The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-09

| S~S eAes 1O 0GS0SkS4AUA osA eoAAaS AAA 0e its windows that no cramps and twinges of restraint should turk about its hearth stone. You may sit in that rocking chair, just as you are, you may lie down on a sofa, just as am going to do, or you may walk about the premises. You may make free use of whatever you see, may go to bed when you feel disposed and get up when you choose"
 Colonel" Len replied, costing look of admiration upon the hospitable man, there seems to be no limit to the lib- critics which you grant"
 "You should not regard such slight courtesies as liberties, but must bear in mind that the pleasure of your society outweighs, in my estimation, anything that may do to make you feel comfort able. There are some pretty fair cigars on the mantlepiece. Help yourself and hand me one. Thank you" he added when Len had handed him a cigar. "i have a match, thank you"
 As he reclined on a sofa, with one arm under his head and his eyes half closed, Len closely studied his face. "He is the most perfect type of the American gen. tleman," young Gansett unused. The colonel looked up and Len, somewha, confused at being detected in his close scrutiny of Bently's face. said:
 "You have interrupted me in an agree able contemplaiio. ., colonel. was study ing your features"
 "Then excuse my untimely interter ence," the colonel replied with a smile. You must also understand that even my features are at your service"
 "l was thinking" said Len, Chow man of your experience and reading can ind my society at all interesting"
 |" An absurd thought" the colonel laughingly replied. "Why, don't you know that the old herse frequently takes great delight in playing with the colt? In associating with the young, the old oflen catch the spirit of youth. The young man helps the old man to think of pleas ant thirgs. An old tree is grander when a sapling grows beside 1t. Do you like books, Len ?"
 " l am passionately fond of books but fear that my taste is not very good. l prefer novels to the exclusion of more healthful and by far more instructive works"
 You must educate yourself out of that, but, after all, the right sort of novel is not unhealthful. hold that the novel reader is never wholly bad man, for to be lover of novels he must enter into the soul of the work. He must sympa- thize with the afflicted and rejoice with Ahe happy character. Some of the worlds | greatest writers have been lovers ofnovels. Macaulay not only read every good novel which the English language afforded, but read novels in other languages; and to this thirst for brig ht literature must be attributed his powers of brilliant descrip- ton. So, my friend, don't regret that you have passion for novels, but regret, rather, that you have not also cultivated a taste for more solid reading. Come in."
 A negro boy entered the room. "Well, Tom, what is it."
 MT. Honeycut is out on de po'ch, sah."
 "Tell him to come in."
 MT. Honeycut came in and was intro- duced to Len. MT. Honeycut's hair was cut square of with precision that would lead one to believe that Mir. Honeycut re- garded such truncated fashion as style which he was compelled to observe. His eyes were small with just enough room between them for the upper part of a very narrow nose. He had tusk tn at lifted his upper lip into perpetual snarl, and his neck, covered with red blotches, looked as though it might have once been hung up with bacon in a smokehouse. He had not taken the precaution to wipe his feet, and when he stamped upon the hearth, which he did upon entering, he scattered fragments of mud. He lived on Bently's farm and made a pretense of tract of land.
 "Wall, colonel" said MT. Honeycut, how's the wor' usin' yer2"
 "Oh, can't complain" the colonel re- piled.
 "l didn't know that yer had hearn uv it2"
 "Of what?"
 "The stage robbery"
 The colonel sprang up from the sofa and exclaimed: "Confound it, man, speak out"