The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-02

ways failing in the effort
 Then stop making the effort, John
 "' Do you mean that as a command ?
 Fanny broke into merry laugh.
 If you say 1 had better end the struggle will do SO, Fanny
 Why, to be sure, she answered saucily. Don't try to please, and then you'll succeed-by being your natural self
 {" Do you know who it is would like to appear well beforeF
 Your mother 7 with merry twinkle.
 !" "'Your own dear self, Fanny. love you. A year ago might have said that boldly. but now John turned away.
 You love me. John? The teasing tone vas gone. Fanny rose with glow of hattered vanity upon her cheek. Here was another conquest.
 "' Yes, Fanny, with all the power of my nature. love you truly-earnestly. But cannot ask you to share life of poverty. Do you love me well enough to wait until can offer you home such as you deseryeT
 !" John took the yielding figure in his arms. Those full brown eyes were turned with seeming tenderness to his. He stood an instant, thrilling in every nerve.
 A crash of breaking boughs, peal of though,less Laughter broke the silence
 " Girls: Boys. Everybody. Come quickly john is kissing Fanny. l, isn't proper.' and wild rush from all sides, led by Robert, was made towards the spot where the lovers stood
 John faced the intruders like a lion a; bay The gleam of his eye would have served as a warning to sober men. but his tormenters were far from thought fui The recklessness ot a rural frolic vas on all. Robert, first in every prank, came dashing down the bank, finging a mocking war-whoop on the air The wild crowd followed with brea;hless shouts of harmless laughter.
 But the man whose serious act had caused the mir,hful uproar remained un- moved. The rank injustice of his brothers deed stirred all the passion of his soul. He saw the shrinking girl turn from him he saw the sobs that came from wounded pride. His heart was full of bitterness his mind was active with the instinct of revenge.
 Above the shelving spot on which he stood the bank rose steeply. Below, some twenty feet, the shore fell almost perpendicularly to the surface of the lake, which was its deepest at that place.
 Without a word John sprang upon his brother, seized him, held him with superhuman strength above his head, and hurled him out into the lake
 '' The laughter of the crowd changed E down the bank, but one. more skillful than the rest, threw off his coat and dived into the spot where Robert had sunk from view.
 The watchers stood in breathless eagerness. An instant more. and Rob- ert's anguish-s,ricken face arose. A friendly hand was there. His life was saved.
 Then from the party came a murmur oi indignation. John heard the sound, but did not heed it. A voice, low, fierce, and passionate, close by his side, was louder than the shouts of encouragement which cheered the swimmers.
 "'Nou would have killed him. John heard her hiss. You. You are a mur- derer.'
 "' love you SO - he pleaded.
 q" Love me? ihate you.'
 John turned away. He clambered up the bank and staggered homeward.
 An hour later John entered his brothers room, where Robert sat. Mrs. knowlson was doing some motherly of- nee as nurse, anxiously watching her favorite boy, whose face was still pale from nervous excitement.
 "' Will you forgive me, Robert,'
 Johns colorless cheek told how he suffered.
 No. Never. You shall regre, this before you die.'
 "' regret it now, Robert, as bitterly as man can. l am going away. We may not meet again very soon. Will you take my hand and say you forgive me?'
 ohn stood before his brother with outssresched palm.
 "' am going to invite every one who was at the picnic to-day Robert respond- ed coldly, to this house tomorrow evea- ing. am going to bring Fannie Marvin here myself. When we are together, and she is leaning on my arm. if you come into the parlor and ask my pardon l will grant it.
 hOs oS hCfC u}knt, said John. with an agony that should have touched his brothers heart.
 Very well. You are your own mas ter-but you are not mine, John knowl- son.
 "' Robert. pleaded his mother.
 "'T'n not hear another word. wish to be alone, replied her son.
 John tuned toward the door. A sob broke from his heart It was the last sound from his throat that Robert knowlson ever heard.
 The next morning John left Chester. He had tried to see Fanny befofe going, but she refused to meet him.
 As he drove away from the old home that was SO dear to him, the picture that was stamped indelibly upon his mind had much of pathos in its lines.
 Upon the porch where he had played thousand times he saw his mother, with fearful eyes wave him last adieu. But Robert vas not there The curtains were