The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-24

herself from church on the Sunday however, both morning and evening. and although she looked quite ill enough to justify her in staying at home, could no, get rid of an uncomfortable feeling that there was something in the background and that we should never come to 2 prop understanding until it was cleared up. At the same time l saw in her greater effort to concentrate her attention on her work, and while she spoke French with the girls more exclusively than any of her predecessors, never, indeed, ex. pressing herself in English to any one unless she was compelled, her knowledpe of music far exceeded my anticipations
 By what seemed an Hnspoken mutual consent, Mary and said little or nothing about her after that night but the kind of devotion had already noticed on madame's part was unaltered, and that my sister made little opportunities of see. ing her in private was better ware than she supposed. That sue was trying 10 do her good in some way, which she was too delicate to confess to third person. was, after all, thought, the conclusion most in accordance with all my former experience.
 We heard nothing of the Sundays in. disposition on the Monday, and that day, for the first time, she had visitor. The lady, in the first instance, asked for me, and 1 was pleased not only with her, but with the object of her visit, which be. tokened ktndliness and consideration not often to be met with in this selhsh world. Had the French governess, who was on her way to us three weeks before, she wished to know, reached us safely? The fact was, she said, her husband had travelled in the same compartment with her in the tidal-train, until it was within a station or two of the spot at which the collision occurred, when he exchang q into smoking carriage and before they parted she had so interested him in her forlorn position, and had told him so much about herself, that he had promised to look her up at the terminus, and see her safely on her way to her destination.
 Which he would have done" hls wife added naively, " if he had been there to do it, but he was very badly hurt. His was not one of the worst cases, by long way. There were five deaths, you know, and one of the bodies was never identi. fled. He was so afraid it might have been that of Madame Laure. Oh, yes; she gave him her address, or l should not have known where to come to. He had concussion of the brain, and remem- | bered nothing at first; but now he is nearly himself again, and he was so anx- ious about that poor little French woman, as he kept calling her, and about another lady who was in the compartment with them, that promised would come and see"
 could hear the girls mastering in the hall for their morning walk as she talked to me, and l went to the door and called Madame Laure Tn.
 She obeyed the summons immediately, but when she saw was not alone, she fell back like friehtened child, and with an expression infinitely more distressed. Upon widely different grounds, i; was easy to see that the other was scarcely less taken aback.
 ' But this is not Madame Laure," she exclaimed. '' mean, my husband led me to expect some one so very different"
 Is that 10 be taken as e comPlimsn. to madame!' l asked.
 "Yes, certainly" the little lady replied frankly. :" had no notion she was so nice looking, or 50 young. He gave me the impression that you were a plain, elderly person." she added, laughing and extending her hand. " But perhaps you don't understand me, and am not such linguist as he is. Perhaps" aud she turned to me, "you will be so kind as to act as interpreter P
 "There is no need" said. Madame understands English perfectly" "Oa, we'll, ihen," she replied good humoredly,"l will tell her," which sae did forthwith.
 My husband, you see, would have done better to remain with you," she con- cluded And yet, what of the other lady-the h andsome English lady who was with your'
 "l do not think she was handsome,' Madame Laure replied in slow, reluc- tant way. |" think-pardon me-mon. sieur's memory must still be hitle clouded. She was not youag or hand some, that poor lady. And you might not have had him spared to you, madame, had he staye ed where he was, for, though 1 escaped, she was killed"
 Killed in the same carriage with you!' exclaimed. And you told me that night there was nobody with you-that you were alone!'
 |" Did | p she returned alphabetically. "Very likely did. 1t was too dTeaofl! to talk about. Why should send you to your beds to be haunted as l was my self2"
 The little lady went away with her gayety under an eclipse. She could not, apparently, get over the thought that death had really taken one Of the trio of whom her husband had formed part. She would have liked to be able to go home and tell him that with both his fel- low-passengers it had been equally well.
 "You must come and see us, though she said at parting. "You will let ner come-wont you to me.
 was willing for my part. To my sur prise, Madame Laure was willing, too. Pressed to fix the day, she fixed the iol- lowing Friday, and her visitor, with many | r. L.. Il