The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-10


 aot lo ~ hyssssieal. mass ny lissis gentle banter.
 The kindsed spixis would have so bs . very potent one so enable me to qualify t with 90 c0pious dose of cold water ] replied.
 The remark was idiotic, but hoped is might extinguish her sentimentaiisy. Nol so; she ignored it, and continued dream fly:
 Mine has been a cruelty unsympa- thetic life. PiniHg for true appreciation, l have met with nothing but the cold dis favor of the world."
 Dear me, Miss Spinls," said |, "you look too gioomily on the world and its tastes. Some day you will sing differ ent tune when you figure as successful novelist and poesess."
 "What is success without sympathy What is poetry without soul2 How can the poesess write what the world will read when her heart is blank < her feelings a subject for mockery and contempt ?"
 But there must be some who can ap- preciate your yearnings," said sooth- ingly, ..
 "Somel" she cried contemptuously. It is not the appreciation of the com mon herd that long for. There must be one-one heart to beat in unison with mine, one ear into which can pour my hopes and my aspirations, one mind that will supply with its abundance what my cling for support when all the world be. sides negiects me-"
 Talking sentiments in a farmhouse parlor, in garments the reverse of becom- ing, and amid circumstances the reverse of romantic, felt was not my forte. Yet l could not ridicule her evidently earnest longings, even though forced to recos- nize the fact that she was hardly the being to inspire tender interest. She evil dently expected to be cheered, so l an- swered, in my lightest and airiest vein
 "Do not despair, Miss Spinks. The time will come, and the strong arm and sympathetic heart will doubtless be at your service.
 "sOms ed; day, some day. some day. you will find
 hummed, adapting the song to the circumstances.
 "Some dayv' she echoed in tragic voice, and with look which reminded me of Du Maurier's "intense" young ladies. "Oh, MT. Elastic, have found himl have found him p
 This was embarrassing. l had no de- sire to receive Miss Spinks' condolences on such tender subject, but could not think of any means ot changing the con- versation, and Miss Spinks sat for mo- ment or two in silent rapture. Then sud- denly rising from her chair, she ap- preached me where stood on the hearth rug, raised her hands ia supplicating attitude, and was in the act of laying them on the sleeve of MT. Blizard's Sum day coat, when violent coughing in the passage, followed by prolonged rattling of the latch, caused me 10 jump back ward into vacant chair, as our hostess entered, smiling, to announce that our clothes were now quite dry and ready for us. seized the opportunity of escaping further condolences, and, without regard ing sort of free-masonic glance of in- telligence with which Mrs. Blizzard hon. ored us both, hastened from the room. Miss Spinks retired likewise; and betore she reappeared, once more habited in the print frock and scarlet combinations, had bespoken the further favor of the loan of MT. Blizard's market cart to con- vey IS to Penton Road station.
 handed my companion to the front seat beside the driver, jumped up be- hind, and, bidding our hostess hearty farewell, we set of. The road was rough, the cart-spring stiff, and conversation therefore impossible. Half an hours jolting brought us to the station, where luckily train was on the point of start ing, and ignoring my third. class ticket, 1 followed Miss Spinks into frst-class compartment. We had it to ourselves, but with only few miles to go had no great fear of any further embarrassing secrets.
 Miss Spinks sat facing me at the win- dow, and 1, therefore, stared steadily at the landscape. At last she broke the silence:
 "What will Mrs. Brown think has be- come of me
 The same thought was passing through my own mind.
 "We shall have no difficulty in ex- blaming our absence" replied, though it would have saved us some ridicule if we could have suppressed the river incl. dent"
 And say nothing of my saving your life ?" she cried.
 smiled, and she went on:
 cannot see why you should make so light Of it. was more grateful when you rescued me-"
 "I did not mean to appear ungrateful, Miss Spinks, but"
 "Oh, MT. Hastie," she interrupted, "please don't call me Miss Spinks; it sounds so formal and cold after all we have gone through together: Won't you call me Leonoraf' she added tenderly.
 Really, Miss Spinks," replied, em- phasizing the name, "I think that would be taking too great liberty. What would