The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-30

ua0 uUk hU1~uCu uC1 VSxu4pS SnG Q aQ delayed few days ir Paris on her way home She had trousseau to prepare, and it is a strange article of faith among women that it can be done more effectu- ally in Paris than elsewhere; coDse- quentlv, nothing vas more probable than that she was there at that moment. my letter would probably be forwarded to her, and if so she would surely be at the station on the arrival of the train from Italy.
 As rushed across Europe l had put one thought in my mlnd-would Clara be at the Paris terminus to meet me ? The towns flew by me when ! thought Of her, and yet at times the intervals between them seemed to intermin able. Every stoppsge irritated me, yet the two days were not tedious. could always lose all count of time by allo wing my mind to dwell upon the incidents of our voyage together, and especially on the browning incident that was yet to come. But when the doubting question arose whether or not we should meet in Paris, the train seemed to dawdle as train never dawdled before. At length we reached the ter minus. eagsdy scanned the few peo- pie on the platt lrm as we entered the station, and my heat sunk when l saw that she was not there. Then l remem- bered that on French railways friends of passengers are not, as rule, allowed on the plattsrGs, and me hopes rose again. They were soon dashed, for there was no Clara for me in the waiting rooms or at the entrance
 A dim sense of calamity-unknown, and the more terrible for being unknown took possession of me. hurried across Paris to the "Nord," reached Calais in due course crossed to Dover and made my way 10 London, which 1 nine in the morning l hurried 10 Mrs Selby's house in Oxtord Square. l rang the bell and it was answered by a mad- servant in deep black. asked for Mrs Selby, but so luar ieuiately that the girl did not understand me. pulled my self together and repeated the question. The girl stammered awkwardly Had 1 no, heard? No. had heard nothing was anything wrong? The French ship iu which Mrs. Selby and Clara had sailed from Bombay had been lost-as it was supposed-in 8 hurricane between Bom- bay and Alden, and all souls were drowned.
 staggered as from strong mans blow. remembered nothing until l found myself lying on the sofa in the dining-room tended by an elderly gen. ileman, Mrs Selby brother and admin istrator. He of course, did not know me 1; still less did he know of my relation toward his dead niece. told him all, and be treated me with the greatest kind. ness. He could give me DO hope the ship wa; then six weeks overdue, and the insurance on her had been duly paid.
 Desolate and broken-heared, left him and went to my mothers house in Devonshire. After three weeks of fever began to recover strength, but the light of my life was extinct, and an inde6naole sense of night was all tnat remained to me. As soon as was strong enough to stand, thought of the photographs had taken at Singapore They were all that was Jeff to me of my dead love, and, with feeling of unsoeAk4ble awe, proceeded to raise her preseniment, as 1t were, from the grave. h the c'osely-dIrkened room illuminated ony by the dim red light of my developing lamp, prepared the ne Cessary chemicals With trembling and uncertain hand l took the plate from the slide in which 1t had been enclosed for so many months, and as 1 looked upon its plain, creamy surface, so soon to be sancnhed by her image, almost felt that was engaged in some unhAl- lowed deed of neCromancy. Brealhless with excitement, poured the developer upon it, and, as awaited the result, 1 could hear my heart humping against my chest. 1 had no, long to wait, Slowly, but surely and distinctly, the iea- lures of my darling came to me from the grave. Notwithstanding the inversion of its tones, it stood plainly before me-her self in every detail. As watched the gradual perfection of the portrait cried Ike little chtd. At leng h the develop ment was complete, and, shaking like a leaf, l took it from its bath to examlne it more closely. As l did SO, the door of the room ~as suddenly opened, a flood of light was admitted, and the photo- graph was ruined beyond reparation. With an inartlculate cry seized the in- truder in my weakened grasp-it was my valet, who had accompanied me on my voyage out and home. know not what said to him in my furious despair-the words, whatever they were, passed into forgetfulness as they were spoken.
 Sir, sir" sad he, |" | bring you great news. Miss Setby-Mrs. Selby. Their boat was picked up by a sailing ship. She encountered ad ierse winds, and only reached Plymouth yes;erday-and-and Miss Clara is here-and have come aail iO