The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-06

view, and q nervous lear almost paTalyxed her as she rose tremblingly to lock the door behind him.
 The ticking of the clock sounded like the strokes on a blacksmith's anvil A thrill of terror chilled her blood as a mouse scampered across the floor. Her little, cold hand had barely reached the bolt, when-oh, horror of horrors Ia deafening report sounded somewhere a, the back of the house, and, no longer paralyzed in tongue or limb with wlld shneks of terror, she bounded up the stairs.
 "Oh, Sadie, Sadiel" as another and another report sounded, "some one is shooting through the back windowv'
 Vigorous strokes on the bedroom door aroused the sleeping mother and child
 "What is it2 Oh, what is n2' ex. claimed the former, as Jennie iell almos, fainting into the room. 1 dts firing listen-there !" as still an. other report sounded through the house
 "Oh," screamed Sadie, "it is-it is Where is Mir. MaxwellP Call him.'
 He is gonel' walled poor Jennie Wringing her hands.
 "Gone2 The scoundrel! and left us here to be murderedw
 "lt wasn't his fault. sent him away Oh, what shall we do9 The hall door i: unfAstened- There! believe l bear come one coming up the stairs. No, il is only imagination. Thank heaven, thi: door has double lock p By this time Sadie had a window cper and was screaming murder at the top oi her voice.
 "No one will hear you but our assas sins !" walled Jennie, her voice almos drowned by the shrieks of the baby whose piping treble was piercing in the extreme.
 SLet us set fire to the house !" sug gested the frantic young mother. Some. body may see the light and come to oul rescue"
 "Oh, Sadie, that would never do The dinner-bell in the yard can be heard ovel a mile. will go out and ring it."
 annie had suddenly grown calm anc brave. She felt she was to blame fol their unprotected situation, and the hope that her discarded lover might hear tho bell and come to their rescue strength ened her limbs as she hurried down tho stairs, across the yard, and se'zed tn, bell-rope.
 The alarm rang out on the midnigh air, and the vibrant tones seemed tc promise protection.
 She felt cAlmer as she retraced hel steps and Sadie, knowing her light foot tall, readmitted her to their retreat
 Tom Maxwell was walking moodily uI the road that led to his fathers house whea the distant music of farm-b bel sounded on the air.
 "Suange!" thought he. "ls it some ghostly banquet celebrated at midnight But with thrill of anxiety: "Surely tho sound comes from the Kerr farmhouse Something is wrong there" And turning instantly, he retraced hi! steps in one fourth the time he had taking them, in moody sorrow, few minute: before.
 The house was not on fire, as he had feared, but the hall-door stood wide open Shouting loudly, he was answered 1T faint, grateful tones then, almost with out knowing it, he had the frightened penitent girl in his arms, and Sadie va. explaining the cause of their alarm.
 Measuring them, he took lamp anc started upon a tour of investigation.
 The parlor, hall, and kitchen revealed nothing, but in the pantry four innocent looking tomato cans stood upon shelf their contents scattered over the floor anc adj jscent furniture. The mystery was explained. The to matoes which Jennie had thought SC snugly "put up" had taken notion tc see the outer world, bursting their bond. with a loud report that sounded, in the silence of midnight, to the overstrung nerves of poor Jennie, like the firing of . gun.
 Tom tried hard to suppress the laugh that escaped his lips when he announced the result of his search.
 By this time the house was half filled with the neighboring farmers and theil families, in every stage of dishabiile, the first one appearing being Harry Cooper who now had Sadie and the baby both ir his arms.
 A general shout of laughter arose. and in the confusion that followed Tom drew Jennie unresistingly to the parlor, which was unoccupied. He closed the door and then pointed silently to the clock, the hands of which were almost meeting al twelve.
 "In three months" she said, simply.
 "That will do,' was the gravely spoken answer.
 And Jennie's downcast eyes did not see the rascally, triumphant smile quivering on the lips that pressed kiss of recon. ciliaton upon her blushing face
 "lt served you just righti" said Mrs Kerr, the next morning, upon hearing Jennie's confession. "And noW for your wedding-dress."-Exeha.ge. For Ten Gents. Recognizing the superior excellence oi the St. Louis Magazise, we have ar