The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-03

I IT. Mrs Fowler was a dstinctively pretty woman, but not pleasing one. Her expression lacked | frankness, and her manner suggested an almost morbid vanity. She had a little air of making a speech every time she opened her thin lips. Miss Fowler was simply lovely, and far too charming to be married for her money. Captain Fowler was palpably under his wife's thumb-a chinless being whose fluid character evidently took the impress of the strongest hand that grasped it. "A hopeless case" thought Horace after the first few minutes talk with his hostess. "This woman is an arrant snob, and the bare idea of becoming mother in- law to a viscount has turned her weak brain she won't give in."
 Presently the conversation, which was somewha general turned upon defective postal arrangements. One of the American ladies had lately posted with her own fair hands, letter to friend in the Re- gents Park that had never reached its destination "Think how many an important communication may have been lost !" she exclaimed. "Letters are never lost" said Captain Fowler, speaking with all the assertive temerity of the weak "If letter is rightly addressed and posted, it is delivered"
 "Not always" interrupted Horace. "I could tell a curious story"
 "Ashton tells story awfully well," exclaimed Humphrey Challoner.
 "Please tell us your story, MT. Ashton" mur- mured Mrs. Fowler in patronizirg tone.
 "It is an incident, an episode, rather than a story" said Horace. "A story we are told demands three things-a beginning, middle and an ending. My tale has only beginning. And now to begin; and must make it short, for the hour is late.
 One November day, some five years ago, hap pened to come in earlier than usual, at about four p. m., feeling very tired and desperately sleepy. ordered tea to be brought up at once, but before had finished my Fecond cup fell fast asleep, with newspaper and some letters that my servant had just handed me lying in my lap unopened, and my fox terrier, Nell, dozing at my feet. must have Elenf hOur VI | d. denly awoke with & violent start that sent both newspaper and letters flying on to the rug, the former bursting its cover in the fall.
 "When 1 had sufficiently recovered from tho shock of this rude awakening to make any move l stopped down and picked up the letter that was nearest to me, and which happened to be lying seal upPermost, and without even glancing at the address, tore open the envelope and proceeded to read its contents They were startling, l must admit"
 "Wss the letter from lady or gentleman Mir. Ashton2" asked one of the Americans.
 "From the former, and 1t stated that being weary of lite and unable to bmit any longer to paternal tyranny, she intended to avail herself of her dar- lngs oft-repeated request that she should fly with him, and that she therefore, requested him to meet her, 'at the terminus here (where here might be know not, for there was neither date address ffixed) on Tuesday next at 4:15. 1 had scarcely had time to finish the letter, to wonder who could have written it to me, when my servant en- tered with telegram demanding an immediate answer. While was framing my reply Cuthbert busied himself with making up the fire, and in 30 doing came into active collision with Nell, whom he never could manage-and who at once began to bark in a way that drove me nearly wild. As soon as my telegram was dispatched looked round for the cover of the mysterious epistle, which 1 had decided by that time ought never to have fallen into my hands, but it was nowhere to be seen. asked Cuthbert if he had noticed it-a long white envelope.
 "I suppose sir,' he answered in aggrieved tone, for he and l were often at issue where Nell was concerned, 'that that was what the dog had got hold of just now. did try to take it from her, but know you don't like to hear her bark. She dropped it at last, and threw it into the fre but it was just mere pulp then. You couldn't have read what was written on it,