The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-08

ings, if trihe heavy, are admitted to be accurate and painstaking, and his pop ular lectures lack nothing but popularity to make them a complete success. "The masses" says he, must be reached. In this age of rapid progress it is incum- bent upon those whose leisure has en- abled them to acquire information to impart it to their less fortunate neigh bors"
 This is unexceptionable; and a great pity it is that Providence has seen fit to affiict so benevolent nobleman with voice and manner which will overcome the most obstinate insomnia in matter of twenty minutes at the outside. How ever, he is too short-sighted and too selfcomplacent to suspect that he sends people to sleep; and it is pleasant (for little time) to watch him as he stands upon the platform, his long gray hair floating over his shoulders his immense upper lip drawn down, the corners of his mouth turned up in benign smile, and his books of reference and glass Of water on the table beside him. Those who object to his slightly unkempt as pect, and hint that it might be well if he were to wash his face and hands at least twice a day, show a critical little ness which is much to be deprecated. How can so great man as Lord Shep- ton be expected to pay attention to these trifing details? And how do we know that his neglect of them may not be delicate mark of sympathy with the classes for whose especial benefit he holds forth? It is at all events certain that his loriship's peculiarities would not have prevented him from finding q wife any time during the last forty years had he wished for one; but he had never felt the smallest inclination that way He was quite satisfied that his old valet should look after him while he lived, and that his nephew should sue ceed him when he died. Women rather bored him. At the bottom of his heart he thought them poor frivolous crea- lures, incapable of close reasoning or sustained thought, and fit for very little except to sit at the feet of an eminent savant, and to drink in such of his wise words as they could comprehend.
 It was by pursuing that humble line of action that clever Mrs. Ogle had SC cured the prospects of a viseountess coronet for her daughter, Lord Shep- ton ended by becoming accustomed to the two ladies who so consistently dogged his footsteps. One day it occurred to him. with the suddenness of an inspiration, that his old house in | Somersetshire would be frightened and adorned by young mistress and that an amanuensis would be most useful to himself After he had proposed to | Miss Ogle he knew that he had done a soinen hat rash thing, and that lie would get into dreadful trouble with his fam fly, but he determined to brave his fam fly. He thought Miss Ogle a dear, good little girl; and he actually thought, too, that she had fallen in love with him. The truth is that Lord Shepton was a very vain old man, though he would have been beyond measure astonished if any one had told him so
 He was also very nervous old man, and that he did know. It nearly made him jump out of his skin to run up against his nephew in one of the corri- dors of the Brighton hotel, and if flight had been possible he would have taken to his heels there and then But Mir. Mallet had already grasped him by the hand; SO, with the impetuosity of d ii'l NpuC liiOli' ilC PN SNii'
 " How do you do, Hubert, how do you do? l know what has brought you here, and may as we'll tell you at once that remonstrances will have no effect upon me. have made up my mind l have made up my mindl
 " My dear uncle" answered the young man, with much gravity and suavity, "I am sure you are old enough to know it. would have said as much to my mother who sent me hither, only 1t wouldn't have been the least use. Ladies, as you are aware, are not very easily influenced by considerations of common sense. With the exception, that is, of my future aunt, who seems to have shown good deal of common sense in her choice"
 I am very glad to hear you say so, y cried Lord Shepton, gratitied, though a little puzzled; "and when you have seen Miss Ogle you will admit, think that my choice also has been sensible oneN
 He had retreated gradually into his sitting-room, followed by his nephew, and now he assumed an air of greater dig nity and self-importance. This news he continued, cannot have been wei come to you, Hubert; l did not antici pate that it would be SO
 The young man made slight grimace.
 "l say did not anticipate that it would be so, It may possibly bring about change in your prospects which which, in short, neither you nor your mother can feel to be satisfactory That much l readily concede. At the same time, it appears to me. that you will scarcely improve your position by quarreling with me-
 Nothing can be more evident Still think, if you don't mind l will remain here for a short time, tell you can didly that have been sent to Brighton on a mission, and if l don't make some show of carving out my instructions