The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-07

rough draA of his uncle's willl If only he knew the best or the worst, he could then decide in what way to meet that future which ~as now coming so immi- nently upon himl
 He had sat tor full ten minutes without moving. his eyes fixed on the ceiling, when he suddenly spEang to his feet His face flushed and then grew pale.
 By love-" he muttered to himself The exclamation was a commonplace one, but the way he gave usterance to it meant a great desi. Then he sat down again and fell to staring into the fire, as though in the glowing embeIs he saw bodied forth some vision or picture pro lected from his own mental retina.
 He was still sitting thus when the first bell rang. This reused him. He rose and pushed back his chair, and as he did so he said aloud: "l'll do 1t and take the risk"
 If Harold Dare had seemed dull and out of sorts in the afternoon. no one could have complained of his lack of spirits at dinner that evening. Helaughed and oked and talked enough nonsense for two men. But his gayety had some thing forced and feverish about it, aud he drank considerably more wine than was customary with him. Elinor looked at him once or twice with a little wonder, but the captain thought to himself that he had never seen his cousin "in better form"
 After dinner there was time for little music. Elinor sang a couple of songs Dare turned over her music and lowered round her with the air and empressment of a devoted suitor. Miss Trenton neither encouraged or yepulsed him. but treated him precisely as she treated Captain Wenlock. She had often puzzled Harold beiore, and she puzzled him again this evening but jus, then he had other matters to occupy his thoughts.
 Presently the wheels of the dogcart were heard crunching the gravel on the drive The time had come to say good-by. It had been the captains intention to drive his cousin to the station, but Sir George having intimated his desire that his son should spare an hour or two after dinner to look through some business papers, a groom had been deputed to take charge of the dogcart.
 Sir George-a fine specimen of the Lu6 hSu NOuutty kCudCuidut Out at pICS' ent sadly out of health-bade his young kinsman a cordial farewell told him not to fail to come and sec them at Christ. mas, and then slipped an envelope into his urreluctant palm, which, on opening later on, be found to contain a check for hundred guineas
 Next came Harold's farewell to Elinor. He would tain have thrown a sort oi yelled tenderness over their p .rting, and was desirous that an aroma of sentiment should cling to it. But the laughter in Miss rrenton's eyes dismayed him from trying any such experiment. So as it fell out they parted gayly enough, like ac- qualntances who might or might not meet again in little while.
 A warm grip of the hand from Bruce Wenlock, and then Harold D lre climbed into the dogcart, and buttoned his ulster about him. His black bag was under the seat; his portmanteau was to follow him on the morrow.
 To Bairowcliff station, suppose, sir ?" sad Perkins, as they passed through the lodge gates.
 "No; to Thorndale station. That will suit me better"
 Not another word spoke he, but puffed at his c'gar in grim silence till the lights of the station came in view, and the tour miles drive was at an end Then he took his bag. saw the groom set off on the road home, and made his way toward the booklD g-office.