The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-12-13

and several glasses Of potent brown
sherry. In fact, by the time he arrived
at the trysting-place he felt perfectly
equal to confronting half a dozer
Lotharios, and inficting condign chas
tisement upon them, unaided by the pow
ers Of the law. Browne, oddly enough
had never been to the Stores before
Being himself q tradesman, he prosessec
to look upon such establishments with
hatred and contempt, though, in practice
he had found it both convenient and
economical to allow his wife to deal there
and even went so far as to keep deposi
account for her. When, therefore, he en-
tered the door of the large block of build
ings in Victoria street, and noticed wha
crowds of people were passing in and out
and what number of different depart
ments he would have to search, his hear
failed him little, for he plainly saw
that he might spend the day ther,
without ever having the good fortune t.
hit upon the guilty couple. So he loiterec
about near the entrance in some per
plexity.
AS he stared anxiously about him, Mr.
Browne could not help wondering if al
the people he saw had come to shop
There were, it was true, certain numbe1
of individuals who sat at table in thu
middle of the room, writing out order.
from the list, and gazing in agony at tn,
ceiling as they endeavored to solve the in
tricate problems of mental arithmetic, bu,
they seemed for the most part to be serv
ants, lodging-house keepers, and such
like. Nearly all the best looking peopl.
strolled about in a somewhat aimles
fashion, occasionally looking at thu
goods exposed for sale, but more often a
each other, and showing plainly enough
that whatever their business might be, i
was eatirely unconnected with the pur
chase of tea and sugar. There were
plenty of we'll dressed young ladies
officers wives, thought Browne, and {
goodly sprinkiing of fast young fellows
who stared at the ladies, and sometime.
ADDRESSED them apparently on terms o
easy familiarity. All this puzzled ths
worthy merchant not little, and he be
gan to wish that he had looked more lik.
military man. for he was getting bored
and longed to find some one to speak to
"Would you be so kind as to direct ms
to the china department ?" suddenly saic
feminine voice in his ear.
Browne started somewhat, and looked
round. A pretty little fairhaired woman
was standing at his elbow. She was de-
cidedly an attractive person; her age
might have been five and twenty; she
was exceedingly we'll got up, and hi
noticed that she was possessed of very
neat figure and very small feet. Browne
had been rather a gay dog in his time
which was certainly one reason why hs
looked SO sharp after his wife-and tht
vine he had drunk at lunch made him
feel disposed for an adventure. So
after taking a good look at his fai
friend, he answered in his most gallan
manner:
81 am afraid can't, madam, but
shall be delighted to find out for YOU"
ooh, thanks It's SO good of you,
she replied sweetly. any husband sen
me here to do lot of shopping, and it i:
such confusing place am constantly
losing my way"
al assure you am charmed to be o.
the slightest service"
And MIR. Browne inquired the way OF
an attendant and started off with his in.
teresting charge. She asked to see some
dinner services and several other articles
and engaged Browne in a discussion or
the various shapes, sizes and colors of the
samples exhibited tor her inspection
She was really charming, he thought
incest woman he had met for years.
After much elaboration she selected a
somewhat expensive set, a gorgeous ar.
rangement in blue, red and gold.
Ticket number, madam p asked the
shopman.
/" Let me see, 9 O. 7, 3-no, 7, o, 9, 8
and then there's another. How silly
am" she continued, looking up al
Browne with a pretty air of perpiexity
that horrid number /! never can re.
member it."
"Never mind" said Browne, calamity
"use mine" and he gave it to the shop
man.
"Cash or deposit, sir?"
"Deposit," said Browne, mechanically
But could no, think Of allowing you
to payl" protested the lady, producing
her purse.
"Not at all, not at all we will settle
later. No doubt you will be getting Other
things"
Thanks, it's so good of you. Will
you have the things sent to the door
please3 | will take them away later"
Certainly, madame )" and she betook
herself to another department, followed
Of course, by Browne.
"Do you know" she at length said
Z" my husband has been ordered to India
and am to be left all alone in Londor
where scarcely know a soul. Isn't il
terrible ?"
Brownies very heart melted beneath ar
appealing glance from her lovely blue
eyes.
"Dear me, how sad! cant under
stand his leaving you. I'd rather resign
my commission y She looked modest,
down.
~ am afraid you men are all fatterers
How dreadiully fast you must think me
for allowing you to speak to me like this
But felt 50 lonelyl"
Mr.. Browne had already forgotten thai
she herself was the FIRST to open the con.