The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-01
ce.el.dsd frer. Paee 7.se.

sorrv to say how ofen; and in that fa- ~,;Iiar twilight ghosts from the pas, be rsr to float before me and drift away, ELe the smoke of the cigar which Mrs Wilkinson had kindly permitted me to Eght. 1 was m sott and sentimental mood and so, imagine, was she. We had remained silent for some time, when she said, in that low gentle voice of hers, vhich always sounded to me as if it copld only belong to we'll bred woman
 a Colonel Waimisey, wonder whether you would give me httie advice Ii ] asked you"
 "I shall be delighted" answered I. "Advice is emphatically one of the things which it is more blessed to give than to receive. Never in my life have l sent any one who has begged me for it empty away"
 I adopted this rather fippant tone be- cause the fact of being in a sentimental mood always puts me more than usual upon the alert against surprises.
 1 could see that she looked hurt. She turned her head away, saying: Alter all. don't know that will trouble you You would not be interested in what Twas going to ask you about it only referred
 
 to myself"
 "Then," said I, more seriously, "you may be sure that it will interest me very much indeed" And this was no more than the truth Could she, wondered, be going to consult me as to Poles inten- tionsI
 But it soon appeared that no such deli. cate question as that was to be laid before
 NJ,lE.Meov, v,n~t~A e& know was whether l should recommend her to take up her residence in London permanently UT not, She had thought a great deal about it, she said, and was quite unable to arrive at decision. "lt has so happened that have lived almost entirely abroad until lately, and perhaps should be happier in some ways fl 1 were to go abroad again. Yet-there would be objections to that, would there not ? Don't people often say unkind things about women who live out of their own countryp
 She turned to me with one of her half timid, half-con6ding glances, and re- piled: People say unkind things every where and about every one, Mrs. Wilkln- son; but it doesn't matter much, so long as they are not repeated to the person of whom they are said. know one humble individual who won't be able to help say ing unkind things of you if you go away and leave us. You ought not to have consulted me about the matter. How can you expect me to give you a disin- terested opinion 7"
 "l did not expect you to answer me in that way" she said, with more of sadness than reproach in her tone. thought perhaps had no business to think so- but thought you were inclined to be my friend, and that if asked you what would be best for me to do, you would tell me. You have always been friendly until nov" "
 Certainly, as she spoke these last words, she had ies Laymes 6ans ka vofx. know that this effective sound can be produced by a trick which is easily learned, and also kpow that when wo- man desires to make fool of you, she almost invariably begins with display ofhelplessness; but really suspicion must have limits, and do possess a heart-a somewhat tough and battered one, it may be-still quite serviceable and ready to beat with generous emotion upon cause shown. did not believe that poor little Mrs. Wilkinson was trying to inn pose upon me; but in any case it would have been impossible to reply to her otherwise than as did reply. begged her pardon; assured her that was in deed her friend, and added few pretty phrases, such as take it that any one, circumstanced as.I was, would have ut- tered. She was easily conciliated, poor little soul. She told me all her doubts and fears, and very natural they were People in London had been kind to her but then she had heard that people in London often were kind to strangers for time, and afterward dropped them. She did not think she would be able to bear being dropped. She confessed that she was fond of society, and perhaps she was more dependent upon it than others, because she was SO lonely. Other people had their relations to. fall back upon.
 And have you none2" ventured to inquire.
 She shook her head mournfully. "They are all dead. l should think no one is more utterly alone in the world than l am."
 But at least you have friends" urged. Miss Wsrde, for instance-I suppose you have known her for a long time, have you not?"
 Perhaps this question was not in the best possible taste, but never allowed such opportunities to slip and not the least Puzzling thing about Mrs. Wilkin- son was the perfectly easy and unconscious manner in which she avoided giving a direct reply.
 Charlotte Warde is great friend of mine, of course," she answered; "but Charlotte will mary some day-indeed, should not wonder if she were to marry very soon and marriage annuls previous friendships, you know. don't mean that she will drop me, but shall certainly see less of her.'
 And are there no others besides Miss Warde"
 None, think dcn'. make friends easily, though get on quickly enough with acquaintances." She paused for a moment, and then added, vita a rather