The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-05-04

woods where the hunters had camped
 My days of recovery were very slow. Miss Hat Elvis Wigglesworth, and had expressed my admi- ration of 1t, yet knew that 1t lacked a certain something, and l had told her %, but still she seemed to think that 1t had no flaws
 Old man Grider and his wife were ever ready to serve me, and even the boys, although they had q lingering suspicion that was . rival were ever anxious concerning my condition.
 One morning Miss Hatton startled me by announcing that she was going away.
 "Why are you going7" asked, when she and I V ere alone. was now able to sit up in bed
 "To the people down stairs I am called home !" she taid "to you-no matter" "l wish you would stay" answered.
 "Hush. No one knows that am going. Of course you selfshly-l won't say that"
 "Say what Tell me?"
 "Oh, nothing. The only reason you want me to stay Is that-oh, what is the use of talking about 1t, any way7"
 "About what, Miss HAttonH"
 "Why do you put so much contempt In the words Miss Hatton" have never done you any wrong"
 "l did not mean to put any stress on your name l"
 "But you did. woman, regardless of all cir cumstances, Is only a woman. Madam de Stael with all of her shrewdness, George Sand with all of her penetration and George Hot with all of her proiundity-all were but women when they were sounded 10 their depths"
 "This," l answered "is an argument against your claim that woman is the equal if not the superior Of man."
 "I don't know that it is for what man Is more than man? Can you expect a woman to be more than woman?"
 "But your former assumption was that woman was really greater than man," rejoined; "but now you are attempting to excuse many of her weaknesses by citing many of her strengths"
 "Oh, the sly dodge of you men, assert that woman has reached the highest pinnacle of fc- tion What do you say to that?"
 "Nothing, for woman has surely climbed high. l"
 "What Is the grandest mode of modern thought?" she asked
 "I believe that fiction is"
 'So do l, for great thinker tells us that the truth we find in fiction is the truest truth that exists. And now who is the greatest-the really greatest exponent of that truth which we find in hction2"
 "I cannot answer that"
 "Don't you think that a woman is2 Knowing that true fiction is the portrayal of actual fe don't you think that woman has come nearer expressing the truth than man has ever done? Don't you think that woman has come nearer doing that which is necessary to life breathing ction-a por trayal of truth-than man has ever done?"
 "No, do not"
 "Of course you don't, but why?"
 "Because 1t is not the truth"
 "No; 1t is because you are man. But won't argue with you yet like to-" she added, smlingly. al know what you are going to ask. You are want ing to know why have given, in my irregular life, 30 much study to this subject. There, now, won't talk any more"
 The days passed with tedious slowness for I was longing for that old home in Kentucky. It seemed Gas 1t must seem to all i'll persons) that grew weaker instead of stronger, yet could not help but know that the days which brought change in the weather brought strength unto me- The teacher took up her school again, st which was pleased, but yet was secretly sorry that she did not devote her whole time to me. She would come into my room at morning and at evening, and although knew that she was an enemy of society, yet her presence always brought agreeableness and her care always produced comfort.
 Day after day my strength returned, and one morning, when I went down into the dining room, found the family assembled to welcome me. Pres ident and Governor, having thrown aside the sus- M \ Ahofm IA