The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-28

tanceships, had been, in reality, soli- tary and self contained. And now, unexpectedly coming down from the skies as it were, behold family ties, hearts which were his own by the very fact of kindred, a tender, human sympathy which belonged to him of right, without any effort of his own to secure it. He began even to feel jealous of attempts to alter the exist ing state of affairs, and especially of those of his friends who suggested themselves as admirers of Denise.
 And MT. Nesbet, Clara's father, had almost come to pose in this character
 The two girls, Clara and Denise, had come to be enthusiastic friends. Clara would hardly let day pass without seeing Denise and her child ren. Young Levison, too, was gener- ally in close attendance upon Clara, a jovial, good natured little fellow, who was always devising schemes of amusement, and whom the little ones positively adored.
 | But MT. Nesbet was growing quite sentimental and melancholy. Certainly
 
 pathetic with him; she admired his strong potential figure, which sug- gested a patriarchial kind of author ity. But when she became conscious that his feelings in her regard were not altogether paternal, she recoiled little from his attentions. Already she had married once to order, and one for whom she had entertained no warmer feelings than doubtful kind of respect. Was it to be her fate never to know the emotions of a real passion? But the advantages were undeniable. Nesbet was rich; her children would be well provided for; as to that she could make her condi- tions.
 "It's such pity" said Clara to her friend one day. She was spending the afternoon in Bloomsbury, and dinner party was in prospect, where Nesbet and several others were expected. "It is such pity that you should be his stepmother. You would have suited Robert so admirably as his wife. When 1 see you together I always think you the most charming couple"
 "Ma chere!" cried Denise, blushing to the roots of her hair. "How can you suggest such dreadful things?"
 "Not dreadful at all," continued Clara, boldly. 'It is only our mar row way of seeing them. There are some races, the Mongols, fancy, where the son, when the father dies, takes over his wives as a matter of course"
 Denise put her hand over Clara's mouth, and put stop to her remarks. But they had produced certain effect quite different fnom what the speaker intended. They opened Denise's eyes. She felt that she was growing too fond of Robert; their sympathies, their affections were growing together; and, ill fact, the position was one that could not be indefinitely continued.
 "I must escape" said Denise herself, land if MT. Nesbet shows me the way of escape, I must accept it."
 Meantime Denise, putting aside her anxious mood, was busy and perplexed over the preparations for the dinner party. Robert had hoped that it would have been festival of concilia- tion, for Lady Jones had been invited specially invited by joint letter from Denise and Robert. But Lady Jones replied, and not ill-naturedly, that she had not sufficiently recovered her temper to see either ot them with any pleasure just yet. Then Mrs. Bas- set had been very troublesome. She had fought hard against the new con- dition of things; but Denise had man. aged to establish her authority. The dinner was provided from outside, but Basset was to organize the waiting and Basset had disappeared. Accord ing to his wife, he had been summoned to the dying bed of an aunt; but even Mrs. Basset seemed not to be inspired with strong conviction as to the aunt. And Basset had taken with him the key of the plate e-chest-the chest being an iron safe, which was designed to set burglars at defiance, and which was now equally impervious to its lawful possessors.
 Happily young Levison was at hand, and was dispatched to Higbgate to bring all available and necessary plate from "The Elms." And there was nothing lacking at the dinner ta- ble to an ordinary observer, although Robert noticed at once the absence of his own familiar belongings.
 "The Bassets must clear out" said Robert, when Denise explained to him the state of affairs.
 "Do not paft with the Bassets," said Denise. "They know your ways, and when am gone they will be better behaved"
 "But you are not going?" said Rob- ert.
 "Alas, must go !" said Denise, sadly. "You have been very good to me, Robert, and we have been very happy,