The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-19

slave into the bargain. She must be the most ungrateful woman born if sbe doesnt show grace to him in the end. His love for her has been earnest and faithful P
 At this last word, Stainer winces. How can he, whose love. has been so unfaith- ful, hope for forgiveness? There hae indeed been moments during the past few months when he had suffered his mind to wander to her, and he had thought of her with regret and longing. During these brief intervals he had pict- ured her to himself as living always with her grandfather in that old.world village, alone, companionless dreaming, per chance. sadly of him, poor little thing !n He grows hot and shSme-sificken, as memory brings back to him these vain imaginings.
 And now the curtain falls. It is all over and rising hastily, with a scansy word of adieu to his friend, he makes for the large hall, where he will sec her as she passes to her carriage. Presently she comes, enveloped in soft cashmeres, white as her own perfect skin, and with her two companions. Lady Nynor stops to speak to some chance ac- quaintance, and Vera is left virtually alone with Lord Digby. Her hand is resting on his arm; under the pre,ense of drawing the cashmere even more closely round her, he lays his own upon il.
 "l have been silent for long time at your command, but feel I must speak tonight" he whispers hurriedly. Am l to take my final No now? He has turned very pale.
 Mo-" says the girl quickly. Then the absurdity of her answer striking her, a faint smile oreeps into her eyes. That is,' she stammers, it is no no ; mean
 '' No, no?' Why, that is 'yes' in any decent English" he exclaims, eagerly.
 Well, take 1t" she says in low tone, and with glance that is half shy, half tender. But"-with nervous haste there is first something that must tell you. Tomorrow, if you will come to me at ! o'clock, l'-
 At this moment a tall man, dark and handsome, pushing his way. somewhat cavalierly, through the groups, makes for where she is standing. His face is agi- tated, his eyes are aligh,. He holds out to her hand that positively ,rembles, and after hesitation, so fain, as to be almost imperceptible, Vera lays hers within it.
 Yet the hesitation to lovers eyes has been visible to Digby 1t is now quite clear what it is she has got to tell him on the morrow.
 Come, Vera says Lady Vynor, rust ling up to her. Vera makes movement as if to go to her, bu, Stainer holds to her hand fast.
 :" must see you: must explain" he says, with white lips. Give me time ; place.
 " Tomorrow says Vera, very gently She IS almost tender with him. So softly her glance rests upon him that Digbys faithful heart loses courage, and he for bids himself to dwell upon the hope ,ha, few minutes since had made his pulses ,hrob with unly hatf-concealed delight.
 Park lane" Vera is murmurng in a low voice. She is still somewhat lost in wonder at this change that has come over her. Only yesterday she had be- iieved in her love for this man; who, now holding her hand in a close clasp and looking into her eyes with an impassioned gaze fails to wake in her the poorest spark of feeling. Come tomorrow at }. she says-a suspicion of pity in her lingering glance
 At :, o'clock the next day Major Stainer puts in an appearance at the charming drawing room in Park lane that calls Lady Nynor mistress. He finds there awaiting him not only Vera Wriothesly, but the former pretty little lady likewise
 To her cousin, on her return from the opera last night, Vera had oontided all her story coneealing nothing-and con- fessing to feeling disagreeable amour, of nervousness about the interview im- pending between her and her former lover.
 "Go to bed and don't let that trouble you," said Lady Nynor. Il have not come 10 my age, hope, withou, being able 10 outwit man. There; leave all that 10 me-
 Now. seated in her favorite lounging- chair, wrea,hed in smiles. Laura Nynor betT avs fine determination to ut-sit her visitor with smiling ob,useness to any desire for her departure beyond all praise
 She IS almos, effusiveiy amiable 10
  Stainer welcoming him as an old friend oi Nera's. And so he has been at Berlin for whole year. How delightful, He can now tell her twhat she has been all her life so longing to know whether Kaiser Wilhelm is as popular as one has been led to believe. And so on.
 StAiner, bending in sulky silence, an- swers all her questions somewhat at ran dom. His eyes are fixed upon the per feet profile of the girl sitting half inside the lace curtains of the window, and his mind IS wandering to days-now past and gone-when her love had been his own beyond all doubt Her eyes never once seek the room, bu, are turned upon the busy world of carriages outside. One hand IS lying idle in her lap, the other IS lailly furling and unfurling huge black Ian. The curtains SO far conceal her that Staincr cannot see her expression and so is unable to judge whether she is or IS not as anxious to be rid of her talk