The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-08

666u 0lm DO1OI0-Lue uOOT was Op00eO, and Mrs. Wigram came in. I sank back from the screen. I think some words passed, some greeting of the most formal, but though the room was still, I failed to hear it, and when I recovered myself he was speaking.
 "I am here at your wish, Mrs. Wig ram, and your service, too," he was saying, with an effort at gallantry which sat very i'll upon him, "al- though think it would have been better if we had left the matter to our solicitors"
 "Indeed2"
 "Yes. tancied you were aware of my opinion"
 "I was and I perfectly understand, Lord Wetherby, your preference for that course," she replied, with sar- castle coldness, which did not hide her dislike for him. "You naturally shrink from telling me your terms face to face"
 "Now, Mrs. Wigraml Now, Mrs. Wigram! Is not this tone to be de- precated7" he answered, lifting his hands. "I come to you as a man of business upon business"
 "Business! Does that mean wiring ing advantage from my weakness?" she retorted.
 He shrugged his shoulders. "I do deprecate this tone," he repeated. "I come in plain English to make you sn offer, one which you can accept or re- fuse as you please. I offer you five hundred year for this house. It is immensely too large for your needs, and too expensive for your income, and yet you have in strictness no power to let it. Very well; I who can release you from that restriction, offer you five hundred year for the house. What can be more fair?"
 "Fair2 In plain English, Lord Wetherby, you are the only possible purchaser, and you fix the price. Is that fair? The house would let easily for 1, 200 pounds"
 Possibly" he retcrted, Eff it were in the open market. But it is not"
 "No," she answered rapidly. "And you, having the 10000 pounds year which had my husband lived, would have been his and mine; you whoa poor man, have stepped into this inherit ance-you offer me 500 pounds for the family housel For shame, my lord 1 for shame p
 "We are not acting play" he said, doggedly, showing that her words had stung him in some degree. "The law is the law. ask for nothing but my rights, and one of those am will ling to waive in your favor. You have my offer."
 "And if refuse it? If I let the house9 You will not dare to enforce the restriction"
 "Try me-" he rejoined, again drum ming with his fingers upon the table. "Try me and you will see."
 "If my husband had lived -"
 "But he did not live," he broke in, losing patience, land that makes ali the difference. Now, for heavens sake, Mrs. Wigram, do not make scene! Do you accept my offer?"
 For moment she had seemed about to break down, but her pride coming to the rescue she recovered herself with wonderful quickness.
 "I have no choice," she said with dignity.
 "I am glad you accept" he an- swered, SO much relieved that he gave way to an absurd burst of generosity. "Come!" he cried, "we will say guineas instead of pounds, and have done with it!"
 She looked at him in wonder. "No, Lord Wetherby," she said, "I ac- cepted your terms. I prefer to keep to them. You said that you would bring the necessary papers with you. If you have done so will sign them now, and my servants can witness them"
 "I have the draft, and the lawyers clerk is, no doubt, in the house," he answered. "l left directions for him to be here at eleven"
 "I do not think he is in the house.o the lady answered. "I should know if he were here."
 "Not here p he cried angrily. "Why not, wonderi But I have the skele- ton lease; it is very short, and to save delay will fill in the particulars, names, and so forth, myself, if you will permit me to do 30. It will not take me twenty minutes"
 GAS you please. You will find pen and ink on the table. If you will kindly ring the bell when you are ready will come and bring the serv- ants."
 "Thank you. You are very good" he said smoothly; adding, when she had left the room, land the devil take your impudence, madam. As for your cursed pride-well, it has saved me twenty-five pounds year, and SO you are welcome to 1t. was fool to make the offer."