The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15

artist-you seem to paint the keys. ] should so like to try one or two other things with you. Do you ever come to Mrs. Varley's Wednesday after- moons, or might I perhaps some day
 o
 "Oh, I will come herei" exclaimed Miss Falkland abruptly. "I do some- times will come next Wednesday, that's the day after tomorrow. l ought, for I haven't been to one of her Wednesdays for ages.'
 She almost thought that he had been about to express a wish to call on her. Call on her, and then the hideous secret would have been re- vealedl "I am sorry I can't ask you to come and try them at my own home," she continued, recovering her. self. "My father and live together we are quite alone, alas! He is out all day long in the city, so I can re- ceive no visitors but few very old friends"
 Fools madly rush, and he had been on the point of rushing into an in- quiry as to whether he might not call on her, when she had not even 6 mother. He was quite aware that gentlemen ought to wait until they are asked to call, and that not to do SC is to "bless the English conveniences' most grievously, but one touch oi real music makes the whole world kin, and that was his excuse. "Let me hope," he said "that some day ] may be privileged to call myself an old friend"
 She did not respond; how could she? He had had 80 much of the worlds worship that he liked her all the better for not responding. He took her back to the drawing room to her father, and wondering why she did not introduce them to each other, bowed and left her, and then to him the evening was over.
 Margaret, my dear, who was that good looking young man who came upstairs with you?" asked MT. Falk- land as they were going down stairs.
 "That was MT. Carlton. Didn't you know?"
 "Mr. Carltonl And you didn't in- troduce me-and you knew how much I wanted to see him."
 "How stupid of me not to think of itp
 The moonbeams fell coldly on the waving masses of tlilacs when the Falklands reached home. "How pretty they are 1" said MT. Falkland. "By the by, Margaret, you really ought either to watch those lilacs or have them watched. When I came home this evening the pavement was literally strewn with fragments"
 She had them watched, but never again watched them never, that is to say, save on the one occasion in the week when the whole power of the household was barely sufficient to protect them. This was on Sunday afternoon, when the children were streaming out ot the Sunday schools, greedy for plunder, and irresistible in strength and cunning.
 PART II.
 Miss Falkland did go to the Var leys' that Wednesday and on other Wednesdays besides, and she never went without finding MT. Carlton there she never came away without finding that her liking for him had increased. His liking for her was of equally vigorous growth. Suther- land Villa was only a mile from Mrs. Varley's, and the natural way to traverse the distance was by walking. Many were the straits to which Miss Falkland was one day put to avoid having MT. Carlton as her companion when she went home. After that day of difficulty she found it advisable to come and go in carriage.
 "You say you live in Kensington," he said one Wednesday "why do you never walk here? Kensington is not more than 6 mile off,"
 She dared not walk lest he should again propose to accompany her and she not be able to prevent him, but she continued to go to the Varleys' rather frequently, and he continued to ap- pear at the same time.
 After some weeks of this, Mrs. Var ley said one night to her faithful spouse in the stillnesss of her cham Der, "My dear, have you observed that Edward Carlton always comes on our day now, and can you guess why? If you can't, can; he is in love with Margaret. I have fancied he was ever since our last party, but am sure of it now, and I have made up my mind to take the first opportunity I can find to speak to him about it."
 "There you go," said MT. Varley, "speak to him, indeedl You women are all alike. You, my dear, fancy that you have discovered sensitive spot and can't be happy till you have fhrnat v0ur ftuuor down on i< D