The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-02

| @t(A 000KWA kMG WA08a AN0 HGS0x0&4 leisurely to his lodgings. He stole eau tiously up the dark, crooked stairs into the narrow passage, and as he tIaversed it strange thing happened. Through the venerable, ancient air of a London lodging g-house, that landlsdies always seem to fancy improves with keeping and indeed it does acquire certain fine mellowness wherein are combined the essences of many different odors-there came to him the scent ot the heliotrope. With it returned the memory of a day when his sister had been to visit him at college, and with her one of her friends, a beautiful, hght-hearted girl whom Dick had cared for with a transient, ooyish passion. He had bought bouquets for them, and among the flowers he gave to his sisters friend was sprig of the dim, gray-purple blossom.
 He did not pause to wonder why the old scent came back to him in this widely different atmosphere, but, passing on, en- tered the invalid'S room. Mrs. Hartley was not there but he saw standing at the bedside girl dressed in the garb of private sisterhood, with cluster of flow CTS at her brooch. Her figure was slen- der and graceful, and he could see readily enough that she was lady. His ac- quainsance included several women who had taken the "craze for humanity and typhus fever," as he irreverendy ex- pressed it, and Iris Enderby's presence did not astonish him, though he noted Ter beauty with pleasure. The hair was the deep brown that has gleams os rud- dier color, and her eyes were clear and honest, and regarded one with very steady and fearless glance. She turned her head as Dick entered, and took him in completely, so he fancied, in about a second There was nothing impertinent in her scrutiny, but much that was pain full to a man whose inner life had never been intended to bear investigation. h. sight into character is all very well for the people who have the insight, but it is something trying to the unlucky charac" ter and so Dick felt as, rather defiantly, he met Iris Enderby's glance.
 "She thinks" he said inwardly, "that am one of the people 1t will not do to encourage" The girl had formulated no opinion so distinctly but yet his guess was not far from the truth. For there was no denying that Dick, with his bat | kCICo OOStuiitC, hlS LdhhCt 0tb6y hohA9t and the reckless, devil.may-care expres- sion oh face, grown coarse, that had once been handsome, looked disreputa- ble character, with whom refined girl could have nothing in common. There fore Iris withdrew her eyes with calm in- difference, and went on measuring some medicinal compound.
 Her face, with the indescribable air of fearless innocence about it that some faces will wear to the end, awoke in Dick a novel sense of embarrassment. He hesitated, but the desire to speak to her was too strong, and he crossed over to the invalid's side.
 "Can be of any use ?" he asked po- litely.
 No, thank you," said the girl, trifle coldly but her voice was very pleasant and musical. "Mrs. Hartley will be here presently" She turned a passing glance on him as she spoke, distrustful and yet indifferent. Evidently not the kind of a girl to whom any one would offer impertinence in cold blood. But Dick paid no heed to the restraint he spoke again, warming to the old manner
 "l have brought him some wine," he said, in a careless undertone, disburthen- ing his hands as he spoke. thought it would be needed, and they have very little money. You see 1 have lodged here now for two years, and am sorry he has broken down. There is no hope, suppose?" he added, in a yet more guarded voice, though the patient was sleeping heavily.
 The girl turned again. and looked him full in the face. He fancied he could trace in her eyes some regret for having judged him too harshly, and her voice was more cordial, though in all her in- donations when she spoke to him, then and afterwards, he thought there was a suspicion of disdain. He never blamed her, and he knex instinc,ively that if his old social standing had still been his, that element in her voice would have been rather more pronounced.
 "There is very little hope, am afraid" she said gravely. Has Mrs. Hartley any friends who can help herr The doc tor said he would require constant care"
 "She has been earning for them both for some time," said Dick, "and her hands are full already. dc not think she has any friends who are likely to be of any use. If ever you are in need of a helping hand hope you will rely upon me. can easily sit up with him at night and never feel it." And, indeed, he looked as if he were so used to sit- ting up all night that few addition al times would make no difference to him.
 "Thank you," said Iris, and was silent again. The real or i nagined hauteur in her voice annoyed Dick unaccountably.
 "Unless you are too fasudious," he said, in a sudden tone of bitterness that astounded himself, ito take help at the hands of poor blackguard like me"
 The girl looked at him with strange blending of compassion and repugnance in her eyes.
 "You could have been a gentleman if you had wished" she said calmly. eff vnu are what vou rhoosA fn he whv