The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-01

| or arr1vlng at reaiIy lmpartlal eSumaee lost. For some reason-oT no reason 1 had taken 1t into my head that Mrs. Wilkinson would be big and handsome, that she would have good deal of man. ner, that she would still be in half mourn ing for her late husband, that she would not improbably wear about her neck a large jet locket with the date of his demise encrusted upon it in diamonds, and finally, that she would be much pleased at ad- ding the readers humble servant to the list of her acquaintances. When, there fore, was introduced on the following afternoon to an extremely pretty and rather demure-looking woman, whose blue eyes had an expression of almost childlike innocence, and whose quiet but perfectly. fitting frock matched these in color, 1 was, must confess, somewhat taken aback. Moreover, although she received me very civilly, and did not look exactly surprised at seeing me, there was just something in her demeanor which suggested the query, " To what do l owe this pleasureT and such sugges- tions are disconcerting. Pole was not the sort of man who would see anything out of the way in taking one of his friends to call upon lady with who he was intimate, but the proceeding was, of course, trife irregular, and 1 should never have been guilty of such an ineg- ularity had not chosen to assume that Mrs. Wilkinson was person with whom there was no occasion to stand upon cer- emony. As it was, was glad to be able to explain my visit by saying that knew Miss Warde's father and mother, and hoped to have an opportunity of paying my respects to the young lady herself, no v that she was in London.
 Miss Warde, however, had gone out i; and so we sat and talked for a while to the widow, who, as was obliged to ac- knowledge to myself, was not only unob jectionable, but decidedly attractive.
 "You are great politician, are you not, Colonel Walmisley ?" she asked. "l think ought to tell you at once that l am liberal, so that you may know the worst of me. But MT. Pole says my case is not such a very bad one as some peoples, because don't really know the difference between the two parties"
 am rej joiced, Mrs. Wilkinson" "quoth l, in my happiest manner, ito hear that your liberalism is not very profound i; because, if it were, should tremble for our friend Poles allegiance
 She looked full at me with momentary seriousness, but began to smile again al- most immediately. "I suppose" she remarked, "that good many of us ac- cept our political convictions as we do our religious creeds. We are born Cath olics or Protestants, conservatives or libe- rals, and it isn't worth while to change"
 "Were you born liberal ?" I in- quired, for 1 thought she might take this occasion of enlightening us as to her origin.
 Those with whom have lived have been liberals for the most part" she re- piled. But you are a soldier first and a conservative afterward; isn't that so You would let the radicals have their wicked will as regards a great many things, if only they would leave the army alone. l am sure you must be right. How can a civilian minister know any thing of military matters2 read your speech the other day about the difficulty of getting good non-commissioned off cers, and, ignorant as l am, 1 could not help seeing that your facts are unass aila- ble. And is 1t really the case that our poor oAhky AS kOkAk HUH OSa kO WOESC
 said 1t was-and so it is. That is perfectly true. If l am asked for my opinion, of course must give it; but would not have it supposed tha, am SO simple as to be taken in by every lady who has found out my hobby and chooses to simulate an interest in it. Very nearly all of them do this, and hope 1 know their ways well enough to be aware that they act in precisely similar manner when they have to deal with my friend Admiral Bunting, or with Drinkwater, the great temperance advocate, or indeed with any individual who happens to be more or less of specialist. Neverthe- less, l am quite willing to admit that fat tery soothes, even when know it to be flattery, and that to be listened to with respect and every appearance of pleasure by pretty woman is great deal more agreeable to me than being contradicted and pooh -poohed and snarled at, as too often am by certain other hearers of mine. l certainly enjoyed my visit, and when Mrs. Wilkinson invited me to dine with her quietly on the following Thursday, accepted without hesitation. Why shouldn't dine with herr She lived in a remarkably well-appointed little house in South Kensington, and from the gen eral look of her surroundings judged that she would give me good dinner. thought her very nice, and said so can- didly to Pole as we walked away.
 But you know, my dear fellow" l added, it is one thing to make friends with pleasant, chatty woman from no one knows where, and quite another thing to marry her. Ifyou will be advised by me, you won't drop her suddenly, but go on visiting her just as usual. and grad ually let her sec that you don't intend to propose. Then, if I know anything of women, she will drop you."
 That" said Pole, rubbing his head rather ruefully, twill be most satisfactory, no doubt"
 Very evident it was to me that Pole stood in sore need of staunch and de- termined friend to look after him. Isus- pected as much then, and was quite cer- | totx nf sf o f~~r An,,e l.t~~ .~k~- sk ~ l.s.l~