The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-19

he, triumphantly. And you-you have heart. You must still feel-"
 She interrupts him by slight but elo- quent gesture.
 "l am not heartless, indeed, !" she says and have felt-too much h.n There is qu;ver in her sweet voice that misleads him. In truth, the emotion it expresses is not for him. bu, for the memory of those past dark hours when she had mourned so truly for love now known to be worthless.
 All may still be well with us," ex- claims he, eagerly. "I love you now as l never loved you then. My silence dur ing the past year can explain. T-n
 @Can you ?" says Vera, not severely, but with steady glance from her Erea, violet eyes.
 "I can-l will," declares he, wildly. < was mad then-blind. But surely the love you once bore me will help you to forgiveness P
 The love you killed? Do you appeal
 "I swear-n
 Nay, no more false oashs,n ? interrupts she again with weary movement. They will be useless now. The love you speak of is dead, slain by your own hand fl, indeed" dreamily, 1" it ever ex- isted."
 Not dead," entreats he with extreme agitation. Do not say that. Give me fresh trial-one last chance"
 "Too late v returns she ip low but firm voice. Outside she can hear a step upon the stairs that of late has grown very familiar to her The color rushes back to her pale face as she turns te- wards the door. It is flung open rather impetuously and Digby enters the room.
 Their eyes meet, but seeing her stand ing close to Stainer in apparently agi,ated converse Digby comes to a stand still and looks at her with terrible reproach in his beautiful eyes. This look fades, however. and gives place to one of ecsta- cy as she goes quickly up to him and frankly holds out to him both her hands
 Leaving them still in his warm clasp she glance back to where Stainer is stand ing as if rooted to the ground
 Major Stainer," she says, with an odd little thrill in her soft voice, "let me in- troduce you toto my future husband, Lord Digby"'
 Training enables Stainer to acknowl- edge the rather distant bow made him by Digby, but the sense of utter defeat is crushing him. He has grown haggard and aged in these last few minutes. He mutters something about an engagement. seizes his hat and bows himself out, with out permitting himself to look into her face even once again.
 C Vera vO1t paeap. ,f IS sa,e n,rk., when they are alone. Hei scarcely less agitated than the man who has jus, left the room.
 " l did,' returns she, tremulously. "It is but poor gift, but if you want me give myself to ysu gladly"
 :" With this gift that you call poor, what man on earth shall be so nch, so blest as p
 Best hear me first" whispers she. " Do not take me until have told you all. Last night t"-in faltering accents |" met"
 '' Not another word, says Digby gen. tly. "l know everything. That man who has just gone-you-you-
 was engaged to him." says Vera, simply, though with very troubled eyes And he went away and forgot me. l. thought loved him then but last night, when saw him again"
 She breaks down here, and bursts into tears. Digoy, taking her into his arms, presses her head tenderly against his breast.
 ''D Don't cry, sweetheart" he says. with passionate fondness. ii you tell me you have discovered that your love for him-for minis still alive, -bravely -" shall try to bear it.
 "Oh, no, not that exclaims she shud- dering slightly. '' 1 felt then nothing but wonder that should ever have known even a childish affection for him. II knew tha, old, silly story was at an end forever; and d'-shyly-" 1 knew some thing else too
 What. Nera:"
 She can feel ,he tender arms around her tremble. Leaning back from him she looks softly into his eyes.
 = That loved you" she says. pressing her pretty flushed cheeks agains, his E-rfhanse.