The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-05


 what a body's got to say. Nov, mother, what are you stirrin' round about?" he continued, addressing his wife who had aris .n.
 "Dan, it ain't none of your business, I'm a thinkin'. Aih't body got right to move about9 MT. Barker ain't had his breakfast yet"
 That's so. You're nearly always right an'-an' so am l. Annie, stay with us while an you'll soon see how two old folks can jower at each other an still both be right"
 "Mrs. Caldwell, do not care for breakfast this morning." said l.
 "Well, for pity's sake, Annie hasn't tuck your appetite, has she2" the old lady asked as she gave me a look of sur- prise.
 "Oh, mo-" I rejoined, "I took it my self. took it so effec'ually last night at supper that am far from being hungry now"
 Mother" said the old man, |" let him have his own way. When a man can't eat, he can't, but it ain't that way with a woman. She can eat any time."
 "Dan, l do wisht you'd hush. Any body 10 hear you talk would think that woman sin't fiten to live. Your mother was a woman, reckon"
 "Well, sense you've mentioned it, 1 believe she was"
 Mrs. Green laughed heartily and her eyes, of which l caught glimpse, danced merrily, and there was about them that glorious light which had at first irresist. ibly drawn me toward her.
 "Dan, l ain't got time to tower. must go about my york;" the old lady said.
 "So must l." he replied.
 Together they quilted the room. Mrs. Green and were alone. How strange it all seemed. Why could not declare my innocence of all imputations that had been made against mel Why could not, now that pr. Hill had spoken in my favor, convince her of Browns villainy No, had promised not to speak ot Brown. That the doctor was my true friend, his services had shown. could not, regardless of the question of honor, break faith with him. Mrs. Green did not appear to be in the least confused. She sat, engaged in some sort of crochet work, oblivious, it seemed of recollec. tions which she must have known were bitter to me.
 "You have enjoyed good health dur ing the time which has elapsed since we last met, hope" said I.
 "Yes, I have been well, but not tortu. nate."
 :" hope that you have not been very unfortunate"
 But have. In fact, have lost nearly all my money"
 Why, you surprise me"
 It surprised me at first, but things are sometimes surprising and yet mercilessly true. l was foolish, l admit, but con- sented-having been importuned by an old friend of Mr. Green's-to invest my money. We'll, lost. had never owned as much property as people accredited me with possessing and nearly all had was soon swept away" "I am very sorry to know of your mis- fortune, but after all it may show who are really your friends" "Well, at any rate, it cannot be helped now, and shall endeavor to make the best of it." "You still own your house in the city, suppose
 "No, that has been sold. To tell you the truth, have no home. have but few hundred dollars"
 "Does your brother know of your mis- fortune1"
 q" He knows-for told him this morn- ing-tnat ! nave iost money, but he has | no idea how much but let us not speak | at such length of misfortune. Let us turn to the good fortune which has come upon"
 "Upon whom ?" l asked when she | hesitated. "Upon you" "You are mocking me-" "Oh, no. Perhaps you do not know how popular you have become. Your book, as you doubtless know, Is bril- liant success and your shsrt stories we'll | merit the high praise which are bestowed | upon them. have perfect passion for literature, but am not successful"
 Perhaps you have not tried" NVAo snAAAA | ka,.A hn..~