The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-20
SWaleCli1fe Castle,
CHAPTER I.-TIGER KING

CHAPTER I.-TIGER KING.
 Home again Oh, the joy of it after five years across the seas 1 It is worth going a'ound the world, as had done, if only for the pleasure of coming back to your starting point. never appreciated old Aunt Marianne till after she died, and l never knew how fond was of Eversfold till absence had estranged us. had been wild to leave it, but now on my return journey, from Paris onward, felt con- svmed by longing for the green lanes, copses, fufze commons of Surrey. Four interminable hours must l wait in Lon. don for the Cross Hills train. While i'm patiently pacing the Strand stumbled on an acquaintance recently picked up abroad. hesitated before speaking, for though the man and his family had been cordiality itself to me in Rome, l knew the difference different longitude makes sometimes. Not for jovial, hospitable old Matthew Parker, Esq. His first question now was the last he had put to me before parting on the Piazza di Spagna:
 When are you coming to Swalecliffe2 The workmen are out at last, and we're nice and snug. Tuesdays our house. warming. You promised to be there. My ladies will never forgive me if let you off,"
 Pm homeward bound now, to my mother" replied, but I'll run down for the ball. What's two hundred miles to man who has just put twenty thousand behind him ?"
 Here's my card-Swalecliff Castle. Book to Wood End, Great Western Line. Don't forget"
 pocketed the card, and speedily for got all about him, whirling toward Evers. fold. At dusk alighted at Cross Hills station, two miles distant. Five years bring changes. see a new guard who knows not Francis Milford, the new sta- tion-master touches not his hat. The servant my mother has sent to meet me is new, and we eye each other askance awhile ere agreeing to infer that we are master and man.
 He takes my luggage. Iprefer to walk by the fields. l shall reach home almost as soon as the carriage; and like to re- call the way, step by step, and note the changes.
 l count several, not all for the better. That's a new roadside tavern, those matched cottages have grown slated roofs, that patch of common has been enclosed. That gate of old Glover's has not been repaired. Ha, ha, a miser's economy Here l know every st ok on this hedge. That's where the nightshade grows-therc the spindieberries, that's where Jemry King and found sedge-warbler's nest
 The footpath led presently into lane, half a mile from our village. As crossed the stile, mans figure fancied l had seen on leaving the station dropped over the gate into the lane from the other side of the hedge. Seeing me, he retreated ] walked on, but heard him following at some distance. A peculiar shrinking hesitation in his gait started suspicious. He was poorly clad, wore his hat slouched over his eyes, and carried thick stick. l had only light um sreAa, and a valu- able watch and chain temptingly exposed. The spot was entirely lonely, so, prefer ring to have my tramp in front of me, stepped aside on the rising bank as though to survey the distant village, and waited for him to pass, He stood still Objecting to be dogged thus, 1 turned back to pass him, and SO doing stared him :ternly in the face. My misgivings died in burst of laughter.
 "Why, Jemmy, man," shouted cheer. fly, "yourself as I'm alive The first oi the old faces I've seen yet. And of all changed things you've changed most for the worst," mentally added. Was this pale, thin, impoverished-looking being my sturdy prosperous young farmer ol five years back2 Heand his crops nigh, have failed conceivablv. but there Vas further about him queer nervous shrink. from scrutiny 90 unnatural to his former self that 1t startled mo as might the sight of burrs growing on an orange tree.
 1You've beea ill, old chap" said aWhat can friend do to set you afioat You've one more in England than you had yesterday, you know"
 My greeting seemed simply to con. found him. Master Frank" he fal- tened unstsadily.
 Jenny King and had been sworn comrades from seven to seventeen, and