The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-08

man gulty 0a ever tOo&AnS 1nc S@Nu0o time at her silly. insipid daughter.
 But what was to be done about it ? That was the momentous question to be decided.
 "lnforn Mrs. Henderson and have her turn her out of the house." was propoSi- ton number one.
 But it was doubtful if she would do so even if they told her all, for Ruth Lacy was as dear to good, motherly Mrs. Henderson as her own children, besides she had too much business of her own to attend to- Ito pay much attention to her boarders' gossip.
 Mrs. Wyllys knew this, although she did not exactly say so in the objections she urged to the proposition. Perhaps it would be better to get some of the gentlemen to write to Captain Lacy and let him settle it,' was Miss Anderson s suggestion, who always seemed to feel . deep interest in the captains part of the business. But this was rejected as worse than the other.
 "To appoint a committee and wait upon Mrs. Lacy and read her lecture upon the evil oi her way" was the thhd proposition, but failed of passing the house tor want of sufficient number of votes, and the meeting was finally ad- journed until the next convenient oppor- tuni,y, with mutual pledge to watch and wait but especially to watch.
 And wait and watch they did and fine time they had of 1t, too; at least the be- witching war widow and her handsome attendant gave them all the business they possibly could in the watching line, for they passed as much of the tune together as was consistent with his business.
 One evening Miss Emmet saw them walking arm in arm on Main street, and half an hour later found them seated very costly over an ice cream at Briggs; the next, Virginia Farnham found them op- posite her at the theatre and reported to the excited circle at home that he sat just as near her as he possibly could with his arm half around her.
 The uext day Inc eyei of the vigilance -7auami tee were rsioissd by the s.gAt of \ handsome span of grays aud stylish carriage at the door, into the latter of which the gay lieutenant handed his fair inamorata, and taking hls seat beside her drove oil in fine style.
 Mrs. Wyllys reported next morning to the band, that it was ten minutes of twelve when they returned and she knew if any one, for didn't she sit by the win dow with her husbands watch in her hand-which was always kept by the state house time-and watch for them to come? And she would have sat there all night but what she would have found out.
 lfglances could have annihilated, pretty little Ruth Lacy and her guilty lover would never have been heard of alter that mornings breakfast but as it was they were as quiet and unconcerned as if their guilty intimacy had not drawn upon them the righteous indignation of a vir- tuous household. But the climax was reached Sunday evening after hav- ing escorted Mrs. Lacy to church twice during the day. "Such creatures to at tend church!' Mrs. Wylys had com mented upon observing it. Lieutenant Benham was actually seen in Ruth Lscys room. There was no mistake about 1t. Miss Emmett had seen him enter and had reported immediately al No. C, where, as usual the investigating com mittee were assembled 10 collect such evidence as might be gained from tune to time, in the all. important case of Benham Lacy vs. public morals. Mrs. Wyilys de- tested prying and eaves-dropping oi course she did but in such an aggravated case as this the end certainly jusiihed the means. So the key-hole in Ruth Lacy $ door was called in requisition to make Assurance doubly sure "-but unfor- tunately the key was on the inside of the lock, so Mrs. Wyllys' stock of knowledge was not materially increased by th2, means, but voices could be very dis tincily heard, one of which was unmis- takably that of the guilty lieutenant.
 Determined not to be foi!cd SO, Miss Wyllvs resolved upon another expedient ; if the inside of the house would no, fur nish all the information desired, possibly the outside might and the opposite walk was very inviting, especially on Sunday evenings between six and seven o'clock. Ten minutes later the captain and lieu . tenant of the gossiping club were prom enading slowly down that inviting walk.