The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-30

when the sky is empty only because it has been pouring its clouds in buckets upon the wintry fields for weeks past {; when the purple of the heather has been thoroughly washed out of it. its ferny stems Drowned and well.worn down by fog-wTapPed November's heavy tread :; things wear different aspect, and their halo disappears. Under such circum- stances man is apt to say to himself |; Let me see, who do know within ten miles of this dead-and-alive heath ?" and to hail with delight even the whistle of a ploughboy at the tail of bis plough, know ing that it heralds the approach of hu- man being.
 Frank did so, at any rate. Cudgelling his brains to think whereabouts in the neighborhood he could light upon a friend, he could recall only the name of Dr Richard Meredith, of the Manor House, an old friend of his fathers and mothers rather than of his own.
 "l know he has only lately bought the place" he cogitated. "I wonder if his name is known about here"
 He interrogated the whistling plough boy on the other side of the hedge.
 The boy jerked his thumb in the direc- ton of red roof showing among the all but leahess trees.
 Thear be the Manor House awaay down thear, tn other zide O them woaks," :" said the lad in broad Dorset dialect. Then he jeiked his head in the direction of small gate which opened off the field he was ploughing. "Thease be the doctors fields "Thear be the orcha'd i; thear's short way through th' orcha d up to the house." and on he went with his ploughing.
 Frank naturally made his way across the field to the small gate. But what was this ? Was this tangly wilderness of weed and briar to be digni6ed with the name of orchard2 Why, he had to fight right and Jeff to make way for himself through the interlacing lower boughs of plum, apple and pear trees. The place could have known nothing of pruning knife for at least score of years. Rasp- berry boughs caught at his coat-sleeves as he went along; gooseberry branches essayed to trip him up as they trailed across the path, claiming kinship with the tall thistles and noxious weeds which dis puted the ground there between them.
 Franks thoughts flew to the overgrown wood which surrounded the sleeping palace of fairy renown.
 " It's not wall of green,' because it's all but leafess," he said to himself; but, heavens what tangle it must be in the summer. The doctor was always little strange; no doubt his eccentricities have grown upon him. And should say he was still bachelor"
 Above the ragged fruit trees, the red brick frontage of the Manor House showed in the hay November night. It was large square built edifce of the Dutch style brought into vogue by Will fam and Mary, and it had wofully neg lected appearance. What struck Frank most was the deserted look of the top most story. Not sign of life or occupa- ton was to be seen there. On the floor below signs of habitation showed ftfully, the windows only being Curtained at in- teIvals.
 The orchard led by another gate into stretch of what must have once been a we'll laid out flower garden, but which was now every whit as desolate and run- tossed as the orchard itself. This led up to an ill paved, neglected terrace, with moss-grown steps, and broken or overturned stone vases and statuettes. The principal entrance to the house opened of this terrace, and the windows of the chief sitting looked out on it; but, although here and there warm winter curtains and glimpses of flickering fires showed through the panes, the con- viction grew stronger in Franks mind that the doctor was still bachelor Everywhere there were lacking those minute signs of love for the beautiful! and artistic which are supposed to be the im- print of feminine fingers.
 Frank looked dubiously at the door bell
 wonder If any one will answer it if l ring" he thought, and really, under the circumstances door-bell seemed some thing of an incongruity. A mys:ic word, written on the lintel, on the repetition of which the door would turn on its hinges, would have seemed more in accord with the unconventional and fantastic sur roundings.
 Patience Meredith, the doctors orphan niece, sat in the window seat of her morn- ing room with long string of amber beads between her fingers. She was a tall, slender girl between eighteen and twenty, with very pale, clear skin, deep shining gray eyes, and glossy black hair, which she wore so low on her forehead that it seemed to rest on her eyebrows. For teeth nature had given her double row of pearls, and to set these of to still greater advantage, had further en- dowed her with two most bewitching dimples on cheek and chin. She was dressed in some dark green stuff, with a great deal of black lace worn high about the throat. Into this black lace the feet of white cockatoo with lemsn crest had got entangled and the creature was making frantic efforts to free itself, with Tapping of wings and ear-piercing shrieks, when the servant opened the door and announced Mr. Charteris."
 What with the birds wild noise and the close attention she was bestowing on her beads, the girl did not at first look up.
 Be quiet, Jack :" she was saying !; VOu we mt me. mt in nay counfinu oa;u