The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-12

appointment in the post-efice, when al the fellows have known here have gone on to college, entered the army, or gons in for something else fairly respectable AS l said before, you are girl and don' understand these things. Ifyou stood ir my shoes for ten minutes, you might sex what mean"
 With his last word he turned on his heel and strode away rapidly, forgetting even his rod and basket in his excite ment; or it might be, perhaps, taking il for granted that his sister would pick them up and carry them home for him as she had done more than once be fore in her life.
 Kathleen looked after him ruefully Tears for moment blinded her, and she could not arrange her thoughts. It was all so puzzling, so difficult to understand Tom had come out in such new light Who could have believed that, under his slow aad somewhat stolid exterior, he had cherished aspirations and longings such as these! Yet after all, now that the revelation had been made, it seemed almost wonderful to her that she had not guessed it all before. Of course, as Tom had said, she was a girl, and could not Se supposed to understand a mans am- oltlons, and, of late especially, she knew that all her ambitions had so centered in one little world, of which Bruce was the light and sun, that she had scarcely had time to give thought to other people aspirations. Well, there was one com fort j! Tom had not expressed any out rageously impossible wish. College seemed to be the desire of his heart, and there really seemed to be Ino reason why It should not be gratihed. She had often heard her father say he had got through hls college career " on next to nothing |" very well, then, out of b2o. GOO it must be possible to supply Tom with a sufficienc, to get through his. She would go pack to the house at once and speak to her father about it.
 So sunshine came back to her face. She picked up Toms rod and basket cheerfully, and trudged along am ong the osiers toward home.
 The stream babbled and purled over its big white stepping-stones. Splash, splash-here, there-went the shiny sil. very hsh. The shadows began to lengthen a little, tor the afternoon was wearing itself away.
 "lt's nearly tea-time," thought the girl. Bruce will be just about locking up his office and thinking of getting home. And tomorrow morning he'll have my letter, and know all about it, and of course he'll come down immediately, and"
 But here her thinking was suddenly cut short by the shadow of Bruce himself falling athwart her path. He was com. ing along with his usual brisk energy, but kathleen's quick eye detected an unusual but unmistakable cloud upon his brow.
 Why, Bruce-yon she cried.
 Then thee follOwed-no, not hand shaking, but its equivalent under certain conditions. Why not There was no one to tell tales, beyond the bending osiers, the whispering reeds, the wild, ft- ting birds.
 Bruce began whole string of ques- tions.
 Whats the matter with Tom? met him just now, and he told me where 1 should find you; but beyond that, never word could get out him"
 "Tom and have had atiff. We often have tiffs, you know" answered Kathleen, bent on being loyal to Toms infirmities.
 "ls that why you're carrying his rod and basket for him? Give them to me, dear. Really think you're determined to spoil that brother of yours; the effects of your injudiciousness are beginning to show in him. We'll, now, K atie, what's up at the house-with your father and mother, l mean2 There's something there wants explaining, too, think"
 Then Kathleen's face frightened all over as she answered:
 "Oh. there's ever so much to explain. l wrote to you at once; it doesn't matter you'll get my letter when you 90 back Let's sit down here under this willow. I've wonderful letter from a lawyer in my pocket l want you to read. You are not to speak one word till you've got to the last line; and am going to sit here on this tree stump right in front of you and watch your face while you read. i'm sure it'll be something to remember ever and ever afterward."
 And Bruce's face as he sat reading the lawyers letter was something to remem- Der forever afterward, though not exactly in the way Kathleen expected, for instead of flushing red with glad, jubilant sur prise, it grew white, hard, fro wning. His lips set, and with never a word he folded the letter and gave it back to the girl.
 "Why, Bruce, what is it ? Are you ill ?" she cried, jumping up from her tree stump"
 "I see-I see understand it all" he muttered half to himself. "The whole thing stands explained now"
 What stands explained ?" she asked, ready to cry with modification and dis appointment. "l thought you at least would jump up and clap your hands and toss your hat up in the air, and there you take 1t every bit as solemnly as Tom"
 don't see much to clap my hands over, Kathleen" he answered gravely. " rejoice at your good fortune, of course, but"
 My good fortunel" she interrupted passionately. Isn't my good fortune your good fortune, too? What does it all Tell S>n