The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-05

S1AN 0t1H@ktky W t0Stt yS31S NSGMSU Vo vanish in the air of mutual respect and common sympathies which surrounded them. My father. of course. needed no caution from me to avoid any reference 10 those circumstances which attended tAe close of his connection with the elder Drew his own instincts sufficed.
 That happy breakfast hour thus saw the reunion ot many long parted threads of social interest and affection. No won. der l was meditative and observant, rather than inclined to share very largely the conversation going on around. Never theless, there was still lingering shade ot melancholy in the contemplation ot the happiness ot that circ,el observed with sigh that Miss Stanton talked to Drew with perfect freedom, while Miss Winter, although listening eagerly, ad. dressed him but seldom, Had l pos scssed the persp,caci,y Of disinteres,ed onlooker, might have read these signs differently; but love, like jealousy, is blind. The most striking and interesting phase ot the little panorama wAs after alt. perhaps, the complete manner in which Orew's cratic, unconventional style blended httingly and harmoniously with the chas,ened high, bred tone of the com pany, It was bizarre, and yet not bizarre ; for his instincts enabled him, without effort or eonsciousness, to adapt himself at all turns to the prevailing feeling. l now felt sure that his lost hold of the worlds ways had been regained, and that his path henceforth would be easy and may add that formed this conclusion with high sense of satisfaction. l never loved Drew better than at the moment when anticipated he was to take from me that which was dearer to me tn an lde.
 Breakfast ended. my father asked Miss Mauory for his letters as usual The ladies sought their rooms in order to pre- pare for quiet day in and aoou, the rectory grounds The colonel remained with the .SfaHd,Iyd in hts hands. awaiting my fsther's leisure. Walter and stepped on to the lawn to enjoy the luxury oi a cigar.
 The haze had now almost disappeared, and the sun already gave ioretas.e oi its powers. Tom and Gip walked lalily along with extended tongues, as Drew and sauntered round the shadiest side of the garden. We spoke lttle, my mind being full of the incidents and conversa tion of the morning, while my companion was either similarly preoccupied or in the happy condition of having nothing to think about but his cigar We locke d over the quickest hedge at the rough hardy fellows busy in the corsfelds lt is probable 1 thought of them and their work from my knowledge of both from childhood ; it is equally prob iblc that Walter saw only the coloting and group. ing from an artistic point of view. We passed on at any rate without exchange of confidence until we came to the CD trance gaze of the grounds, when a chaise drove rapidly through, its occupant being an elderly, 'hin-faced man clad in black, who saluted us in passing. Drew saluted the stranger in return.
 Who is he 2" asked.
 My uncles lawyer, Mir. Greig by all that's mysterious he exclaimed, bu, with Q smile that belied the mystery so far as he was concerned. "What can have happened to bring old parchment 1 here, above all placesf There's some thing big on the board, that's certain. And Drew gavr droil laugh that sug- kUStC0 ou dtticiC pSuSCC'
 We continued our stroll alang the southern wall till we reached my father $ novel studio. 1 tried the door in Pur- poseless way. It was locked, and knew my father always carried the key ia his pocket; so we passed on, smoking in- dolently till Drew, suddenly stopping and facing me, said: Do you know. Charlton, think it a most singular thing that your father and mine should have been such intimate friends as they appear to have been, and that the colonel should also be an old friend of your father s, while i, was only by the chapter of ac- cidents that you and came together"
 The reason seems simple enough" ! replied, smiling st his un ~onted earnest ness. My father was unaware that the colonel had married your aust, if indeed he even knew of her existence As for yourself, he was under the impression that you had died when a child" Yes, yes; the reason is plain" an swered " lter. But don't you think, now-the whole thing is like - like a leaf out oi romano /, you know, strange, queer like-eh 7" His round ,cuod lace had the odd. half whimsical look which was its oaly expression for senti. ment. He knocked the ashes from the end of his cigar, then eyed me from be- hind this mask till could resist no longer, and laughed outright
 Hang it, old feilov," he said, "you won't let me be serious when would but for all your laughing, there is some thing uncommonly queer in it all. Per. haps you wanted to enjoy a good joke or two at my expense; still, l. car t help thinking, mon ami, tn at 1t was too bad of you not to let me know fro the frs, tha, your good kind soul of father was the friend of mine"
 Wha, could say! Had he learned anything of the history of that friendship These thoughts were swiftly interrup pted by Drew. who had again assumed his mask.
 "Look here, John," said he in voice comically plaintiye; "you have not been quite frank with me on another matter.