The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-05


 paying him my respects until his purpose of going into the country had rendered my business either inopportune or use less, and added that 1 should have much pleasure in making the amendF by com ing to Elmdrove Manor ou an early day, In a postscript l said I had just discov- cred his nephew to be frieRd for whom l had great regard.
 CONCLUSION.
 It was breakfast time once more at Brierleigh rectory. some four weeks after my return from London. The windows were open, but the sunshine had not yet pierced the thin white haze that hung over the lawns and the fields beyond, gung promise of a sulIy day. My father and Aunt MaUoTy sat in their sc- customed places Tom and Gip, too, were making their usual pretense of a nap on the hearth. Thus far the group ing was the same as on the morning when first introduced the reader to the rectory parlor. But other faces and forms now sat around the table, and other voices enlightened the morning meal. Colonel Stanton, hs daughter and Miss Winter had arrived the day before and Walter Drew had already been staying with us fortnight. The conversation was sprightly and pleasant. alone fel, inclined to be silent, my mind being oc- cupied with mixed reflections on all that had happened since that other morning when Colonel Stanton's letter had reached us.
 My father looked ten years younger as he chatted delightedly with the colonel and Miss Stanton. It was evident, plain " evid mt, that his warm heart was flushed to the full with all that his old school comrades presence could sug- gest
 To bring my story up to the day on which this chapter opens. l have to men, tion that called at Elmdrove Manor, along with my father, the week after my return to Warwickshire, in order to make the promised amende for my apparent neglect to wait on the colonel when in London. dreaded the ordeal of meet ing Alice Stanton, but then the task was one of simple duty. The meeting proved to the full as trying as had anticipated. Both Alice and Miss Winter recognized me the moment of presentation, Miss Stanton being much overcome with emo ton. The explanation ensuing-the colonel's surprise, gratitude and kindly interest-the congratulations between him and my father, together with my own contending feelings, formed pas sage in my life too painful for minute de- scnption.
 When Aunt Mauory came to learn from nay father the identity of the fair uu- known with Miss Stanton, the heiress, her surprise knew no bounds; and the kno~ledge led to many hints and one. sided pleasantries far from welcome to me in the frame of mind then was. | had, it is true resigned myself to the idea ota union between Walter and Alice-of which my worthy aunt knew nothing i; but the wound was still tender. and her well meant badinage pained me.
 When, on my return to brierieigh, l had told my aunt of the new friend had made, and of the invitation had given him to come and spend few weeks in our quiet retreat, she shed tears of vexa- ton, and uttered words of upbraidiug of which had never suspected her capable But then the name-Walter Drew-had had such lifelong penance attached to it in her little world of action and a6ec- ton that ought not to have been sur prised at its effects upon her. On her learning, however. that Walter was Cole nel Stanton's nephew-the artist he had so hali-hopefGlly referred to in that ever memorable lester-her objections to the visit were less persistently urged, alth ough against the visitor himself her prejudices remained as strong as ever up to the day when he arrived in the dog-cart with the cream-colored pony, which had myself drIven over to the station to meet him.
 My aunt's rigid courtesy of reception vas instantly thawed into a smile and a hearty shake of the hand, under the in fuence Of the fine natural sunlight of Walters face The terriers, Tom and Cip, vied in unsolicited attentions to him the best credentials the visitor could have presented to Marjory. Before many days he had completeiy busted me from my position of cavalier in attendance. He accompanied her in her walks, tended her flo ~ers, made spirited sketches of the dogs, came and went at her bidding-in tact, doing all with the unfailing good humor. dextrous tact, and broad genial ity which characterized him 90 essentially
 I need hardly say that the account of my London adventure in meeting young Drew and the disclosure of his relation ship to Colonel Stanton were received by my father from the first in an altogether different manner from that of Aunt Mar joy. He was unaffectedly delighted at the prospect of meeting the son of that old friend for whose sake he had suffered 90 much. It was touching, too, to watch the fatherly welcome be gave Walter. They spent many hours together in the little out-of-doors studio, and talked of art as only young exper, and an old en thusiast can When one saw the two