The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15

and be clamorous for his dinner, and she was still in her morning dress. He heard her come in, and hurried out into the hall to speak to her, care fully shutting the door of the room he had just left. Margaret, my sweetest, how late you are! Who do you think is here? You will never guess. was just coming quietly home as usual, and walking along in rather a brown study, when I heard some one asking me if I could direct him to Sutherland Villa. I looked up and saw it was MT. Carlton. Sutherland Villa said in some sur prise; 'are you going there?'
 "'Oh, mo- he answered in & great hurry, I only want to know where 1t is, and what it is like.'
 "'It is my house. said, and I am on my way to it. My name is Falk- land. By the by, you have some slight acquaintance with my daughter, l think. 1 was much disappointed at not being introduced to you at Mir. Varley's, and reproached my daughter for emitting to perform that cere- mony. Let me introduce myself now He walked here with me, say ing something about having had dis cussion with some one about the exact locality of Sutherland Villa, and being anxious to be able to con- flute him."
 "And when he saw the house, father" said Margaret breathlessly, "did he seem surprised or startled?"
 "Well, my child, now that you put the idea into my head, 1 think he did; but perhaps am wrong not being a young lady, don't think I am quick at observing shades of difference in young gentlemen's department. Il only know he seemed remarkably glad to come inside, and still more glad when l invite l him to stay and dine here?"
 "You have asked him to dinner2"
 "Yes; why not, my dear2 Now will you go and say How do you do2' to him while I go to the cellar2"
 "Oh, please don't make me do that, father. must dress-l am so late already"
 But MT. Falkland ruthlessly opened the door of the drawing-ro and said: "You will, fear, think me very unceremonious, MT. Carlton; I have already left you once, and now must leave you again, but only for minute or 80, and my daughter is here and will bear you company"
 This said, he left them. Carlton was by her side in a moment as she, shrinking away from him, stood where her father had left her, close by the door, not daring to raise her eyes from the ground. "Miss Falkland" he ex- claimed, "do you mind shaking hands with fool?"
 She left his outstretched hand un- grasped-she never 90 much as raised her eyes from the ground.
 "You are angry with me, and no wonder"
 ,"Angry, with you, no; only so ashamedp p
 q am the one who ought to be ashamed"
 She shook her head. "What you said was quite true"
 "On the contrary, you are living refutation of every word l uttered. Never in my life have I seen any one who so completely realized my high est ideal of womanhood. Won't you shake hands, and be as if this had never been?"
 She half raised her hand, let it fall again, and burst into tears. "It was such horrible thing to dol 1" she said, faintly.
 "It was quite right to do it," he in- terrupted. "Now that I have been round the garden with your father, and have seen the lilacs-"
 "Oh, don't-don't talk of them-ofl it-of anything P cried Miss Falkland in her anguish.
 "I don't want to talk of them. I want to tell you that I love you-that l have loved you for weeks. I want to ask you"
 Suddenly the door opened and Mir. Falkland half entered the room. He must have heard the last words-he must have seen something in their faces which showed that he had re- turned at a very unfortunate moment, for, mutteriDg, "Dear me, how stupid am; have forgotten to tell Jackson something," he abruptly retreated. When, some twenty minutes later, after hearing his daughter go to her own room, he did return to the draw ing. room and MT. Carlton, he found himself in the presence ofa man whose one anxiety was to be his sOn-in-law -Loagmdn's Magazine.