The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-13

Then you don't know how glad ann
 His frank face so unmistakably showed his simple eradication that the widow after gazing at him for a moment, wa suddenly seized with bewildering fancy The first effect of it was the abrupt with. drawal of her eyes. then sudden effasiou of blood to her forehead that finally ex tended to her cheek-hones, and then an interval of forgetfulness where she re mained with plate held vaguely in he, hand. When she succeeded at last ir putting it on the table instead of the young man's lap, she said in voice quite unlike her own.
 "ShO'i"
 "l mean it." said Gideon cheerfully Affer pause, in which he unostenta. tiously rearranged the table which the widow was abstrac1y disorganizing, he said gently: After tea, when you're moi SO much hustered with work and worry, and more composed in spirit, we'll have a little talk, Sister Hiier. I'm in no hurry tonight, and if you don't mind I'll make myself comfortable in the barn with my blanket until sun-up to-morro v. can get up early enough to do some odd chores round the lot before go"
 "You know best, Brother Gideon" said the widow faintly, and if you think it's the Lords will, and no speshal trouble to you, so do. But sakes alive it's time l tidied myself little" she continued, lifting one hand to her hair, while with the other she endeavored to fasten a but tonless coll4r; "leavin' alone the vani- ~ e L. l. to keep clean rag on with the children climbin' over ye, Sit by and I'll be back in a minit." She retired to the back room, and in few moments returned with smoothed hair and a palm.leaf broche shawl thro VII over her shoulders, which not only concealed the ravages made by time and maternity on the gown beneath, but to some extent gave her the suggestion of being a casual visitor in her own household. It must be confessed that for the rest of the evening Sister Hiler rather lent herself to this idea, possibly from the fact that it temporarily obliterated the children, and quite re. moved her from any responsibility in the unpicturesque household. The effect was only maned by the absence of any im- pression upon Gideon, who scarcely ap- peared to notice the change, and whose soft eyes seemed rather to identify the miserable woman under her forced dis guise. He prefaced the meal with fer vent grace, to which the widow listened with something of the conscious attitude she had adopted at church during her late husbands ministration, and during the meal she ate with like consciousness of "company manners"
 La.er that evening Selby Hiler woke up in his little truckle bed, listening to the rising midnight wind, which in his childish fancy he confounded with the sound of voices that came through the open door of the living room. He recog- nized the deep voice of the young minis ter, Gideon, and the occasional responses of his mother, and he was fancying him. self again at church when he heard step, and the young preacher seemed to enter the room, and going to the bed leaned over it and kissed him on the forehead, and then bent over his little brother and sister and kissed them too. Then he slowly re-entered the living room. Lifting himself softly on his elbow, Selby saw him go up toward his mother, who was crying, with her head on the table, and kiss her also on the forehead. Then he said Good night" and the front door closed, and Selby heard his crossing the lot toward the barn. His mother was still sitting with her face buried in her hands when he fell asleep.
 She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again, then she rose and wiped her eyes. "Ees a good hing" she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; Gets a mercy and blessing Sor them and-for-me. But-but-he night-hev-said-he-loved mel"