The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-01

| tnlS1 SnOUIOut OS SuIPtlSCO " uCA OA his obtaining an under-secretaryship one of these days. To be sure, he will have to make haste about it; for, alas it is something more than quarter of cen- tury since the verb noraidemiso was dis covered.
 Pole and had been friends-more or less friends-al our lives. There had been long periods during which we had seen little or nothing of each other, and latterly we had met as couple of middle aged men do who have each his own af- fa,rs to think about and have half forgot ten that they were once boys together. But on that particular night felt very kindly toward my old school-fellow. He had unconsciously given me back few moments out of the good days that shall never see again. thought should like to have a chat with him, and was glad when he joined me later, and passing his arm through mine, said we would walk homeward together, as 1t was such fine night.
 It appeared aherward that he had something to say to me, but didn't know that at the time, and began by re- minding him of the old yarn above mar rated, whereat he roared with laughter ; and so we fell to talking about Eton and about the masters who ruled there in our tune, and about Spankie and Silly Billy q can't help asking 0n sOnt les neigeS q antan know it is among the phrases which ought to be abandoned, but let me put 1t in parenthe,is just for this once onIy)-I say, we went on entertaining one another with reminis cences of persons and things profoundly interesting to us, but perhaps not equally so to the general public, until we reached Bury street, St.. James, where live when l am in Lon- don, and Pole remembered that he had not folio wed me for mere purposes of gossip.
 Y" rather wanted to have little talk with you, Walmisley," he said. Might come in for few minutes 2"
 Naturally, made him welcome, and when had provided him with a cigar and with something to drink he con6ded to me that he was in trouble.
 "What is it?" asked. ct isn't money, presume" Indeed l knew it could hardly be that, for Pole is wealthy man and has never been a specially ex- travagsnt one.
 "No," he answered (" it isn't money"
 Then," said I, of course it's"
 He replied, without giving me time to finish my sentence, "Yes it's the other thing. met her at hotel in Swiher- land last summer, and when you have seen her, think you'll admit that, as far as looks and manners go, she is the equal of any woman in London. If had only myself to consider, shouldn't hesitate for moment; but there are the children to be thought of, and then my people have been bOthering me about it :; and if there's one thing that hate more than another, it's having row with my people,"
 Pole had been for some years a wid- ower, and had two little girls, of whom his mother took the principal charge. It had always been expected that he would marry again some day; but suppose old Mrs. Pole had not unnatural wish that his second wife should be, as his first had been, lady of rank.
 Well, who is she ?" inquired.
 He said that she was Mrs. Wilkinson, and that she was a widow; after which he came to a standstill, as though there were no more to be told about her.
 "Yes," said l, land afterward ?"
 An, my dear fellow, that's just it l; there's nothing afterward. know nothing more, and can't find out any thing more. And then, you know, my mother cuts up rough and begins to cry. Mrs. Wilkinson is in London she has taken house for the season-and very pretty little house it is-and she seems to have lots of friends, only nobody can tell me her history"
 Pole," said gravely. "you did we'll to come to me. You must not be allowed to make fool of yourself May ask whether you are very much in love with this widow2"
 He looked little sheepish, and an- swered with laugh: "Oh, well-aren't we rather too old to talk about that sort of thing? thought her awfully kind and pleasant, and have always felt that as my girls grew up they would need somebody to look after them. That was how it began, and"
 "I feel sure that it ought not to go on," l interrupted. If your daughters are to be provided with stepmother, she musn't be an unknown Wilkinson"
 "Well, no-perhaps not. But she may not be utterly unknown, afte, all. l thought Id consult you about it, because, in the first place, you're such sober, sensible sort ot chap, and also because Mrs. Wilkinson has Miss Warde stay ing with her whom expect you know. Her family live in your part of the world, and dare say she could give you infor- nation. l didn't like to pump her my self"
 As the Wardes are neighbors of mine in the country, it seemed probable that l should have no difficulty in finding out about Mrs. Wilkinson's antecedents from them but my impression was that Pole was not particularly anxious that these should prove satisfactory. Before he left me was able to form tolerably shrewd guess at the state of affairs. My poor friend had evidently fallen a victim to the stratagems of the willy widow. He had gone further than he had intended, and now wished to withdraw; only he l. | ~ |