The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-25


 "' Whenever the sky was clear
 "' wonder if he can see them pow?
 "' No, think that through some one of them he is looking at us.'
 Far from science and astronomy, far very far from his scholarly stand point he mans childish reply had taken him but 1t carried him nearer the heart of the girl than he dreamed
 Mrs. Merdon's disapproval of her daughters visits to the observatory with Seymour broadened into an CT as his calls were repeated, and repeated often An intimacy grew up between the young people that, even to themselves, they did not undertake to explain. The girls frie ndship had opened new world to the hard-worked student Had he known more of life, he would have known tha, he was falling in love. Over the othrr a secret was stealing as steadily as comes over us the morning. A month h i'd passed since the senior party The two Sat in the telescope room. She seemed to be studying the stars.
 "' And do you remember,' she was asking, that evening. you thought through some of them father was looking at us2'
 "'Yes.'
 C. Do you suppose he can see us now P
 "' Yes n surprised way).
 |" Then, hestatingly, do you think he is glad-is glad 10 see us together?'
 C. Won't you (the voice was very husky v)-'won't you answer for me?'
 Yes,' she said, in a voice clear as 3 harp cord, l know he is
 "Seymour wondered if his senses were giving away. He hardly knew what fol, lowed. He meant to ask he tried to ask if she did not think her father would be glad to see them always together. Somehow the words seemed long and heavy and he couldn't make the words come. He had a choking sensation in his throat and his eyes were blinded with tears. He felt just as he had in the greenhouse the night of the senior party. He wanted 10 k ss the hem of her garment. He felt that he was in debt to her and falling deeper in debt every moment. He knew he was making fool of himself, but he didn {, care. He was the happiest fool tha, mo. ment in Gods happy world.
 "' You are Just as much mine,' she said at last, her hands resting on his head, which some way or other had found place in her lap,-' you are just as much mine as if had done all the wooing myselt'
 !" The Merdon mansion had never seen such a storm as followed Charlotte S avowal of her betrothal. Her mother in- sisted that she should never consent, never in the world, and the girl who had always honored her wishes above every thing else was in distress.
 "' But you did not marry a rich man yourself, mother why should you want ne to2 she urged
 marred man who was great whom everybody knew why, if you were to marry the man, whoever he is, who will fill his char, should be happy for ever, but this iellow,'- and her irdigna- tion almost overpowerlng her, she left the room.
 " It was late in the evening when Char. lotte stole up sta,rs. Passing her mothers room, she saw that the door was partly opened. She knew wha. it meant Wo. men, even among themselves m ike the r reconciliations gracefully graouAlly. She pushed the door wlde open, as her mother had intended she should and went in The lady sat by her writing table; her head resting on her hand, and she was evidently sleeping, A lttle pi of letters lay before her, picture beside them Tears had dropped upon the letters. and the picture bore the stan of tears Char lotte looked al the picture closely. Tne lace was familiar. Surely she had seen i, before. But wheref She could not place 1t among her aoquaintances. Whose face was itp A broken, uncertain voice seemed to say, That's picture of the president Her lovers remark at the party, the portrait on the wall, the pic. ture that her mother cried over It was all clear, very clear, and she didn't Care to read the open letter by the picture.
 "' My poor dear mother she thought. as, without awakening her, she ehded from the room, carrying with her the greatest secret ot her l,ietime, save one
 It was after midnight when Mrs Merdon awoke. She had hoped her daughter would come in. She wanted to tell her that she was no longer angry
 
 Ter own life, and she wanted to tell Char .otte that after all she must follow the voice of her heart that her own expe- rience had taug her so. She was al most ready to confess to her although she had mari d man who was great. whom every one krew. she no, no, DO she could not tell her daughter that-she could not tell her that Very slowly she put away the letters and the picture, say ing, 'Yes, loved him then, and, God forgive me. have loved hun ever since
 At noon the next day. a servant brought note to the presidents study {: Charlotte E Merdon requests tbe pleas ure of few moments private converse tion.'
 "'I wonder what A die Mather's daughter wants of me- thought the old bachelor. as he passed down into the re- ception room. How that girl brings her to mindl'
 :" In digni6ed manner, that even sur prised herself, Charlotte began:
 "' understand that the trustees have given you the power re- a,diry the pr,,.