The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-05
"I is dif;cult. Mrs. Green. to dis,

strange"
 And pray, sir, tell me what you have passed through, if it be so much more than has fallen te my lot"
 "I have passed through an Inferno" " l hesitated.
 "Tell me-"
 "No, not now"
 Please tell me-"
 "l really cannot" .t
 @Why?"
 Because l promised your brother that l would not"
 Promised my brotheri"
 "Yes."
 "And what right had he to exact such a promise ?"
 cannot even tell you that"
 "Well," she said with a rather rueful air and beautiful arching of her eye. brows, "when he comes back will ask him."
 "Very well, ask him."
 will. Do you know that you seem to have undergone change since we last met2"
 "Outwardly, possibly so; inwardly, none whatever"
 "The change must be an inward one since you have not railed out against man whom know you heartily despise."
 |" I will not speak of him."
 "Why2'
 Because I promised your brother that 1 would not"
 "Well, now, this is all indeed myste- rious. What right has brother to exact such promises? Please answer this ques- tion."
 "I cannot"
 "Then you ignore me in favor of him ?"
 "Oh, mo-"
 "Oh, yes."
 "Mts. Green, some day you shall know how you have been imposed upon, and will say now that it seems strange how so sensible woman as you can be SO easily duped."
 She knit her brows, arose, sat down again and said:
 "I don't think that you have a right to reproach me-"
 "Oh, do not claim such right"
 "Then why do you exercise itw
 If have exercised it, Ihave done SO innocently."
 Innocent remarks are rarely premedi- tated," she replied. "Innocent rem arks, like the joy of child, come without thought. Your reproaches have been weighed by you"
 "Well, Mrs. Green, let us not drift into unpleasant conversation. have seen and heard enough that is unpleasant to last me lifetime, think. and," added with an attempt to be cheerful, "l shall not complain if never again hear any thing unpleasant. The day is beautiful let us stroll out to the place where the old SohAAhCk ASC0 kO StoA0s
 "No," she replied, slowly shaking her head. "Among ruins one can indulge ennobling sentiment, but when the ground is entirely bare, there is nothing upon l which to hang a wreath of fond musing. | Not vestige of the summer-house re- mains. See" she added, arising and go. ing to the window, the calves are lying among the dead weeds where the old | house stood"
 Old man Caldwell entered the room and said he thought we should have more rain, regardless of the bright promises borne on the sunshine. "My j'ints have be en stiff all the mornin'," said he. "an' l know in reason that we'll have fallin' weather. It's a pretty hard matter to feol me about rain, B nker, fur although never was very fur from home, yit have knocked round right smart. Annie I'm glad to see you with us agin. You never was much of high flyer, an you never did furgit your ole uncle"
 "Uncle, never could forget you. never forget anybody"
 ventured to look up. She was gazing far out through the window.
 The old man was right. Clouds came over and a chilling rain began to fall, The old lady brought her spinning wheel into the sitting room. where the rolls ," would keep warm and hummed an ac. to eur conversation.
 "Mother," said MT Caldwell when his wife had stopped the wheel and was busy ing herself with wrapping piece of corn musk around the bright steel spindle. how much longer air you goin' to Eraipse up an down the roomP"