The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-21
THE NEIaHBoRHooD FAILURE.
CHAPTER 1.

"Yes, madam, you are very plain, still for woman of your age, think that you appear we'll enough.".
 didn't mean that" she said with a jerk of her head, accompanied by a sharp noise that sounded like snap. If you think that am so ill looking, you needn't come where am. Yes, am plain woman, and think that it is best to be frank with you. Frankness is one of the virtues that should receive special culti- vation, and have cultivated it. do not approve of yonr attentions to Caro- line. You are a kind-hearted and gen. erous man, perhaps, but-but-I dislike to say it-but your habits are bad"
 "HowW
 "Well, you gamble"
 "So do you"
 "What you impudent man; never gambled in my life."
 "You are gambling now"
 "WhatP'
 "Yes, gambling now. Speculating on my lack of morality"
 "Mr. Forester, in spite of myself, you keep mo in a good humor, but good humor is one thing and judgment is another"
 @That's a fact, Mrs. Andrews, and have noticed tbat persons of best hum. r are frequently people of poorest judg- ment. can commend you for the former, but of the latter, I fear you are somewhat short. It is true that bet on an oc- casional horse race, but hope you do not think that I'd put up my wife on the bob-tail horse against anything pu, up on the bay. have won about as much money as have lest, and taking the amuseme ent as profits. my net gains have been quite large"
 "That's ali very wei. Mir. Forester, but cannot tolerate gambling"
 Let me see. Madam, once heard of widowed lady who dabbled somewhat in cotton futures. The market went agains, her, and d-well, she was slightly frost-bitten."
 "Wno told you that2"
 "Never mind. This lady, according to her own confession, is vtiy plain, but it seems that the sharpers found her to be decidedly attractive"
 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself to stand up there and talk to me tha, way"
 "Well, I'll sit down."
 No, you needn't. do not wish to give you any evidence of my approval. You may make this visit as short as you please. You cannot make 1t too short to suit me"
 "Now, of all gambling, said the young man, seating himself, "basing hopes on cotton futures is the most hazard ous. My father lost his head that way"
 "Don't taunt me. I was advised to in. vest few hundred dollars. l lost, but I learned lesson"
 "Yes, never to put your money on the red when you should have put it on the black. That's all very we'll, but suppose you had won2 Don't you think that you would have risked a few more hundred dsllaxs ?"
 "No, don't, for saw the evil-n
 ~After you had lost; but that has nothing to do with Caroline. love that girl, hanged if don't. She is not beau- tiful-taking somewhat after her mott CT, but she is attractive-taking somewhat after her father. love her very de- votedly yes, more SO than can ever love any one else. .think that can make good wife of her."
 "You good for nothing, audacious ras- cal you ought to be ashamed of your self to sit there and talk that way"
 "Ill stand up, then."
 I'd rather see you walk"
 "Which m have to do if swap horses many more times. Nov, Mrs. Andrews, seriously speaking-for don't see how any one can speak lightly of marriage Caroline loves me-"
 @She does not"
 She is truthful girl, Mrs. Andrews. You may not have discovered this, but 1t is fact. Where is the damsel !"
 None of your business"
 AOf course not, but where is she3 Out chatting the tawdry butterfly or engaged in the exciting ride of stiek-ho1se P E j. .s E4a $ i