The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-12

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 Eve had headache,5 say, pettishiy, :" and l do wish you would let go my hand"
 He looks pained, and do not feel as though this is suitable moment to con- gratulate him.
 Conversation flags dreadfully at din- ner. Mother is unusually silent; Jack seems troubled at something; and l.. still haunted by the idea, he thinks me in love with him. resolutely snub all ef- forts to amuse me, and keep my eyes fixed on my plate to avoid his question ing glances. Afterward. Il is not much better. Instead oi going straight to the piano. as usual, with lack to turn over for me and sing duets. work industriously at some cNwel work, close to mother, and am too much absorbed in it even to Tiff, my eyes.
 am delighted to think how perfectly natural and unconcerned my behavior is: cannot understand why Jack should look SO puzzled But this is not the way to set about congratula'ing him, so pres ently move to the piano. and he fol- lows me slowly, as though not quite sure of his reception.
 rattle ofi some brilliant operatic mu- sic too loud to admit of conversation to glve me time to compose my face into l am glad for your sake, but il is nothing to me ' sor, of expression. i Having got what devoutly hope to be the right look-how wish there was a glass opposite 10 see - turn abruptly and say, as cooliy and unconcernedly as l can "Oh, by the by, lack. l have quite forgotten 10 congratulate you. kind, bu, it quite slipped my memory until this minute. How husky my voice is' l think l mus, have caught cold. :" hope you will be very happy i Thank you, Olive. wondered If you had heard. Do you like it. Are you glad ~ he asked, seriously.
 flush angrily. will ge, that herrid idea out of his head; so l say as coldly and icily as 1 can:
 What strange question to ask me Of course, am glad for your sake, bu, it is d matter of perfect indifference to me what you do.'
 He fiushes in his turn, with a startled, pained look in his handsome face. l suppose he feels small to think how very mistaken he has been.
 ' How strange you are tonight. Olive. thought"
 And there IS an indescrbable look oi yearning his eyes.
 Perhaps fiattered myself that, such friends as we are, you would have taken some interest in anything so nearly re- lated to me-
 do not know as to our being such trends" say, !" of course we have seen great deal of you, being your neares, neighbors but we should have been the same to anyb ody."
 He arises hastily and says good bye to mother, and then he comes to where am still standing by the piano
 = Do not look so naughty, Miss Olive.,' he says, quietly, and, oh, so sadly {" You may be sure 1 shall never worry you again with my affairs, only and here his voice breaks a little-'.l do wish had not been quite so mistakenr
 Ah. we all manage 10 make good many mistakes in this life, remarked sententiously. You cannot expect to be any exception to the general rule"
 He says not another word, but takes I triumphant; but somehow or other l i don't-only very miserable.
 The next day ve hear iha, Lord Doug dale has returned to London-to marry his cousin, so report says. i go back to my old life: il never seemed slow before, but the monotony oi I, now appears dreadful to me.
 IL is wonderful how much older seem to have grown. am much quie,er, much more sedate.
 begin to wonder what to do with my life. and to think that perhaps l have a vocation for hospital nursing.
 lime goes on. and IL Is warm spring weather l am wandering hs,lessly through the grounds. thinking how use- less my life seems ,o be, when l find my self in the old orchard where the ham mock used 10 swing.
 It is gone now-l had II taken down but the trees are there. and the ropes to issten 1t.
 have no, been there since lack left. and the scene reminds me loo forciblv ot those few happy weeks.
 feel low and dispiritcd. and throwing myself on the ground, burs, into passion ate tears.
 "oh, lack, lack, ,ha, had never seen you " IS my heart-bresen cry. suddenly hear footsteps, and looking up, see lack standing before me
 Sprnging hastily to my feet try to look as though l had not been cryine- rather vain attempt-and glance eagerly around for his wife
 She Is not 10 be seen.
 Olive, my" He checks himself abruptly. How dreadful i'll you are looking,
 And lack has possessed himself, as im days gone by. of both my hands
 snatch them angrily away
 Where IS your wifes' ask; and what right have you to come through here; Are you always going to catch me when"
 got no further
 My wife, What are you talking abou,?''
 He interrupts me in am; cement. and then suddenly light seems 10 break