The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-01

indeed but there are some truths which
 it is polite and polite to ignore. Colonel
 Waimisley, you see, was kind enough to
 treat me as if were rational being" | And he has his reward" muttered
 Pole, with as near an approach to ill.
 temper as his nature was capable of. In truth my friend showed little grati.
 tude for the trouble that was taking on
 his behalf. The next time that we were
 alone together he assumed so dissatisfied
 and moody an air that thought had
 better come to some sort of understand. ing with him. l did not deem it wise to re- veal my plans to him in all its crudity, but l gave him general idea of what va, about. It is for your sake, my dear fellow" said l, that am trying to m Ike myself agreeable to Mrs. Wilkinson. I want to create a diversion, in order to cover your retreat, and believe shall manage it if you don't put spokes in my wheels"
 He was so good as to say that he sup. posed meant well. "Bst is it neces. sary to be so-so internally agreeable ?" he asked.
 replied that it was, and that hoped he would eventually appreciate the sacri. flee that was making in giving up my afternoon rubber of whist for the sake of drinking tea daily with lady of whom did not happen to be enamorej. was not so unreasonable as to expect that he would thank me at the time. No one likes to be cut out, and was not at all surprised to find that his attentions to Mrs. Wilkinson increased after this, and kept step with my own. There was DO longer so much reason why he should not be attentive to her if ne liked. My impression was that she had taken his measure, and that she considered me far more likely to make her an offer of mar riage than he. She treated him very kindly in the main, only every now and then allowing herself little smiling, fem mine home-thrust, under which he winced; but 1t was for me that all her favors were reserved.
 l never saw man more bewildered than Pole was by this abrupt change of front. Even l, who had long since ceased to be astonished at the keenness of women's vision, had hardly been prepared for So speedy success, and my poor friend evidently could not make head or tail of it. Sometimes he seemed inclined to accept the situation, and would absent himself for two or three days together :; but he always came back at the end of that time, looking like schoolboy who has been playing truant. and bearing in his hand, as peace-offering, box of French bonbons, of which Mrs. Wilkin. son was excessively fond
 It was after one of these periodical re- turns to his allegiance that he invited us that is to say, Mrs. Wilkinson, Miss Warde and myself-to dine with him quietly at Richmond. He remarked in- genuously that he thought we all wanted something to raise our spirits little.
 am not conscious of being in low spirits" Mrs. Wilkinson said "but 1 should like very much to dine at Rich mond, though l haven't that excuse. Only don't know-is it quite the proper thing to do! have lived so much out of England that l ana afraid have for gotten what is permissible and what isn't. Colonel Walmisley, would it be right for me to take Miss Warde to an entertainment in the suburbs with two gentlemeuH
 " Perfectly right in the present in- stance," answered. "It all depends upon who the gentlemen are."
 She had taken lately to appealing to me in this way, and really rather liked it. suppose that no man would find it altogether objectionable to be appointed director of a charming woman's con- science, and was glad-for Poles sake that she should thus openly show how much importance she attached to my good opinion. For Poles sake, too, be- took myself cheerfully to Richmond on the day named. As a general thing, don't see much fun in going such a long way for ones dinner but when one has made up ones mind to do good turn to a friend, one must not stop at small sac rihces. l say, l accompanied my friends to the Star and Carter with a smiling countenance, and as the dinner proved fairly good and the evening was lovely one, l may add that enjoyed myself.
 To all appearance Mrs. Wilkinson also enjoyed herself. As for the remaining two members of the quartet, they doubt- less had their respective reasons for looking somewhat sad. should have mentioned before this that Miss Warde had an admirer-a young man of fortune, Seymour by name, whom often met at "AAS. WuO ICCGlVGQ good deal of friendly encouragement from that lady. The willingness of MT. and Mrs. Warde to let their daughter ap- pear through whole season under the wing of a chance acquaintance was per- haps not wholly unconnected with MT. Seymour's presence in London. By an oversight, Pole had not asked him to join our little party; and this, suppose, ac- counted for Miss Warde's grave looks, which both and our host noticed. The latter took me aside just before dinner and whispered his regret at this unfortu- nate omission.
 "Awfully stupid of mew he said. What duffer ami But one can't think of everything" he added. signing.
 There are some things which one had much better not think of at all, returned l, somewhat severely for could not ap- prove of the habit into which Pole had fallen of drawing long brealhs and throw