The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-31

indeed the mind that e not touchoo and @0ften0C to view nature robed In her summer garment moving along the valleys or resting upon the hill side in the lengthening shadows of the forest Con. templating the beautiful panorama spread out or every side forgot my disappointment, and co moving slowly forward came ct last, in quite cheerful mind, into the town.
 Occupied by my own thoughts did not at first notice what soon forced itself upon me-that some- thing unusual had occurred to seriously disturb serenity that has almost constant possession of the country town. The people were gathered in small knots at the street corners and before the store doors, engaged in animated converse. Every in- dustry was abandoned. The smithy's fire was dead in the forge; the saw of the carpenter hung with disconsolate air in the undiscovered board goods lay in confusion upon the shop counters teams stood unhitched in the street. The boys abandoned their games to stand a-tiptoe on the edges of the groups, craning their necks to crowd their faces between the shoulders of the closely packed men, fearful lest they lose word or gesture pertaining to the all-absorbing topic. Curious to know what had happened to create such suppressed excitement halted mellow faced, chubby little man putting along the street and asked him tho cause of the citement.
 "Have you not already heard2" he exclaimed in broken German. "Come, then, with me into my shop where we may sit and you shall the story hear"
 1 followed him into a small shoe- shop few doors away, where, giving to me the only stool in the place, he seated himself on low work-ben and continued
 "There was living in this town a very fine young man, who has from childhood here grown up. He was of great kindness and has many generous &C., tions done which made him to the people all very dear. Then, too, there was here a beautiful young lady. Came she among us two years ago, just for to make some friends here e short visit, but never has she gone away again. because that this young man has loved her and married her. There was great rejoicing in the town when the wedding was, and everybody has said how happy they shall be on account as they are both SO good and kind and beautiful That was such c little time ago and yet has he this morning murdered her."
 Murdered herr" exclaimed "impossiblel" l"
 "So 1t should seem," replied the little German, sorrowfully, "and yet 1t is true. Wonder where that clump of trees is growing on the hillside is their cottage About 1t are many flowers and vines There is 6 pretty garden with pleasant walks Every morning when come early to work see them walking together there and they seem 90 happy and loving that my own heart Is lighter all day long for having seen them so. This morn- ing they were there as usual l saw him stoop and pull 6 flower. 1 saw him twine 1t in her bright hair. saw him take her in his arms and kiss her -once, twice, three times and then, even while she smiled up into his eyes, strike her with 2 bright knife-dagger, you call-strike her to the heart, for she slipped from his without word and lay among the flowers, dead at his feet" "Wicked wretch l" cried. "And what reason does he give for his fendish action1"
 "Ahl that is what Is most strange" answered | the snOemaker. "I ran qulckly Into the town and told what had seen. Many returned with me to the garden to find the young husband on his knees by the side of his murdered wife, moaning and stroking her face and hair and calling her tendery to forgive him. Three strong men were none too many to take him away from her, and, going, hii face was turned ever to her. Oh it was sadness itself to see her lying still and white among tho flowers she had loved and tended. The dew drops on their leaves were like tears An God, can ever forget that picture?"
 l He hid his face in his hand and shivered. waited some time, hoping he would renew the re. cital, but seeing him 90 long bowed and silent hesitated to disturb him, and at last came quietly away. It was now nearly time for the train ant
 strolled leisurely toward the station, turning ove in my mind the strange story to which had beer listening. The peculiar manner of the sympatheti,