The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-15

full twenty miles around. In addition she was one of the best horsewomen in the county, and this enabled me to see more of her than l should otherwise have done She used to ride out, sometimes with servant only, sometimes with a party nearly every day; and nearly every day she came through the gates at my crossing tried not to look at her, feeling and knowing that there spark led from my eager eyes moro feeling than should have allowed to escape me-but in vain. l could not withhold my gaze from that cold dark face-she was not blonde beauty; golden hair was not the rage in those days-or from her large, deep unfathomable eyes that looked through me and past me as | though l had not been there, or was at best no more than part of the barrier l swung open for her passage Yet these eyes as even then knew but too well, read me to the core, while they seemed to ignore me.
 am almost ashamed to own it now, and even at this distance of time it makes my cheeks jingle to recall it, but have wasted whole afternoon, when l had turn off, in hope of seeing Miss Cleabyrn.
 Her fathers house stood on knoll, with smooth open lawns sloping down from it on all sides, so that from my sig nal-box could see when any one was walking in the front of the mansion, and when party assembled to ride out Well, have actually fingered on some feeble pretence for four or five hours about the signal-box, in hope that she might walk on the lawn, or that she might mount and ride through our gates.
 well remember that it was on one of these afternoons that Miss Beatrice rode through with small party. An! recall them easily enough, There was one other lady and three gentlemen. To open the gate for them, for her was the opportunity l had been longing, waiting for, and wasting my few hours of holiday for; so l offered to do this to assist my mate, who had relieved me, and who was glad enough to be spared 1 the labor; and caught full glance from the eyes of Miss Beatrice The look was one in which she seemed to exchange glances with me. knew it meant nothing, that it was all delu- sion, and yet it would be enough to haunt me for days. knew that also had never seen her look so beautiful be- fore, and felt my cheeks and brow turn burning hot in the instant l met this glance.
 They passed watched them to the last--l always did-and saw her turn her head toward the gentleman who rode by her side The movement brought her profile so plainly in view 1 that could see she was smiling. As watched her. the gentleman turned around and looked in my direction He was smiling also; it was something beyond sipilc with him, and l then reddencd more with shame than l had before done with excitement, for knew he was laughing at me. So Miss Clea- 1 byrn must have been laughing also; and at what? l was the subject of their rid iculc, and it served me right Yes, knew that at the moment, but to know it did not make the bitter pang less painful
 went back to my comrade at the l signal-boX. He too, had noticed the group, and said as l entered the hut That was the party from Elm Knoll wasn't it? Ah! l thought so; and ot course that was the celebrated Miss Cleabyrn. You know who that was riding by her side l suppose?"
 No,' l said, answering as calmly as ! l could; l was almost afraid to trust my voice
 That's a young fellow, captain from somewhere, continued my mate "who is going to marry Miss Cleabyrn He has got lot of money, so has she Sam Powell, who drives the night mail, knows him, and told me all about it.
 As the speaker had no idea of the absurd state was in, he took no partic- ular notice of me, but changed the sub- feet, and went on with some indifferent topic.
 was glad he did so, for although had an utter contempt for myself and for my folly in allowing the conduct or the future of Miss Cleabyrn to excite me, yet could not have conversed on such a theme as her marriage; while the knowledge that the person to whom had been ridiculed-l felt sure of that Was her avowed lover seemed to in crease the bitterness of the sting ten fold
 had ample opportunity of seeing that the report which had heard was likely, at any rate, to be founded in fact as the stranger, the captain from some where remained a guest at Elm Knoll for fully fortnight during which time not day passed without my seeing both him and Miss Cleabyrn, and some times more than once each day. So l came to know him by sight as we'll as I did her. He was frank, handsome young fellow; that could see, and was obliged to own; and in his speech he was pleasant, This was shown by his stopping on two or three occasions when riding alone, to ask me some ques tions as l opened the gate for him.
 l was sure he made these occasions and at first disliked him for it; but l could not continue to bear ill will against a man of such kindly open manners, SC