The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-23
GoDMorHER DOROTHY.

bB.Qke Sk8uou. Lt vas CcxtAkHiY oGtOtS che extraction of my second pormanteau. for was too anxious aboa. that to pay any attention to the fact that a porter at my elbow had made several attempts to complete an observation beginning Beg pardon, sir didn't discover that he in- tended the remark for me, in fact, for some little time-"th lady is in the vaiting-room, sir. If you'll please step this way"
 Lady7 What lady? wasn't expecting any Lady, and so told him; but when the portmanteau was found at last, and the other portmanteau, and the helmet case, and the sword case, and tke Over hnd trunk, and the hamper, and the uni- train had moved of, l turned to find him nd myself the only visible beings on the platform, and to hear him still persua- sively reiterating, If you would kindly step this way, sir. There doesn't seem to be any other party about that the lady might be expecting" And he looked feebly along the down line and into the signal box, and back into my face again for suggestion.
 "Whoever she expects, it's quite cer- tain not to be me-" assured him. Now suppose you bring these things along to wherever the Rocksedge train starts from"
 He obeyed under an evident burden oi misgivings. Military gent walks lame, straight figure, gray moustache; odd if there's two of them about" heard him murmur to himself as he piled his truck. 4Rocksecge, sir? That's where the lady is going to-" he said, lifting his handles and trundling of with his load
 What's she like" asked with some curiosity, as walked beside my posses sions to a distant end of the platform an old lady!"
 !" Not an old lady, sir" very posi- lively.
 "A young lady, then P
 shouldn't exactly call her young either, sir" extinguishing a rising glim- mer of interest in my mind. dismissed him. and felt for my cigar case, smiling to myself at the idea his words conveyed. The sort of woman who is decidedly not old but can't be called young-f had a tailor's suit, her figure being the last spar of you,hfulness to which she can cling. A grikled fringe peeps from beneath a hat of severe build, and she is also ad- dicted to further emphasizing the hard outline of cheek and chin by tight collars and brilliant scarfs. Her boots are a strong point, and are usually worth look ing at-instep and ankle know no age. 1 had got so far in my fancy sketch while preparing to light up, when beheld my porter back again.
 "l ask your pardon, sir, really do But the lady she is that positive, that just for the satisfying of her mind, if you would step round, I'd take it as kind ness."
 l replaced my cigar case, amusedin spite of myself, but provoked also. Cr6ss- bridge is little deserted strip of plat- way. We had it all to ourselves except for two market-women, who were slum. bering over their baskets on the bench outside the one little waiting room. The lady, whoever she might be, and ! would have practically an unbrokea tete-a-tete till the arrival of my train a sying position for me, who am em- phatically not society man. compro- missed.
 " If the lady likes to come and look at me, she will ind me at the book-st i; I am going to get paper,n and of walked as briskly as a recent attack of rheuma- tism would allow.
 l found the stall nearer to the waiting room door than l had supposed, and heard the rustic of a gown almost at my elbow as l unfolded the largest daily paper in the world, and from its cover took view in return of the lady who was 90 desirous of appropriating me. She was retreating hastily, the porter follow ing, uttering regrets in gruff whisper But" heard her say. told you an elderly gentleman. Quite elderly" looked again, and my fancy picture vanished into thin air. It no more re- sembled her than, in my opinion, her de- scripdon did me. First of all she was clad in big mantle that draped her in graceful glossy folds. Then she wore bonnet-I don't commit myself to the style or material-but it was dark and close, and the strings marked the outlines o( so(t pink cheek, and tied themselves sp saugly under round, white, dseesm- ined chin- The mouth above was little square resolute one too, and explained tho porter's blind real in her service. I could see the color of her syes, but they were dark and soff, and in place of the srizzled fringe with which my fancy had endowed her, wavy bands of brown hair, possibly sprinkled with gray. were brushed back ixom . lou, white fore- head Altogether almost caught my self wishing for moment had been the night man.
 l wished it completely and unfeignedly . moment later, when her travelling com panion joined her at the waiting room door. This was simply the loveliest young creature had ever set eyes on. A slip of girl, at the bud stage of ex- istence, with great sapphire eyes, mass otPale gold hair, and the tinis of wild rose. She was veil got-up in neat gray travelling suit, with crimson knot at her throat and a crimson band round her gray sailor hat, and she carried . listle silky black dog in her slim, gray, long gloved hands. She made . httle conh-