The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-18


ornition in the world OF art.
And You have never heard Of,,Ma-
bells PAINTINGS until now?" asked Tom.
mo" l confessed. "YOu know ]
have been quite absorbed in my special
studies"
Yes, and you have not seen Mabel
for ever so long. have you?'
NO." 1 replied, mot since that sum-
mer ten years ago, when was at my
grandmother
Jolly times we had, too" said Tom.
re1ectively. Remember that party at
Mrs. Edwards ?''
A sudden rush of blood to my face
utterly confused me. [ stammered a
reply, and Tom, to my relief, went on
with some rambling "reminiscences. 1t
was some seconds before 1 dared &c
look at Mabel. Surely she was blush
ing, too.
The next morning we all went on Q
trip up the slopes of the mountain.
Mabel in short, gray suit, alpine hat
and stout boots: Tom carrying her
drawing materials. Thus we made
this any many another delightful expe-
dition.
Life took on new colors for me-
There was radiance and glory about
it that had never dreamed of before
Every day found fresh reason for adj
miring my beautiful companion, and
our walks through the deep valleys and
up the rough mountain sides were tC
me like enchanted journeys through a
realm of fairies. In this lOvel;est cOun-
try in the world, with this most
glorious woman by my si1e, / was, in
deed, as one transtigured by the light
of the grand passion that took possession
of my soul.
AT first | knew not what had besallen
me. l thought Only that my pleasure
in MabePs society sprang from 4 SINH
larity Of tastes and pursuits and the
cham of her conversation: but gradu-
ally | woke to the overwhelming fact
that loved her with the one great love
of my life, that seemed to NE now tC
date from the days Of long ago, to have
been always with me. and to strett h
out into the future to make it transcend
e-tly glorious, or long despair.
And yet as soon as | had learned my
own secret, my former bashfulness came
back upon me with tenfold intensity.
and found myself often embarrassed
in her presence, while at the thought OF
telling her my heart story, though my
brain was smitten through with dazzling
delight at the dream of successful WOO,
ing: yet was so overwhelmed that ut
terance would, as l was sure, be an I'M
possibility.
And Mabel? Her eyes were very
kind to me. They turned to me with
softened lUster that thrilled me with
hope: and yet if 1 attempted even a
compliment, | blushe |, floundered, AID
was lost.
One evening we were talking of all
manner of subjects. grave and gay. and
SO strayed to marriage, in general, end
to the matrimonial lot OF
some of our old friends.
You remember Boyd, don't You,
Hill?" asked Tom.
''Tall, bashful fellow like me-" l adj
ded.
Yes" replied Tom, laughing, "He
Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher. [ always thought she proposed
to him.
Sensible girl I exclaimed 81
think it is positively a woman's duty
som etimes to help man out. You re-
member that book of the late DR.. Hor-
ace Bushnell, published some years
ago, called "A Reform against Nature?'
In it he denounced the whole woman's
rights movement, but maintained that
every woman ought to have the right
to propose MARI age TO the man
she liked. [ think he was scientifically
correct"
spoke with great eagerneSs, looking
always at Tom: but at the last word.
my glance turned TO Mabel; her eve:
were fixed on mine, and the look | met
there sent the blood to my heart with
such a swift, tumultuous rush, that ]
grew faint with confusion, and present
~ rushed out of the room and to bed
though not to sleep.
The next day | went out in the after
noon by myself for scramble through
a damp and very rough gorge, where
Tom and Mabel did not care to accom-
pany me. was half glad to be alone.
for | was nervous over my audacity OF
the night before; yet at thought of Ma
bells kindly eyes, so overwhelmed with
happiness, that [ had to look
many times at bit of rock before |
could see the stri9 that denoted glacial
action.
1t was late sunset when I reached the
inn. The last rosy light was flushing
the distant mountain peaks with that
marvellous beauty which is one of the
wOndrous charms of Swiss scenery. ]
made my way without pause to Mabers
parlor, led there by force that seemed
to draw me by power beyond my con-
troll. The room was quite dusk and
she was alone. AS l entered she came
toward me with quantity of letters
and papers in her hands.
"These came while you were away"
she said.
Mechanically I took the papers.
Among them there was large package
on which l dimly discerned the word
due" followed by an illegible stamp.
''Yod have paid something on this"
said; show much was it?" and looked
up
Postage not stated" replied Mabel
Promptly, smilingly, she uttered the
words. Then her dark eyes softeneC
and faltered. The papers and letters
were scattered over the floor. [ had
caught her in my arms with al the au.
tbo+ boI Ioo, Iofo,o