The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-21

woman of about fifty-hve tall and state ly, noticeably but not attractively hand some. Rising in intellect far above the level of the family into which she had married, she had started by endeavosing to mould her husbands mind to the ca- pacities of her own. In the early days of their married life, she had urged him unceasingiy to strive for higher posi- ton in the world than that of mere country gentleman. She wished him to enter the political arena; to contest a borough in fact, to change his way of living entirely. But she found the task hopeless one. A docile husband in most things, nothing could move Will liam Abbot from the easy groove in which his f0refathers had placidly slid ten. The husband and wife were ol very different natures. Perhaps the only common ground between them was their family pride and the sense of their importance Yet while the gentleman was quite contented with the latter as it now stood, and always had stood, the lady was ambitious, and wished to aug ment it. But her efforts were Of rc avail so a: last, with a feeling touching dan- gerously near to contempt, she gave up attempting 10 sway her husband in this direction, and centered all her hopes in her only son, on whom she fiattered her self she had bestowed some of her su- perior intellect. He should play an im- portant part in the world At the first opportunity he should enter parliament, be,ome a distinguished member of so- ciety, and so far as possible satisfy her ambition. Of course her son must marry, but his marriage should be one to strengthen his hands both by wealth and connections. Now that he was on the threshold of mans estate, she had turned her serious attention to this sub Ject, and had for so C time been con- sidering the heiresses she knew who were worthy of picking up the handker- chief which she meant to let fall on his behalf. She had postponed her decision unti: his return from the contemplated tour. Then she would broach the sub. ject of an advantageous matrimonial alli- ance to him. By preaching the subject Mrs. Abbot meant laying her commands upon her son to wed the lady she had chosen for him.
 As she drove along the twelve miles of roa6 to Clifton, and reflected on all these things, is it any wonder that her frame ef mind was an unpleasant one; that her eyes grew hard, and she felt little disposed to be merciful to the owner of that pretty face which threatened to come between her and the cherished schemes of years?
 The carriage stopped at the address gwen her by her son-a quiet little house in quiet little street, where the ar- rival of so grand an equipage and so hne pair of horses was an event of sufficient rarity to make many windows open, and maid servants, even mattresses, crane out and wonder what it meant. Mrs. Abbot. having ascertained that Miss Keene was at home, and having made known her wish to see her, was shown into a room plainly but not untastefully furnished. A piano, an unfinished drawing, some dainty embroidery, gave evidence of more refinement than Mrs. Abbot ex- pected, or, to tell the truth, hoped to hnd in her enemy's surroundings. A bunch of flowers, artistically arranged, was in glass vase on the table; and the visitor felt more angry and bitter than before as she recognized many choice orchid, and knew by this token that the Chewton hot houses had been robbed for Miss keene's sake. Mrs. Abbot tapped her foot impatiently as she awaited the moment when her youthful enemy should appear and be sa,isfac- torily crushed.
 The mistress of Chewton-Abbot had somehow conceived the idea that the garl who had won her sons heart was of a dollish style of beauty. She may have jumped at this conclusion from the memories of her own young days, when she found that the heart of a man was more susceptible to attractions of this type than those of her own severer charms. Pretty enough, after fashion, she expected to find the girl, but quite crushable and pliant between her clever and experienced hands. She had no reason for this impression. She had coldly declined to look at the portrait which her son, that morning had wished to show her. Having formed her own Idea of her would-be successor at Chew ton hall, she regulated her actions ac- cordingly. Her plan was to begin by striking terror into the foe. She wished no deception the amenities of social warfare might be dispensed with on this occasion. Knowing the advantage usully gained by a sudden and unex- pected attack, she had not revealed her name. She simply desired the servant to announce lady to see Miss Keene.
 Hearing light step approaching the door, Mrs. Abbot drew herself up to her full height and assumed the most ma jestic attitude she could. It was, as one may imagine, fine three-deckcr of the old days turning her broadside, with sixty guns run out and ready for action. upon some puny foe, to show her that at a word she might be blown out of the water. Or it was what is called now a-days demonstration in force.
 The door opened, and Millicent Keene entered. Mrs. Abbot bowed slightly then, without speaking a word in de liberate manner looked the newcomer up and down. She did not for a mo- ment attempt to conceal the object of her visit. Her offensive scrunity was an