The footman came back to say her ladyship would no, be ready for while yet: which message Humphrey received in silence, bu, sirode up stairs 10 his wife's room.
 He opened the door and looked in. S1e was seated before her glass looking very beautiful, but not half dressed yet: her maid was arranging flowers in her hair. Many pretty trinket and bauble lay around in confusion, but the i.se, shs was toying with hait absently could not be colder than she. There were plenty of lights around, and as Hum- phrey stood still for a momen, the eyes of husband and wife met in the looking. glass and spoke, although their lips we're mute. The next minute Humphrey Jeff the room, and while the frightened maid strove vii anxiety tha, defea,ed it's own end to hasten that ill-staned toilet. a sharp, clear sound rang through the house-the report of pistol. The maid gave piercing shriek as If sine had her self been wounded; confused sounds came from below. and Lady Griselda, white but calm, flung a shawl round her and went down stars.
 There al the foo, of the staircase where they had pligh,ed their beuothal. with his handsome face still troubled. lay Humphrey Beverley, shot through the heart by his oSn misguided hand. The servants were a'.eady grouped around, their faces aghast with sorrow and dismay. and the old butler, who supported Hum- Phrey in his arms, sobbed like a child over the mao he had loved and honored above peer or king.
 Firing, tempted, fallen, yet beloved so tenderly by those who knew him best and longest, let us say prayer for the peace of the soul of Humphrey Beverley, no matter what may be our creed.
 The story made a sensation, but. as in most such cases, there was much of it hushed out. Lady Griselda wen, back to her own family, where perhaps less was known than elsexhere of the sins and shortcomings of her married life. T~o years onward, ani she eloped with a certain married ncbleman which caused more stir than had her husbands death.
 Boutwell, hall, being en,aiIed on male heirs, became an object of contest be- tween two Beverleys, distant cousins O, n humphrey m about the same degree. While chancery pondered their claims, the deserted house passed slowly into de- cas. It never again became a dwelling house, unless for certain denizeus of the world by whom it was said, and IS still said, 10 be haunted. When ulti- nafeiy possessor to the estate was in his claims, he being a preferred building a mod srn farmhouse for his tenant on a more :heery site, and the shrubberies and gar dens were thrown open and converted nto pasture land.
 l have seen the ruins. They stand in ! broad flat meadow with trees scattered about them Only few bare walls stand ipright with window aper.ares, and chim- ,eys from which smoke will never more wave its hospitable banner. 4 portion of he fine staircase is there and those who Ire so minded may look on the very spot where the last of the Beverleys sought nd me: his end. As l stood gazing at it there was sud- chrrtF