The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-05
indeed was his. and yet it is possible he felt more humiliation than if 1t had been
CHAPTER HI.

felt more humiliation than if i, had been defeat.
 CHAPTER III. Aunt Maria," called on Jane Merry weather on the morning following the episode recorded in our first chapter.
 My love" answered thin but cheery voice from the upper regions oi the dap per little cottage.
 Aren't you coming down to lunch, aunt called out the girl again.
 I'm coming, my deaz, this instant" returned the elder lady, who as rule dis appeared finally into some top cupboard or back chair after making this encour- aging statement
 On the present occasion she actually l appeared in the miniature dining-roon some twelve minutes later, and the two ladies, that is to say, one of them, pro- eeeded to eat lunch, which was set on a small table overlooking the garden.
 Ny dear child, why don't you eat?: said Aunt Maria after some ten minutes. in which Miss Merryweaiher had done little but play with her knife and fork.
 Fl don't feel hungry to-day, aunt" said the girl, who now got up and pushed away her chair.
 Presently she began pacing up and down the room.
 Do you know, aunt, believe it is warm enough to open the window said he girl. Aunt, should you catch cold l were to open it.' went on Miss Merrywea.her, as she threw open the easement. How delicious the air is. she said, rather dreamily, as she stepped outside.
 i The small garden was gay with prir. roses and crocuses, and filled with the hum of insects and the indescribable bu, easily perceptible movement of spring. Everything quivered with life. How prlni, and tidy, and orderly i, looked, the little garden which she knew se well There was the rose-tree she had planted two summers ago. with the delicate yoang leaves just bursting from their buds. Be- yond stood great bunch of golden daf- todils in the bright, pale sunshine. That was all her eye seemed ts focus as she stood bareheaded against the little grass p!os and the faint blue sky. Jus, outside the garden somewhere skylark was singing. Every TOW and then a bird flew past the girls motioniess figure, and a ! faini cock crow from some distan, gar den sounded through the air. 4 vague resslessness seemed 10 stir in her veins as the dizzy dancing sunlish, and the hun dred baimy oaors Q: spring -.itae played around her. 4 feeling of isolation took possession of her in this scene of busy, opening life.
 .. Aust Maria feel as if should like to walk twenty miles. Do you ever feel like that" said Miss Merrywea,her rather abruptly, as she returned to then open widow where her aunt was still quietly eating her lunch
 My dear. the air is very fresh would you have the kindness 10 come in and shu, the window" returned the elder lady.
 The young girl obeyed ratser lis,lessiy. and then threw herself into an easy-chair by the little fireplace.
 My dear aunt, don', you ever ge, tired of eating your lunch a; just the same time of day, and going to bed a; ust the same time of night ?" asked the young girl rather irritably after a few minutes pause. in which the placid lady at the lunch-table had gone on steadily eating.
 My dear child, wha, an odd idea exclaimed the lady.
 Fancy eating every day of ones life at one o'clock for fifty years wen, on the girl: isn't the idea enough to take away your appetite! The monotony of i, is enough to make one go mad. It's a won- der so many people make up their minds to go through the labor of living so many years"
 My dear child, 1 wish you would be- have like an ordinary human being with head set on its shoulders, instead of tempting Providence by talking such nonsense broke in Aunt Maria
 My dear Aun, Maria, think have frequently pointed ou, to you that you are wholly dehcient iu imagination. Ii y had even the slightes, perception Of the beautiful, for instance
 All can say is, Jane, that if you don, take il into your head to eat like Chris tan before tomorrow, l shall send for the doctor. said Aunt Maria decisively.
 Ah suppose we see the doctor" said the glrl with smile "I shall tell the doctor that the spring weather is seriously affecting my health, and that l wan, change of air, and he will immediately prescribe change of air; and then-and then Aunt, wouldn't you like to 20 to Dresden. or perhaps to Rome?"
 What has come to the girl!" eiacu- lated Maria. '' Just now i, was a walk O, twenty miles. now it's Dresden, if you please. Wha, place in the four quarters of the globe will you pitch on next, fo, goodness sakesr
 Oh, there arc lots of places. There's Normandy, for instance. No, that would be too cold jus, yet but there's Naples or Sicily. you know. Rome would be de. lightful for Easter. Aunt, know you would like to kiss the Pope's toe, it's no use saying you wouldn't
 I've never seen anything like your restlessness for the last three or four days, Jane, expossula,ed Aunt Maria. !" You are never still for an instant. I'm sure I've heard you say dozens of times that you wouldn't be happy away from Swallows Hill. You coaldn't bear the