The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-30

He had not dreamed of saking this d. csive step 70 sooc. but since he had dreamed Of it at all. as veli @ nov as any other time. fsA they would @.
 
 The early dusk had fallen cves NcsmaA Ranxfcsd's home. A bright 6re glowed h the open gyate, and the pEe8iy litxle parlor, lis hy that alcne. had nevw icokea mora houe-like cr inviing. MA Ransr tord entered t, looking flushed fpom her drive h the cool, crisp air, but with that wislful, troubled expEessiun not vi gone from her charming fee.
 Almest the iixsf tAing upoa vhicA her glance ten was . white envelope Iing upon the table. She took it up, carelesa1Y at hra, waI6af ovsr b tAe ssafe Q ssad 1t by the 6EsligAt but l0w, sneehsed uy escApsd hr ips e d. sead oa to sAs end IL was . nose rom her hushand, cruelty hsiei and businsss -like, informing her tkaf he had lelk home forever, and urging her so fdsges him, as he vas un- worthy ef her love.
 Mn. RansfoEd sank down into lAree arm chair that stood before the grafe, utterly faint, and white as a snow dFift, and there the servant found her when she came in tc light the lamps.
 "Dont Maxyw she exeiaimea sAud- dexinely, lifting her hand with suif, drinking gesture, as though dTeading the light. Jke freight u all care for. Dout disturb me sxain this even- isGm hours Ms. Ransford sat there, just as she had returned frcm the drive, her elbow resting on the cushioned arm of the chair, and her white cheek supported by her eloved hand, gazing straight be- fore her into the glowing srate. Her fur-lined cloak had beea loosened and thrown back, but the vide hat with its elegant dropping plumes, stlll shaded her face.
 It was . dark, proud face, as shown by the 6relight, breeding over her bitter wrongs a beautiful face, with character and purpose shown in the clear, decided contour of brow and chin, despite the softness suggested by the rich olive of the rounded cheeks, and the dark, deep southern eyes which looked as though they coald love passiona,ely, or haae bit- teriy, to the end.
 q will be revenged. swear it." she said, at last, clenching her gloved hand with passionate force, while those deep, dark eyes glowed dangerously in the dusk. " She has stolen my husband ruined my life AS sure as there is God in heaven, she sh hall suffer for il. VI
 A few days later her servants were dis missed, her pretty cottage closed and Louise Ranxford started forth upon her errand of vengeance
 Of course the town rang with the news of Ransford's flight with the danseuse, for it was at once guessed that they had gone together. But none had dared to question the deserted wife, who, in such pgoud silence, had quietly gone about making arrangements for her departure and then had suddenly disappeared from their midst.
 The sun, high in the heavens, sent his lances of golden light down into the pine-scensed canon, where a rough but stirring mining settlement had taken root and fourished.
 The train from the east had just passed through, and the attention of many was curiously turned to the elegant figure of a lady in a gray travelling suit and closely yelled, who had stepped of the train and was making her way daintily down the main thoroughfare leading to the heart of the settlement.
 Presently she came upon group of men gathering arourd the open doorway of a cabin sanding a few paces back from the street. They were talking in io~, .uhd.eA tones, with an air of earnest interest, but the lady did not at first mo- tice any unusual excitement.
 She hesitated an instant, then gently touched the arm of the man who stood nearest her with the point of her parasol.
 "Pardon me, sir" she began, in low, sweetiy-modulaaed voice, but can you tell me"
 She did not finish, for, as the man turned toward her, the look of awe on his rough, sunburned face struck her with woodes, and, involuntarily, she stepped forward among them to learn the cause of it.
 Through the open door she saw the lifeless figure of a woman laid out upon a acouch within a plain but neatly fur nished room, and a lovely a-year-old child sobbing piteously beside it. Two or three rather coarse looking women who were moving about the room seemed either too busy or too callous to attend to the grief of the lonely little creature
 What's goin' to become O the young un ?" said one of the men at the door, in a stage whisper That's what I'd like ter know"
 sWhere is the voman's husband 2" asked the strange lady, speaking for the first time, as if inspired with sudden in- teEest in the scene
 " Husband ?" echoed the man, per cepeible sheer in his voice @Weil. ma'am, reckon a how he aint her hus- band much more'n be: but if ye mean that kids father, why he's gone over the range prospectin', and aint liable to be back fur month to come"
 l" Poos little thing P said the woman,