The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-08

noFnotS SoutheTn prisons
 Mrs. Wyllys fairly exhausted her breath in her indignation at the outrageous wickedness of "the unprincipled war widow"
 "Virgipia must not associate with her any longer" Mrs. Farnham-who always followed Mrs. Wyllys' lead-said, decid- edly f; at least, not until this matter was cleared up, for her dear daughter must be kept from all contaminating influences, and she was really afraid she was no bet ter than she ought to be.
 Very few of us are, for th at m alter and as it would be hard to tell which the last remark was intended for-Mrs. Lacy or Vrginia-it would make no particular difference, as it could slander neither. Miss Virginia poused little, and was not quite so ready to condemn the cul- prit as she had been few minutes pre- viousty, for hes mothers prohibition put an end to the borrowing of Mrs. Lacy's jewelry and such articles as she happened to fancy from that lady's wardrob C.
 Mrs. Henderson ought to be in- formed of it." Miss Anderson said. She for one would not stay in the house if there were to be such shameful carvings on as this.
 He looked just like such man." de clared Miss Emmett, the fussy little mil liner, who called herself just twenty-,wo last birthday, although in the big family bible at home, the date March 2o:h 1850, stood opposite her name. She had known all the time that he was an unprincipled man for his eyes betrayed it.
 Very singular. since she had been play ing the agreeable to him ever since his arrival but doubtless she was only read ing his character all the time, and when over that interesting game of chess last evening, her languishing grey eyes had been lifted so frequently to his handsome black ones, it was without doubt for the purpose of discovering that expression in them.
 Poor, tired-looking Mrs. Allen who, between an indolent husband and cross baby, really had sorry time, was the only one of the party to speak word in favor of the accused.
 Night hG not possibly be ha broth CT ?" she ventured to suggest timidly, for it was very seldom she dared to have an opinion of her own in Mrs. Wyllys' pres ence.
 That lady instantly secuted the idea.
 Her brother How absurd! Who could think of such a shing2 there is not the slightest resemblance. His eyes and hair are as black as jet, while hers are very light! 1t is impossiblel"
 There was no appeal from that deci- sion.
 "Then, perhaps he might be her cou. sin 1" Mrs. Allen persisted, unwilling to allow her favorite to be condemned with out doing all in her power to prevent it, for the young wife had quite won her heart by taking care of her cross baby for an hour or two and permitting her to sleep, one day when sine was completely exhausted by hard work and sleepless- ness.
 That was decided impossible also, for had not Miss Anderson purposely re- marked to Mrs Lacy at the lunch table, that her cousin was a hne-looking man and Mrs. Lacy had quietly answered tha, Lieutenant Benham was not her cousin
 Sc Mrs. Allen was completely silenced, and the charitable quartet had it all their own way. The rustling of dress in the hall and light, quick step descending the stairs arrested the sentence about to be pronounced against the prisoner a, the bar of injastice.
 "That's her," Mrs. Wyllys said, disre- garding the rules of grammar and polite ness, as she hurried into the hall and peeped over the balustrade, just in time to see trim figure in a brown basque pass out of the street door, which was held open by talf gentleman in uniform
 "Gone out with him, as live" she ex. claimed as she hurried back to her old post of observation at the window.
 Yes, there they were on the walk, and Oh, shade of departed virtue what terrible depravityl The gentleman was offering his arm, and she-Mrs. Lacy with husband in the army, was actually accepting it. though it lacked full ten minutes of seven-so, of course, it was not quite dark.
 Almost broad daylight" Miss En- melt said indignantly, such a sha neiul hussy," wishing in her heart all the time, that she were in the hussy's place.