The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15

why should she wait for the church when the thought ot what she had to do when she arrived there was poisoning all her pleasure in the pres ent? "Mr. Carlton" she said, almost humbly, "I want to tell you some- thing.",
 "Speak," he answered s7tis mine to hear"
 Il am going to speak, but as the rain is over l will shut up my um- brella, and then I can see your face while am talking" Extreme ner- vousness was making her think aloud.
 "Allow me-" he cried, and in spite of her resistance took the umbrella to close it for her, saw the blue handle, and exclaimed: "A blue handle! Oh, can't bear to see you with an um- brella that has handle like that"
 "Why not?" she asked faintly, for she was afraid she knew why.
 "Because that virago who did her best to smash my finger had one of that kind"
 "Did her best to smash your fin- gerf" she repeated in dismay.
 "Yes; the boys had been stealing her lilacs, and was passing and saw a great branch which they had partly broken and used to drag themselves on the wall by. thought it was pity to let it be quite torn of, so l tried to put it back over the wall, and she came stealthily forward and gave me 8 blow with an umbrella which had a handle-a remarkably solid blue one just like yours. It is detestable to think of that creature having an um- brella like yoursl"
 "Poor woman don't call her names :; you might even like her if you knew her."
 "That creaturel" "Viragol" It was all but impossible to make her confession now.
 "I am quite sure l should not. How could or you, or any one, like a woman who plants herself behind 8 wall and hits out at all corners at a venture with & dangerous weapon like that? It is charitable of you to think of giving her the benefit of the doubt; but know, if ever you saw her, you would think of her as I do. It is woman's first duty to be femi- nine; no lady could have done what she did"
 "What would lady have done then under the same circumstances, meanp"
 "Oh, you know. that a thousand times better than I. can't help thinking that she would have felt a great deal of pity for the poor little children who came into her bright neighborhood from their own dark, dismal homes, with never a bit of green, much less flower, to gladden. their eyes, and, when they saw the lavish plenty Of both on her trees, could not restrain their hands. She ought to have understood what they must feel, and have given the poor children share of her own abundance, instead of trying to hurt them. Such blows as hers -"
 "Oh, I don't at all agree with you," said Miss Falkland, boldly interrupt ing him, for she was fighting for all she held dear. of the children rang the bell and asked for flowers, it was her duty to give them, and give them freely, but it couldn't be her duty to encourage stealing, or to let the child ren destroy the growth of years in few minutes"
 "You are logically right; you have the law on your side, no doubt, but all the same I have a horror of that girl, and now that my hand is better I may say so. By the by, must not let you forget that you were going to tell me something"
 "I have changed my mind-at least am afraid I shall not have time to tell you now, for I have just re- membered that I want to call at the third house from here to see e poor old friend of ours who is ill."
 "Don't go to-day you said might walk as far as your home. It is the first walk have ever had with you, and you are going to cut it shortp
 "I must call and see her to-day. I ought to have gone long before this."
 "1t is too late to go and see any one now. It is much later than you think. It is after six"
 "That does not matter. She won't mind it's being late"
 "Then let me wait outside for you and finish my walk don't defraud me of that"
 No, thank you. Don't wait. I shall not walk any more today. I must stay with her till the last mo- ment, so shall get her to send for 8 hanson for me"
 "You are not angry with me about anything?" he asked in great concern. "Can have been 30 unfortunate as to have offended yOu?o