The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-23
rHAL1A's LOVER.

are, Thalia! l, for one, fear that if mamma relied for her three quarts of berries upon me she would have to do So saying, handsome Ida Minturn leans her head upon her white hand while she watches languidly her cousins busy movements.
 It is sweet, arch face that Thalia lifts to her as she smilingly answers: "Tired already! Ida, l do believe you were born to be drone in the hive. Every thing seems to weary you except going to part1es and"
 Flirting, l suppose you would finish with. Well, you are not far wrong; and. by the bye, Thalia, have found new and delightful subject upon which to try my powers of fascination. Pa should have thought twice before he engaged such handsome oveTseer. To be sure, he is rather cold and distant bu, you'll see yet how expressive ] can make his dark eyes look.''
 A delicate pink rushes 10 the younger girfs fair face as she springs to her feet, almost dropping her basket of berries.
 Ida Minturo, am ashamed of you Indeed, was going to finish my sentence in no such way. detest the very word filtration, and do no: believe Mir. Holmes would steop to such thing"
 Thalia, how seriously you do take things lfyou could only see how dra- matic you look-gory, outstreiehed hand and all But here comes Mir. Holmes himself l believe will tell him of your enthusiastic defence. doub; rot but it would amuse him.
 "Oh Ida nlease don',n
 And Thalia's cheeks grew to the deep test rose as she pleads.
 But there is no need for fear, as, with merely grave, courteous lift of his straw hat, Mir. Holmes passes on 10 where, in a distant part of the field, some men are engaged at their work.
 The golden summer months fit gently by and it is not long before i. is plainly evident to all eyes bu, Mrs Minturn's how affairs are tending between the hand some young overseer of the farm and the gentle young girl vho for the past three years has made her home with her aunt.
 .'I think r. e's perfectly splendid Y Ida says candidly as with many blushes Thalia oonfesses the fact of her engage ment. But mamma will never consent, and myself think you're very foolish, Thalia. Love is all well enough, bu, for one have too much ambition 10 throw myself away on poor young man. look for coronet at the very least. and you with your pretty face. might certainly do better"
 Better. An, ow And Thalia's face is more than pretty-beautiful- she speaks. "My Harry is noble and good. What could be better than that .nA | hA | kr< k..s I myself rich in his love !1
 Ida vas right in prognostica,ing her mothers disapproval.
 Engaged! And to man not worth penny, and of whose family one knows nothing about! Thalia, l am shocked. l have seen that you were very friendly. but had no idea of this, for we have all treated Mir. Holmes with more consider ahon than his position calls for. And what will your uncle say? lust what do-that the affair mus, be stopped at once. l am your guardian, Thalia, and until you are of age you cannot contract marriage without my consent. You know that, and now say that this en- gagement must be broken"
 And all Thalia's tears and pleadings arc of no avail Mrs. Min,urn is firm. In two weeks time they will go to Lon- don, and she decides in her own mind that she shall then see that her niece is plunged into the very vortex of that fashionable life from which as yet her tender years have keps her.
 It is cruel blow to Hany Holmes, for relying upon his employer's evident fnendliness, he has sufeTed himself to build high hopes.
 -,,, ~TA.:s ys..! Oh. Ta.li., }, your love
 "Have no fsar, Harry," Thalia answers, resolute!y, tor neither time, place, hor surroundings can alter my heart, and when our time of probation is over, and am my own mistress, you have only to come and demand your own-for shall be yours then as now."
 In the belt that clasps her slight waist nestles cluster of daisies Stopping, Harry disentagles them from their fasten- ing.
 brance of your words. And now have something to tell you. Since your uncle told me the other day, that after this week, my services would be no longer needed, have received communication from Ireland, which has decided me to 60 there at once. It is a letter from an uncle of whose existence until now l have been ignorant. But read |. for your- self"
 This is what Thalia reads:
 My DEAR NEPHEW: have only just learned, after long inquiry, that my sister leif son, and that he and you are one and the same. This letter will un- doubtedIy prove . surprise to you, as, from my sisters solemn WOW made to me as she aeA her home, know that you never can have heard my name. Let me explain At m early age your mother aud myself were lek orphans Time vent by, and your mother mel and became att tached to one whom beyond all others disliked, and for just cause.
 They were engaged and married, in despite of my vehement pYotestatious. l