The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-13

gently as could before it reached them in ruder form.
 Slowly resracing my steps, I again stood before the cottage, and again paused before entering. Had my reso- lution failed second time 1t would have been useless the Wgilsnt eyes of love had espied me throug gh the window, the hall door opened, and my darling, grace fully attired in loose fitting white dress, with bunch of freshly-gathered moss roses at her bosom, and looking, in her fair, pure beauty, oh % ft spirit to reign in the sweet peacefulness of that abode, came eagerly down the garden path to meet me.
 "I shall begin ts think that you are the Wandering Jew come to life again, she said with a happy laugh. " saw you here half an hour ago, and have been puzzling my brains to know why you did not come in then"
 "lt was so carly" 1 said, with an abor- tive attempt at gsyety.
 Nonsense, Ralph, you know am never in bed after seven"
 We walked into the house with arms entwined, she bright and merry, trying desperately to emulate her mood, and succeeding sufficiently to disguise from her at the time my true state.
 "I did not expect to see you till this evening"" she said, when we stood te- gether in the little drawing-room, "but now that you are here you must make up your mind to holiday from your stud. les. After lunch we will take mamma for an airing, and we'll have one of our jolly evenings"
 With her hands in mine she was look ing up smilingly at me, and with what was meant for an answering smile, 1 V IS looking down into the gray, soulful depths of her eyes. Suddenly her face changed and grew troubled
 "What is the matter, Ralph ?" she asked anxiously, gazing upon me with awakening terror.
 It was no wonder. Averting my face for 8 moment caught sight of it re- fiected in an opposite mirror The night of anguish had already let its mark upon me. The deadly pallor of my face was relieved only by the deep purple circles round my eyes, eyes lustreless and weary with pain,
 "What is the matter, Ralph 2" repeated Constance. "You are suffering you are ill.,"
 "l am suffering, my darling" l an- swered huskily; but l am not ill. I have come to tell you something of inn portance-of serious importance"
 About yourself2 Some misfortune which may help you to bear p "No, Constance. ltis something which oplx, f4Arfe ha@aneA oNaoA-
 She looked at me in a troubled way for few moments, trembling with the fear inspired by my solemn manner. Then suddenly one of those extraordin- ary flashes of instinct peculiar to women came over her. She dropped into a chair.
 It is something about Claude" she said in whisper.
 |" It is," asserted.
 "ls he dead?"
 lshook my head, almost wishing tha t l might have answered the question in the affirmative.
 "Then he is very i'll, perhaps dying I must go to him." and she rose to her feet with sudden energy. folded her quickly in my arms.
 He is not ill, my dear said, "nor can your going to him be of any use. He is in trouble, in great and terrible trouble Can you bear to hear itr'
 Tell me; 1 can pear it." led her to the sofa and sat beside her, holding her hands in mine they were as cold as marble. God knows tried to soften my story. omitted the terrible details; dwelt upon her brothers sp. parent ignorance of what had occurred when he awoke: even insinuated a possibility of his innocence; but still the effect terrified me. She did not swoon or faint. SAe did not cry out, but she sat cold, white, and immovable as a statue, staring into vacancy. allowed her to remain so for some minutes, until cou d endure her awful silence no lon- ger.
 Constance" l whispered.
 She did not appear to hear me.
 "Constance, Constance, my darling, speak to me-"
 Twas kneeling at her feet, raining kisses and tears upon her cold hands. Then she started as if awakening from some horrid dream. She looked down into my upliited face dazedly, and passed her hand caressingly over my hair. At last she spoke.
 Don't grieve, Ralph; he is not guilty"
 Do you think not, dear2" said ut. terly unable to emulate her confidence, realizing as l did fully her brothers ter. nble position"
 She rose from the sofa proudly.
 There is no thought required" she said, with tiAge of reproach in her voice. Claude, is sild and headsuong, but he is not vicious he could not be crimi- nal, he could not be a-a murderer" Bitterly now condemned myself for having, by softening the narrative, al- lowed her to conceive the confidence in her brothers innocence, a confidence which foresaw could only end disas- trously.
 Appearances are exceedingly black against him." remarked gravely.
 But it was too late she had taken up her position, and woman-like, nothing that might say now could move hsr from if