The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-20
CHAPTER II-RosE EVANS.

T IACoSdub, WdAln6 HI OuC OWn first time for five years. had slept in queer places meantime-half-built shan ties, savages' huts, on tavern table l, and the return to a bed-chamber, crammed with comforts and reminiscent ces of the halcyon boyhood of widows only son, was disturbing. Had not dre amed the interval1 Was really five years older2
 After breakfast came long talk with my mother, then the longest walk she ever took-to and from the kitchen garden then lunch, then drive, then tea, then I wrote note to Parker to excuse myself . from my engagement, which struck me now in the light of a bore then feeling as though should die if sat still much longer, pleaded the impossibility of do- ing justice to the fatted calf at dinner un- . less l first took walk. My mother smiled and acquiesced, and l strolled down to the village, as we called the dozen cottages of the scattered hamlet of Eversfold, that clustered hard by the church, each with its small garden, like large nosegay.
 A cooperative store, superseding the old ginger-beer and lollypop shop, is a novelty, but looks languishing already. The school house stands as of yore, but has acquired bumptious air that saw ors of school board activity. The older rustics have not altered hair, of course. It takes more than five years, or fifteen, or twenty to make an impression on vil- lage sexton or clerk. They greeted me pleasantly, but seemed unaware that had been away any time.
 "There's Blacksmith Evans cottage mustn't forget not to ask after his wife. And there-yes, by Jove-there's his pretty Rose at the door '"
 In her dark stuff dress, white cambric apron, and plain cap, she stood, stepping to take the can from the milkman's boy. "Oh, mother, you were wrong," 1 was thinking. "She's prettiev than ever :"
 How shall l describe that girl2 She was not angelic-looking, nor fairy.like, nor queen-ike. She was tall and well built, with a pretty small head with plenty of thick glossy brown hair upon it t-and small features. Neither form, col ering, nor expression, taken separately, was striking, but the whole penetrated you slowly but surely. Her throat was really beautiful, and the dimples on her cheek were to blame for much. It was placid, saltwater style of beauty, and owed its hold partly to your surprise in finding after the first that this demure young person, whom you stupidly mis- took for puppet, had will and way of her own. It made smarter, coquettish girls wild to see the men, without excep- tion, desert them to crowd round quiet day, so neat, and spruce, and complacent x,ac Nk kr xrAA nt.xnh hAw self-l vehemently resented the calamity her that mischief. She had firted with that good-looking, fascinating reprobate, Mick, and driven better man to what by mere chance had not turned out murder. "Serve you right, Miss Rose, if you never get married at all, >" was my silent mascu- line invective, as the worst could hurl. But she looked so fresh, so pretty and innocent that my tone as accosted her sounded less distant than had intended to make it.
 Good afternoon" said I. "Have you forgotten me quite ?"
 "Not quite," she said, with the least little smile and blush-Rsse was for moderation in all things-"but it was such a surprise. Won't you come in, sirp Father'll be home from the forge directly, and ever so pleased to see you"
 followed her into the kitchen, watch ing her as she stepped into the larder to set down the milk, her tucked-up sleeves showing her rounded plump arms. There was certainly a demoniacal attraction about that girl. Then again, as marked her nice-6tting dress and smooth plaits, her looks-not a day older at twenty three than at eighteen, just as if nothing had ever interfered with her rest-the kitchen with its spotless brick floor and shining pots and pans (she Evanses were comfortably of), thought of poor ruined lem and his lot-black-balled friendless, fighting hostile world for . broken ex- istence, and my acrimony returned.
 "How long is it2 Five years2" she asked.
 "Long enough to turn the world up- side down for some that l know," l re- piled. She never stirred feature. Seated under the windcw-lattice, sewing, she made pretty, Dutch like picture. "She's lymphatic," thought. "l needn't be shy of alluding to past events. It's been up with some, and down with others" added pointedly.
 "lts been 'up' with you," Miss Rose retorted.
 "I won't contradict you. To my sor- row found the case otherwise with an. other of your old admirers met yester. day by chance" Rose looked up quickly, thrown o6 her guard.
 Mick, do you mean p she asked has tily. "Where2 Never once has he sent news of himself since he left here, when bis uncle died-thats three years come Christmas."
 "How many broken hearts did he leave behind him~ l inquired taunt- ingly.
 Rose bent over her work, drew . hard breath, then answered proudly and low
 "Not mine, for one"
 l "No, m engage yours Is whole, if you