The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-13

U1 &m 1ouk WSdG 00AY tWGAtb80 " t1& presence of a silently a6miring coaconFss of otive-o6eEing friends who had gath, cred round them.
 The funeral took place the next day al the grave dug in the public cemeteEy- I green area fenced in by the palisadinR jules. The words of Gideon were briel but humble; the strongest partisan of the dead maa could 6nd no taalt in a con- fession of human frail,y in which the speaker humbly confessed his share, and when the hymn was started by Hamlin and taken up by Gideon, the vast snulti- tude, drawn by interest and curiosity, joined as ID a solemn amen.
 Later, when those two strangely as sorted friends had returned to Mir Ham. lin's rooms previous to Gideons de- parture, the former, in manner more serious than his habitual cynical good humor, began "l said had to talk business with you. The boys about here want to build church for you, and are ready to plank the money down if you n say it's a go. You understand they aren't asking you to run in opposition to that Gospel sharp-excuSe me-thats here now, nor do they want you to run side show in connection with 1t. They want you to be independent They don't pin you down to any kind of religion, you know whatever you care to give them-Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pres- byterian-is mighty good enough for them, if you'll expound it. You might give little of each, or one on one day and one another-theyu never know the difference if you only mix the drinks yourself They'll give you house and guarantee you SI 5000 the 6rst year."
 He stopped ana walked toward the window. The sunlight that fail upon his handsome face seemed to call back the careless smile to his lips and the reckless fire to his bro sn eyes. don't suppose there's man among them that wouldn't tell you all this in a great deal better way than do. But the darned fools--excuse me-would have me break it to you, Why, I don't know. l needn't tell you that like you-not only for what you did for George but like you for your style-for yourself. And want you to accept. You could keep these rooms till they got house ready for you. To- gether-you and me-wcd make that organ howl. But because 1 like it-be- cause it's everything to us, and nothing to you, it dcnt seem square for me to ask it. Does it2"
 Gideon replied by taking Hamlin' $ hand. His face was perfectly pale, but his look was collected. He had not ex- pected this offer. and yet when it was made he felt as if he had known it before -as if he had been warned of it-as if 1t was the great temptation of his life. Watching him with an earnestness only slightly overlaid by his usual manner, Hamlin went on.
 "l know it would be lonely here, and man like you ought to have wife for J he slightly lifted his eyebrows--" for examples sake. 1 heard there was Q young lady in the case over there in Tasa.
 ara-but the old people didn't see it on account of your position. They'd ump at it now. Eh3 No1 We'll" continued Jack, with decent attempt to conceal his cynical relief, "peihaps those boys have been so eager to find ont all they could do for you that they've been sold. Perhaps we're making equal fools of our selves now in asking you to stay. But don't say no just yet-take a day or a week to think of it"
 Gideon, still pale but calm, cast his eyes around the elegant room, at the magic organ, then upon the slight, hand some figure before him. |" mill think of it." he said in a low voice, as he pressed lacks hand. And if accept, you will find ue-here tomorrow after noon at this time if do not, you will know that keep with me wherever go the kindness, the brotherly love and the grace of God that prompts your offer, even though He wi,hholds from me His blessed light, which alone can make me know His wish." He stopped and hesi. tated. "If you love me, Jack, don't ask me to stay, but pray for that light which alone can guide my feet back to you, or take me hence forever" He once more tightly pressed the hand of the embaT. fassed man before him, and was gone.
 PAssers-by on the Mariner road that night remembered mute and ghostly rider who, needless of hail or gieeting moved bJ them as in trance or vision But the widow Hiler the next morning coming from the spring. found no ab- stracti -n or preoccupation in the soft eyes of Gideon Deane as he suddenly ap. peared before her and gently relieved he, of the bucket she was carrying. A quici flush of color over her brow and cheek. bone, as if a hot iron had passed there and certain astringent coyness, would have embarrassed any other man than him.
 "Sho, it's yoH. reckoned I'd seen the last of you"
 "Yeu don't mean that, Sister Hiler said Gideon, with a gentle smile.
 "Well, what with the report of your goin's on at Martinez and improvin' the occasion of that sinners death, and lead. ina revival, reckoned you'd hev tor. gotten low folks at Tassjara. And | you're goin' to be settled there in a ne~ church, with new hearers, reckon you'll want new surroundings too. Thingl change and young folks change with 'em."
 They had reached the house. Her breath was quick and short, as if she and
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