The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15

n8ppy. Inc ulatCn IS Bu1CaDl6 Tn every way; he is certain to distin- guish himself at the bar, she is as good as she is pretty"
 "Well, perhaps I had better say nothing" said Mrs. Varley drowsily, and here for the moment the matter ended.
 But the first Wednesday that came after this found Miss Falkland 60 dis satisfied with the situation that she resolved to escape from the discom- fort of it by confessing the truth. She would reveal to MT. Carlton that hers was the hand that dealt the blow, and trust to his generosity to forget it. If he were unable to do 30, he would be equally unable six months hence, and the sooner she knew it the better. She felt so much happier when she had taken this resolution that she care fully selected her prettiest dress and bonnet, and walked in her brave at tire to the Varleys', though black clouds were grouping themselves to- gether ominously in the sky and few drops of rain were falling.
 No carriage for her that day. He would possibly be in the balcony? he often was when she arrived there. Could he be looking out for her? If he were there to-day, he would see her arrive on foot, and would doubt less propose to accompany her home. How far would he walk with her? On the way she would tell him what was on her mind, and if, after that, he continued to walk with her and was as friendly as before, surely all would be well. By the time she reached the Varleys' some of her courage had oozed out at her finger tips, but it was not to be put to the proof till she went home, and the respite was most acceptable.
 She could see that he was in the balcony-she could even see how pleased he looked when he caught sight of her. Were it not for that confession, how happy she would now be! Suppose, after she had made it, she saw distinct change in his man. ner-say, for instance, cold polite ness, emphasized perhaps for the sake of making 8 person who had no good breeding of her own apprehend that politeness was being shown her. Full of these tormenting thoughts, and struggling with desire to flee away to her own home and be at rest, she slowly and doubtfully ascended the stairs and reluctantly entered the drawing room. He had studied her face so thoroughly that he could see she was uneasy about something.
 Something has distressed you," he said, when he found an opportunity of speaking without being heard by all.
 "Is distressing me, you mean," she answered; 1 will tell you about it presently"
 "Tell me now"
 "No, there are SO many people here to-day. can't tell you without be- ing overheard"
 "You walked here; are you going to walk back?"
 "Yes, am going to walk back" She spoke as mournfully as if that walk would conduct her to some gloomy prison.
 "Mayn't go part of the way with you, then? You have never allowed me to walk even the length of this street with you"
 "You shall walk with me to-day" she answered, but there was nothing in her voice to lead him to think that she looked forward with any pleasure to this walk.
 When Miss Falkland left, no one particularly remarked that MT. Carl ton followed her almost immediately. When he went into the hall she was still there, trying to find her um- brella.
 "What kind of handle has it?" he asked.
 She began to tell him, and at once remembered that 1t was the self same umbrella with which she had struck him, and that he might recognize it. In another moment she had caught sight of it lurking among a little sheaf of less noticeable ones in a dark corner, her hand had closed over the blue knob, and she had hidden it away from his sight. That umbrella was not to be allowed to reveal the tale which she herself had come forth to tell. Once outside the house, he looked in her face to see if it were again un- clouded. It was not. She was won- deriDg how much comparatively undisturbed happiness she might allow herself before acquainting him with what might alter their relations for ever. Sutherland Villa was mile of. St. Luke's church was about a third of the way; she would walk to that church and tell him there.
 He was, perhaps, counting up the amount of pleasure in store for him, for he asked, "Whereabouts in Ken sington is Sutherland Villa?n
 af am afraid it would be difficult to