The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-07

@As n didn't know all about it! No, hom Smyiie, he's 1t to be ted if you jok< him about the ghost. Oh! if's . bed way he's in, the poor man
 "Didnt the crumpess agree with him r ll asked sympatheticallt. Her eyes danced for moment.
 If you'd heard hint Tossin', and | groanin', and staStia', and ssearin' that night But it wasn't all crumpets.s She closed her lips and nodded myseer- iously. He'd seen something,s she whispered presently. "And Mra Dob bins, my laundress, says there's not a man dare be seen On this staircase after dark without good reason"
 i The lady sat silent during this and the subsequent convegsatioa, and at last rose to take leave. accompanied her down the badly-lighted staircase, and was haz. arding some very mild little joke upon it's evil reputation, when she scddenly stspped-made catch at the baniste1, and but for me would have fallen tor ward. Did you slip?" l asked anxiously, but she gave no answer, only Erasping my arm nervously, and saw that her eyes were fixed intensely on something at the foot of the stairs
 Who vas that?" she asked in a hoasse, frightened voice.
 Where? No one that can see," answered.
 There, standing in that corner. saw him." She suddenly raised herself and hurried down the steps- @He was watching us from the shadow of the door,"
 Did he 20 out?"
 No. Where can he be-"
 looked round. The door at the foot Of the stairs was open to the barrack- yard. On either side were other doors, closed, leading to officers rooms. The gas was lighted, but burning badly, and the corner she pointed to vas in gloom. That's Captain Rawlinsou's room on that side. Was it anyone going in there?"
 She looked doubtful, so I vent to ex- plore. Some one was in the room, cer- tainly, but it was only Captain Rawlin- sons servant, depositing load of boots and newiy-brushed clothes He had seen no one, so he said. mentally referred the panic to Lally's spirited account of our ghost" apd went back to reassure the lady. She thanked me gravely and seemed lost in meditation.
 When we arrived at her carriage. which vas waiting at the barrack gates, she sud- denly stopped. and looking full at me with her beautiful grave eyes, said: "I have been wondering whether should ask you to do me a great service. I know no one here who can help me, and l want very much to hear the whole story of your ghost from beginning to end, for special reason which cannot explain.n
 ''l'll tell you all know, and find out all can for you" replied with joyful readiness. wondering at my own good luck. But when ?"
 Will you come and see me some day l am Miss Dacre. of Penderell Court, and Harry Ormsby was my dearest friend"
 l devoted myself enthusiastically to the mission and watched her drive away feeling-welt-that after all there was something te be said for Vandeleur. Think of a man making away with him. self, while there was a creature like that in the world to live for!" l remarked to nobody in particular, and to lose no mo- ment in fulfilling her behest, returned at once to the Smylies. Hearing through the door, however, Smylie's voice thun- dering forth a sort of Cemmina alton ser vice. including laundresses, ghosts and oarrack gossip Tn its clauses, with piteous responses from Lally at intervals, "how would know It was she? Sure, I'll go ask her pardon to-morrow. poor creature" l thought il discreet to withdraw
 Had LoxdAle any more to tell won- dered l went to him and told him frankly ofmy meeting with and promise to Miss Dacre. He looked at me in blank amazement.
 " Miss Dacre. Calling on the Smy- lies. Wanting to rake up all the old scandal again. m be shot if I can understand it." However, he searched for and gave me a shabby little note. " She may have that, if she likes. It was found on his table when the servant gave the alarm, addressed to me, and another to his uncle." glanced over it. It was pitiful little appeal to his only friend left to try and clear his memory when he was dead and gone. Life was too hard for him now. he was going to md short way out of his troubles, but he did not know how he should rest in his grave. leaving disgraced name be- hind him.
 Don't you think 1t was his use of that expression that set the whole story afloas: :' l asked; and thes some chance resem- blance completed the mysti6cation- some one in the town getting rise ou, of you all ?"
 - Not possible" said Loxdale, decid- edly. "Ormsby was a singular-looking boy, with wild, light eyes and hair that he would wear longer than he should have done, and Vandeleur was a man who never forgot face. It was a strange gift he possessed. When he got his company he knew the name and number ot every man in three days, and once sat at the barTack gate for a wager, and told the name and number of every man who went in and out in the course of an hour, and was only wrong once. No, he was sale to make no mistake; and he got into such a queer state that he dare not be alone for moment. felt utterly savage with myself the other nigh, at mess, when started up and sang out, for, as