The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-10

twist of her plump little person before the glass, Miss Pussy rustled from thu room.
 Left alone, Natalie sat holding the scrap of paper in her hand, smiling ir remembrance at some of her sisters say ings. Was Pussy, with all her lightheart. edness, right, after all, and was 1t imprac tical, and even weakly sentimental. per. haps, to look at these matters from SO hipt Planef Would the one being of al others really never come9 Her eyes fell on the little poem again. Evidently hs was some one, though, and to whom thi. thing, this love, which most people took so lightly, was serious, too. Ther. seemed fantastic bond between her and the writer for moment. She drew g little notebook from her pocket and be- gan to scribble line or two; others fol. lowed they took the rhythm and manner of those others before her; three little verses in all, and then she wrote "Au Answer above them.
 She paused moment with the leaf iu her hand. Then, with sudden impulse inclosed 1t, with few words, in an en. veiope and addressed the same to a mag. azine.
 After it was done she was sorry: she would have wished to recall the act. Ye, whyf No one would ever know who had written the lines. And, in any case, i, was now too late.
 Some days after, the girl, returning from the theatre one evening, found her sister, who had just parted from the faith. tul Ben, still up.
 Pussy, are you interested to know who wrote those lines you gave me the other day 2-Will Leslie. w. L.'-you seer is curious It should not have oc- cured to me at once, because I've read so many pretty things of his."
 Really, how did you find out?"
 In rather an odd way. Mrs. Ander- son drew my attention to some friends of hers Tn one of the proscenium boxes, and in the back of the box talking to them was young man, or a man of thirty or tnirty-two, perhaps, whose face struck me at once. There was something in the expression-"
 Natalie brcke of and left the phrase unfinished. Mir. Anderson suddenly ex- claimed: Why, there is Will Leslie l'"
 And, pray, how do you know so cer- tainly that w. L. stands for Will Leslie and none other !" cried Miss Pussy. "On that evidence alone
 Natalie colored and laughed. "I felt sure of it as soon as saw his face. Fuss"
 "Why, dear, this is the most trust- worthy case of affinity have yet come across. You must surely meet MT. Les liel"
 " Don't be foolish, Pussy, and good night. MT. Leslie lives in Boston"
 Good night. But I'll contrive this matter yet Minerva.
 And, indeed, Miss Bronson, unknown to her sister, did make several attempts to this end. But shortly after she learned that Will Leslie returned 10 Boston. And then came her own marriage. And so the whole matter was forgotten.
 
 Two years passed. One autumn morn- ing all New York awoke to the news of frightful disaster to Fall river boat, which had been making the night jour ney down. A fire had broken out, no one knew how, at about half past three o'clock in the morning. They were well down the sound at the time. The fire had spread with lightning. like rapidity. A horrible confusion had prevailed. As sistance from the shore had been de- layed. No end of lives had been lost. Such were few of the mutilated ac- counts that could be gathered of tragedy which, in all its ghastly details, IS still vivid in the memory of many.
 Natalie Bronson, with her married sister and the latter's year.old infant and its nurse, had gone on board at Newport the night before.
 Goodnight and refreshing sleep, my dear," Mrs. Talcott had said. when she left Natalie at her stateroom door. Fred would be miserable if you should meet him with pale cheeks in the m orn. ing" She kissed the same smooth cheek. You grow graver every day of your life, Minerva"
 The baby lifted up its voice in wall and Mrs. Talcott was gone.
 Natalie had indeed been sleeping soundly when she was reused suddenly by a rushing and tramping of feet. She was instantly conscious of heavy smell of smoke, and sprang to her feet. Not five seconds later that frightful cry of " fireP rang through the length and breadth of the boat.
 Natalie had but one idea-to get to her sisters stateroom. The boat was crowded, and they had not been able to secure cabins adjoining. Their staterooms were some distance apart. She trembled violently as she threw on few articles of clothing, but she kept Her head about her. She must get to Pussy. Pussy was always frantic in an emergency; and with the baby, tool
 As she opened the stateroom door bllnding, choking volume of smoke rolled | against her face. From every side now | men, women and screaming children. crazy with terror, pushing against each | other in the supreme brutality of human nature under the influence of an abiect fear, poured into the saloon. Natalie could scarcely see-could scarcely breathe. The cries, the horrible confi. | sion around her, deafened her. But she |