The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-16

pected that my uncle wore . wig. now I had ocular demonstration. His head was as bald as an egg.)
 "Bless my soull" he gasped, with chattering teeth, letting the candle run down on our new Kidderminster, 'this is most ghastly house. refuse to go to bed again, Charles" he con- tinued, excitedly. "I shall sit up all night. My nerves are quite unstrung." Here there was terrific and con- tinuous peal at the front door bell. It rang, and rang, and rang. went down to open flour domestic having gone to bed-and Ella followed me. Hardly had drawn back the bolt when Mir. Carper burst in, disheveled, pant ing, purple with rage, his clothes stained with earth, his hands cut and bleeding. He tore past us upstairs like madman, and on the landing he cannoned violently against Uncle Simon, who was clinging to the stair railing shivering and shaking in his very sketchy attire. To our utter amazement the two old men grasped hands warmly and all but embraced each other.
 "Where on earth did you come from, Carper?" quavered my uncle, almost in tears.
 "Finicker 1" returned the other, in choking voice, I'm glad to see you very glad to see you. Let us leave this internal place now-at once." Then turning to me: "I tell you, Charles Danvers, you will regret the despicable part you have played to- day once, and that, sir, will be all your life. You are low, contempti- ble hound, sir. But see now through your plot to secure both my money and my friend MT. Finicker's. Yes, my friend, I say. You might have saved yourself your lies, sir. And you, too, madam," fiercely, to the pale and trembling Ella. "Mr. Fin ticker and I were foolish enough to quarrel, it is true, but l rejoice to say that we were reconciled 8 week ago. An, you may cry, madam, and you may swear under your breath, sir, but you are an internal young liar, Charles Danvers and your wife is not d W hAO OObtEls 1CuOuHCO NOu UOLA forevern
 "And so do l." chattered Uncle Simon. "We leave this house to- night, late as it is. We can get rooms, without doubt, at the Lowthorpe inn"
 So saying he retired-with as much dignity as his costume would permit ito his room, accompanied by the dilapidated-l looking MT. Carper. Ella went on crying. l simply swore, "not loud, but deep"
 Within ten minutes the two old gentlemen reappeared, equipped for departure. Protestations, explana- tions, apologies were all in vain. Our outraged relatives left the house without deigning to take any further notice of Ella or myself, and as they disappeared into the darkness felt as if every atom of my self-respect went with them.
 draw veil over the narrowing scene which followed.
 My wife and did not speak to each other for at least week after this deplorable evening-but that is a mere detail.
 The failure of Ella's "plan" marked an epoch in my life. It was my last deception. Since then I have been doggedly, uncompromisingly truthful and straightforward in all my words and actions; and I have observed a similar metamorphosis in Ella. If ever, in the future, find out Gregory Simon in lie, shall fog him most unmercifully. We have neither seen nor held any communication with either uncle since that ublucky night. l fear our chances of heirship are gone forever.
 Sic transit glortd mundi! -Belgra- cta.