The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-21

my LUCK cnanged. l sold the mining
 claim for large sum, and then left the
 district, bearing in mind the judicious
 hint of Squire Hape, and believing it was
 as well for me to be out of the way of
 Five Ace Jemmy. So realized, and left
 tor distant state, where speculated in
 claims, bought gold of the miners, started
 stores, and entered into a diversity of
 transactions, all of which were now as
 successful as some years before they had
 oeen the reverse. At last l determined
 to leave the mines and the west altogeth.
 CT, and go back to England. But 1 did
 not carry out this resolution. Some
 slight business which l had undertaken
 for friend at the mines caused me to
 visit a well known town in an eastern
 state, which it will be convenient to call
 Streamvllle. l was much pleased with the busy yet snug and quiet town, and
 with the people l met there. Principal among these, and the one with whom I
 became most intimate, was a Mir. Gabriel
 Lang, to whom my business call was dl rected. l was soon frequent guest at
 his house, where he had the happiest
 home ever knew; while his wlie, to whom he had been married only a year or two, was the most amiable woman had ever met. She was so quiet and re. tirlng that stranger might at tirst regard her as tame and colorless; but this lm- pression disappeared when she was bet ter known. Sne then shone as cheerful and delightful companion.
 think never saw a cosple so attached to each other as were my friend Gabriel and his wife; and so much did like their society, such an attraction had they tor me, that believe 1 should have set tied at Streamville without further in- ducement. The further inducemnnt, however, was supplied. MT. Lang's sis ter was living with him, and as one of my chief objects in returning to England had been to tiod home and companion for life, l soon saw that could never hope to ind happier home or a gentler part ner than 1 might choose in this quiet town in the state of New York. As my story does not profess to deal with such | matters, l may condense greatly all have | to say in regard to my brief and happy | courtship, and my still happier welded | life, for married Phillis Lang ere many | months were over. This was as much to | the qualification of Mir. Lang, l may al- most say, as myself while his wife in her own quiet way was as happy as any oi us
 In England should probably have retired," but here, where nobody ever thought ot doing such thing until he re- ilred to the cemetery, caught, suppose the prevailing taste, and, by way of occu- pying myself, bought a large share in some local steamboats, which slecula. ton was as fortunate as all my recent at-
 empts had been. At this time, dare say, we all had our share of the minor crosses and troubles which beset every body; but as all things are softened by distance, 1t seems to me, on now looking pack, that for couple of years there was absolute peace and unaIloyed happiness n our little household. know that Phll- IS was devoted wife, and that when our came, son, she proved de. ,oted mother; while the happiness ot MT. and Mrs. Lang seemed enhanced by our own. At the risk of being tedious, 1 must dwell upon the invariable cheer
 ulness of my friend Gaoriel, and on the creme peacefulness which filled his home. This was perhaps rather more suodued
 han it would have teen, from the retir. ng m anners of Mrs. Lang but even th,s lad its special charm. The almost shrinking reserve which marked her at irst was due, l fancied, to some pro- onged illness she had at one time sui cred, or perhaps to some great sorrow put never heard the later spoken of, or n any way suggested.
 We had bee married more than two 'ears when l noticed change in my nend Gabriel-a change gre atly for the worse. He grew at once depressed an 1 rrita ole. With this came also too evil tent desire to avoid me, and even his lister. l thought at first that we had ,lven offense in some way, aud anxious if
 had done so to remedy it, approached he subject one day but he perceived my init instantly, and in manner which was earnest assured me that was vrong. He admitted that he was dis. urbed and harassed. but said that it was rom no fault of his own, and, above all, rom no fault of mine. l was never to
 ntertain that belief, or to regard him than as an unchanged friend,
 wen if he went to his grave without dar- ng to explain what 1t was which SO affected i'm. This was ominous enough and al- hough it silenced me for the time, vet it timulated rather than damped my nxi.ty.
 Of course told Phillis, and she was nore distressed than before at hearing it. ,he spoke to Mrs Lang. and found that he, too, had noticed this change, ard 7as about to solicit our aid to fnd out Is cause. Her husband was kinder than yer, but was much from home, and could
 ot bear to remain an hour in one place. lis restless manner suggested some honey diff culiies. Perhaps his business fairs had gone wrong, although was [ loss to see how this could be. 1 de- to make another trial, and it ny conj ecture were right, he shouli be elievrd from all anxiety. fit lay in my ower to do it.
 Pnill,s had gone to the Sycamores Langs house) to see her sister-in.l law, nd to give her some idea of wh 1t pro- oSed to do but returned mpch eayh.r