The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-03

anu 1he quiNeT III Der VOICE supplIeu Ine
reason.
"Are you going to school:'' 1 ventured tc
say.
"Weu, yes and no: 1 am going to q
schOn', bu5 to teach as well as to learn
there i was silent; and after minute
| she alded: AT home il isn't as it used tr
! be. PaDa has married another wife.
have lost nay mother-she died when l was
a baby"
"AhH' 1 said, by way of consolation
''that is sad loss to anybody"
She nodded her head afirmatively.
"She-the other One-knows that have
nobody but papa; il is cruel of her." she
| said, ''tO send me away"
so! but you must not take it like that
| il seemed TO me that any excuse that re-
| moved her from that shady-loOking fathers
! influence ought to be counted fortunate
| circumstance-"I dare say they thought go
| ing to school again might be good for you"
The rosy button was pursed up to show
that its owner did not share my opinion.
az do not believe that l speak English
with such bad accent" she said, pouting-
| w: "do you find that | do, monsieur
what do you think~
| Because laughed she turned away her
head vexedly, the truth being that what
did think was that this was the most be-
witching little monkey l had ever in my
| life come across. Il was nv first expert
|
| the fascination was irresistible.
'You laugh at me-" she said, reproach-
| fully, "and that is what they will all do. l
| told papa so, and he said no. He likes the
| English; that is why got into this carriage
with you; he thought perhaps you might
be going the whole wav-are you"
eyes, am going to London"
$50 am l."
.Then we shall cross together"
"Cross the seal" She clasped her hands
tightly. 20! | am So frightened of the sea
the thought Of being alone on the water
territieS me-"
But" said, 'you won't be alone-that
i il You will permit me to take the charge
| of YOU"
She shook her head doubtfully. so,
thanks. but | should not dare TO trouble
you. Papa himselfalways gets angry with
me, | cannot help it. l say TO myself, this
time [ VIII be brave; but my foot on the
ship, an !''-her face expressed now her
courage melted-''if | cannot find some
| body whom can hold on to tight, l feel
must die"
''You stall hold on to me like grim
| death" | said, laughing encouragingly.
eve are due at Dieppe by two o'clock;
that gives US plenoy Of time for good
! luncheon before We start" Something in
| her look made me add: so. you mast
eat; besides, YOU tell me you have had no
y
Yes, am; only papa said was TO go
| on board Immediately"
Every likely he forgot about your want
| ing something after this journey"
mo, dOn'L think it was that" she said,
| with sly hesitation: "but, frankly, mon
| sieur. we are not rich, and before saying
yes, l think must count my money"
Already | had closed my hand over hers
and the shabby little purse it held, which,
while speaking, she had drawn ont of her
pocket. Now" | said in return for the
care | mean to take of you, you must do
me a favor. | am an Old bachelor, you
| must know, and very seldom ge5 the chance
of young lady'S society; Whenever | do |
always make il point that she shall have
luncheon with me-"
Really! but that is very nice of you"
80! Pm despot in that respectn'
'But it's very fortunate for me that you
are SO''-and she clapprd her hands gaily-
''for do you know That | could eat you, and
| have nothing bu- Il pa ,iet of bon-bOnS in
my pocket to satisfy me-" and divpd her
hand down III >eaTcl of them. so! what
did [ do with NV NJ 'lev" she exclaimed
suddenly. "Ah, here it is; get into such
Il fright because | think ! have lost it.
Papa told me t. be very careful, and so
am; but don't know where to put it"
at often strikes me that ladies are 2ery
badly off for pockets" | said.
her jacket. ~ have one there, one there
and zone in the skirt of my dress-how
many have you%'
40, the number of mine is LEGION" and
pointed to my outer coat; mot that l
should think of carrying money about with
me there"
"Wouidn't you? Where would you put
il, then"'
1 took out some of the loose coin l had
and held it in my hand to show her.
"What, without any purse"
81 never carry purse with me-"
And all the money you have you carry
like that?"
"Yes, all that 1 want for daily use do.
Of course, in travelling one is forced to have
more about one, but that l keep in place
of safety"
"Out of sight-hidden away" she said,
confidentially. Eyes, that is what | ought
to have pocket that no one could get at;
and it might he done in this lining, l should
say"-aud unhGttoned her jacket so that
l might give an opinion.
"Periectly; you have only to stitch
stout piece of stuff on tllat-1on't Won see?"
'YeS-it would bulge cut, though"
"NOt if done properly"
doc n'r vOurs!'
"No-nline seems fiat enough:" and fur
Their turned open the flap of my coat, lit
tie amused az her curiosity. The little
pockrt-no0ll: and then, looking up, she sud
denly recoiiected hesSelf. so, pardon!
pray excuse mo, for the moment I forgot
| am - accustomed to papa that" She
heSitated, and found nothing to say. Pos
itively fer the first time in my life the
thorn that | was no longer young ran its
point into me. OF course, 4 girl of that age
would loo}, unOn me as her father-why
shouldn't she?
Fearing that my silence would make her
think that she had offended me, pulled
the note case ont and opened it wide.
"You see" l said, ''that mine is a more
portable form of money!" and | unfolded
the roll of crisp notes that had been given
at the exchange Office. But her propriety
had evidently taken fright, and though she
smiled at me, she cast no more than a
glance in the direction of the money.
What an unaccountable being is man!
full of strange surprises for himself as
well as for other people. Here had been
running at large for six months or so, see
ing every day fresh faces and being
brought into contact with women, young,
pleasant, good looking, who had made not
the slightest impression on me, had failed
even to whet my curiosity to the point of
asking who they were, or wanting TO know
what had become of them, and suddenly,
after few hours spent with this school
girl, l was enslaved-charmed with her
society; and felt miserable to think how
soon I should have to part with her.
expect the waiter reckened me up TO a
farthing when he spoke of madame" to
me; and didn't the fellow Singer in his
sleeves at the liberal tip 1 gave him? At
the time l was vastly amused by the idea
of his supposing such child could be my
wife; and should not like TO be bound by
a solemn affidavit to affirm that no blush
warmed my cheeks at the suppoSition that
If was nv wife she was taken for
1t was but natural that l should give her
my arm, for we were just going on board
the steamer, where had promised TO take
care of her; and never did bridegroom,