The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-02

SAAS O SOANSA NOAS WAGASWSk AS C4SC1SO the room. Living together as they had done in the familiarity of daily inter- course as boardeTs in the same house they had learned the similarity of each others tastes and feelings, until nothing was needed but fitting opportunity for declaration of love, to make as pretty a pair of lovers as ever existed since the days of Alonzo and Melissa.
 But that opportunity was just what Marcus Chapin had never found, and was never likely to find, unless fortune favored |; him more in the future, than that fckle jade or Bob Hendricks had in the past The trouble was that this same Robert Hendricks, from having been an old school-mate and an intimate friend of Della's, considered that he had the righ to her on all possible occasions, and he evidently had no intention of relinqaish- ing that right to any new conner, especially to one as agreeable and handsome as the new book-keeper. So when Marcus Chapin attempted to pay Della any at- tention, Bob always forestalled him in such a I-own-this-property" sort of style, that he gave all to understand that she belonged to him. If Marcus ever exchanged two words with her out of Bob's hearing it was not because that in- defatigable attendant was not beside her on every occasion when he could pos sibly get there.
 Being an old friend he always managed so as not to appear intrusive to otLers, except myself unless indeed it was Della. But whatever she may have thought she said nothing. had decided in my own mind, the first night of Marcus Chapin's arrival that he was Della's "otheI half" "twin soul," etc, probably should have said affinity" if had known the word, which, thank heaven, l did not thea. had no intention of standing calmly by and seeing my air castles pulled down by Bob Hendricks. or any other man.
 Now, l don't mean to imply that Bob was not good fellow, good enough for any of the girls, but he was about as fit- ting mate for my pretty Della as a crow would be for a humming- bird, and was determined he should not spoil my nice little romance by marrying her, if could help it.
 That was what was thinking about as industriously piled my burnisher and swallowed my luuch. My hero's ap- pearance just at that instant gave me a fine excuse to commence the subject, and make Della talk about it if possible, something she had never done before.
 |" suppose you mean to say you don't think he is splendid fellow ?" l said by way of drawing her out after her cool reply.
 "l didn't say so."
 "Then why don't you say what you think?" persisted.
 "Perhaps 1 haven't thought anything about it."
 "Oh, no; of course not,"I burst out impatiently "as if any one blind in one eye and green spec over the oth CT couldn't see that you were dead in love with each other. All that keeps him from proposing is that long-legged Bob Hen dricks tagging after you everlastingly."
 Her face flushed up like peony by the time had finished, but after the first surprise was over she tried to carry it of with laugh.
 "What ridiculous statement," she said but without meeting my eyes. "I should think you had green glasses over both your eyes to imagine you see such things"
 "My eyes are clear enough to see what a ridiculous ninny you are making of yourself, letting that Bob Hendricks act as if he owned you, every time any other fellow comes near you, when you know some one else is only waiting for an op- portunity to declare himself your lover."
 If anyone wants an opportunity why don't they find one3 l don't prevent them am sure."
 How very indifferent she tried to ap- pear, but 1 noticed she bent over her work to hide her blushes.
 "You don't prevent them. Supposing you don't; you know who does," re- torted. "You don't expect fellow to pop the question before a whole room full, do you9 And if he had the dispo. sition to do so, you don't suppose he'd be fool enough to do it, when that long, legged monkey has taken such pains to have him understand that you belong to him." and 1 polished of an end piece as A "A D. L.. l-g