The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-21

expression was sulIen and rather scornful. So much I had noticed, pay ing littlalheed to her, however, as she came and went about her work. Her presence in the room now surprised me. She was speaking as I came in, but ended or broke off abruptly, on my entrance, and stood as I have de- scribed her, leaning against the wooden door of the press. She shot 8 glance at me from her half- closed eyes as l took my book from the table where had left it, but did not change her po- sition. The young Englishman, on the other hand, sprang to his feet.
 "I tell you," he said, facing her and speaking with 8 certain vehemence, "you have nothing to do in the mat ter-nothing. Keep out of it."
 He thrust his hands deeper into his pockets and swung out of the room. The girl looked after him. did not like her look, but it was no affair of mine. I took my book and quilted the room, leaving her standing there with her folded arms. At the foot of the stairs l met my acquaintance, the waiter.
 "Who is that girl?" I said, describ- ing her. "I have seen her several times about the house."
 "You mean Lotte?" said the old man. "Have nothing to do with her young sir; she is bad one. The master took her in out of charity, but tomorrow she leaves. There Is noth- ing she likes better than to set on the young men who come here to quarrel about her. There have been two duels fought already in the twelvemonth she has been in the house. No great harm done, to be sure but the master won't have it, and so tomorrow she goes. He has found her place where there will be no young men to set by the ears. Oh, know her ways; Pve seen her at it. She treats them like dogs till they turn and insult her, and then she gets one of them to take her part. When the mischief is done, she rubs her hands. Oh, Pve seen her at it, 1 know her ways. No, no, she'll come to no good wherever she is."
 A bell rang and he left me. I made my way upstairs to my own apart ment on the second floor. At an open window in the passage I saw the young Englishman standing and gaz- ing out into the darkness. He started at my approach, and preceding me rapidly along the corridor, opened the door and disappeared within the bed room next my own. heard bolt drawn as passed and match struck, and saw him no more.
 was tired, and although the night was oppressive, fell almost at once into uneasy slumbers. I woke again restless with the heat. The room was perfectly dark struck my repeater it was nearly one o'clock in the morn- ing. My window stood open, and I could hear the even, temperate sound of heavy summer rain; the lowering cloud was descending in steady downpour. Igot up and groped my way to the window, hardly visible as square of fainter black opening from the blackness within. A church struck the single stroke of the hour it was answered by another and an- other; then far off like an echo, a chime from some hidden village in the hills. Moist odors rose through the darkness from earth and herbs and leaves in the garden below; the damp and odorous coolness, the steady sound of the rain refreshed and calmed me. was returning to bed with better prospect of sleep than before, when my attention was arrested by 6 noise in the adjoining apartment. A door communicating between the two rooms made it easy for sound to pass from one to another; it was a sob heard now-yet less sob than kind of shivering moan, as from some crea- ture trapped and held by mortal an- guish. It came again and again; l listened until listening became impos- sible, the room was occupied as l knew, by my young compatriot; re- called his pale and desperate looks some few hours before, and lighting a candle, dressed hastily and went out into the empty corridor. A streak oi light shone below the door of the neighboring apartment; knocked quietly and waited.
 My knock was quiet, as befitted the silent hour; but that it was audible to the occupant of the room was i'm. mediately apparent. l heard 8 chail pushed back, with movement as ol some one suddenly springing to hil feet; then silence. I knocked again This time hesitating footstep crossed the floor, the bolt was opened an inch then thrown back entirely; the young Englishman stood before me.
 He was dressed as had seen hin , the previous evening, except that h. had removed his necktie, and ex. [ changed his boots for slippers. II his hand he held candle that feebly lighted un the snaralY furnished room