The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-10

tbas she herself haa opposed she saesss- tion- Shs had gained d cAararser for domesticity, and che did not wish to have her supremacy shared.
 dare say there is no actual incom- patihiity." she admitted gently; " but Magdalen is so wrapped up in her work for papa that we never think of occupying her mind with matters which am quite willing to see ater myself. Why should she be bothered1 She Is not the girl to marry, unless indeed "--Nora laughed gaily -" she could 6nd a man that was all intellect and had no bodily needs to be ministered to-"
 Poor Will! Magdalen joined them iu the garden later on, but for his own sake he held aloof from her. The girl was greatly hurt, as of old she had been his special friend. Too shy to complain. however, she shrank into herself and with pang of regret, saw Will fall into the way of the worid-treat her. namely, with distant respect and Nora with familiar friendliness. He had not been al FoRer's many days before his name was coupled with Morals by all the match makers in the neighborhood. The good people were much mistaken. Will might walk, ride, or play tennis with Nora, or even constitute himself her cavalier and escort on every possible occasion. but secretly his heart went out toward Nal daIen. Yet how, after Morals words. could he dream of betraying his devotion ? How could he, man whose only attain. ments were those of physical strength and hNnA n rtA rwt A<~th by training and natural bent in the midst of purely intellectual interests? Sadly he told himself that she was not for him. And Magdalen as sadly told herself that somehow she had forfeited Wills friend- ship, by which, had he only known it, she had set great store. He seemed to her the perfection of a gentleman, and perhaps his want of learning was the thing she liked best about him so cor dially did she hold her own bluencss in abhorrence. Thus were the two kept apart by phantom barrier raised be- tween them by Nora, who, without caring for Will herself, resented his preference for Magdalen. She was under no mis- apprehension as to his feelints $, and yet petty jealousy debarred her from doing what lay in her power toward bringing about a better understanding between him and her sister.
 Wills last day arrived. A large tennis party was to take place at Fosters in the afternoon, as sort of farewell entertain ment for him, and he did his best to throw of the despondency which op- pressed him.
 Twill you play tonight, Magdalen ?" he asked, very hesitatingly in the morn- ing.
 Magdalen shook her head.
 Ne" she said shyly, "I don't play tenpis."
 "Ot course not. 1" laughed Nora. Will, what an extraordinary ideal As if you didn't know Magdalen was above tennis" 1"
 "It is not that" said Magdalen, color ing; "but that tennis is above me. [ tried 1t again and again at Wellesley, but it was rever any good. only spoil every set play in."
 "Oh, we'll, you cant play or you won't," said Nora, impatiently; "it's all the same"
 Nora's sudden i'll temper seemed very uncalled for, but she was irritated by the on Wills face. Present. ly, however, her equanimity vas restored, and she said, putting her hand to the young man who had turned to her, will be your partner, and you, Magdalen, need not play, but shall talk to the peo- ple--that is, if papa can spare us his walk ing dictionary of antiquities"
 Another allusiou to her bluenessi Mag dalen gave her sister an appealing look and turned away. Will fell into a brown study. During the afternoon he played good deal with Nora as his partner, and the two proved an invincible couple. As Nora was fully occupied with the game, Magdalen was called for once to do her share in receiving and talking to the guests. They were more than ever im- pressed with her intense blueness, for the poor girl had the heartache, and found it hard to look bright and smiling. Many were the remarks made to her about Will and Nora, who certainly played together. In the middle of one exciting set, young married lady, who was sitting next to Magdalen, whis- pered con6dentially, "Those two are made for one another, aren't they2 De pend upon it they will be partners in earnest before Mr. Fairbairn leaves"
 Magdalen went little pale as she an- swered evasivs.y. Every one likes to have Nora for partner"
 "Yes, yes, know but not in the sense mean. What a loss she will be to us all :! Now tell me do you think MT. Fos- ter will let her go with him, or will they have to wait ?"
 This was going too far, Magdalen thought.
 "The question has not been discussed yet" she replied distantly; and, awed by her manner, the young lady subsided into silence.
 Magdalen went up to her room, when the party was over, in very miserable frame of mind. AS she cast a retrospect over her life of late, it seemed to her that her success at Wellesley had cost her everything she most cared about. She Al