The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11

lovers heart? There was only one
explanation possible. She had not yet
caught sight of my note. l wished l
had had the courage to pin it upon the
top of the cushion instead of concealing
it beneath. But as we stood behind our
chairs waiting, according to the family
custom. for the entrance of my grand
| father, Miss Lincoln turned to M with
her little, professional air of staid dig
nity and said, as she drew out my ideE-
:ical poem from her pocket:
You were early in passing in your
composition, Ralph. l said they need
not be ready before Friday afternoon.
1 have corrected this. however, although
~ had not my blue pencil with me,
you must notice that Ihave drawn red
line under botf fhe misspelled words
and the errors n grammatical construc-
ton. l have made cross against sew
eral false rhymes and the most seriously
defective rhythms. 1t is pretty effort,
l think. and you have improved greatly
in punctuation.
Nv disgust and chagrin admitted Of
no words. The only love-letter l ever
wrote or ever shall. crushed hurriedly
into my pocket, and was grateful that
the arrival of my grandfather diverted
attention from my crimson cheeks.
He entered with his most stately air,
and l readily perceived that his delay
was due to extra attention bestowed
upon his toilet He had the natural
gallantry of a seaman and astonishcd
Miss Lincoln b. kissing her pale brow
| delihpra.a with the wOr Is.
Dear madame, allow me to salute
YOU" He performed the same ceremony
in connection with my mother, who sub
mitted gracefully, as she had done fol-
nearly twenty years, never daring to
cross her husbands father, of whom she
stood in an awe even deeper than my
own. The quaint courtesy of his man,
ner, too. recommended his greetings.
OF me he took, as usual, no: the slightest
notice.
My grandfather having politely seated
his guest, proceeded to draw Oh: his OWE
ponderou5 armchair, signal at which
nv mother and | ventured to take Oul
places. and while old Cap n Reuben was
addressing Miss Lincoln in his deef
tones, my mother poured the coffee and
served Us all in turn, expressing her Sc
cret tenderness for me and her uneasy
consciousness of some trouble in my
face, by heaping a very pyramid OF the
brownest buckwheatI cakes upon my
plate.
You are. my dear young madam, y
nv grandfather was saying, engaged
| believe. in the occupation of teaching.
Having heard that old Cap'n Reuben
was exceedingly deaf, Miss Lincoln
bowed silently in answer.
AN honorable occupation" con
tiaued my grandfather; pray tell MT
how many pupils have the happiness OF
being under your instruction at present >
About thirty" replied the teacher,
raising her silvery voice.
But the Old man shook his heat
mournfully.
Il do not hear you, madam. l have
, listened too long to the roar of stor m!
seas. The crash OF winds anC
waves fills my ears continually
and renders it hard for an
human voice to reach me. | have sailed
the seas, dear madam, for over half ;
century, and | should have found ;
t crave long since beneath their tides
There my father sleeps and his brave
father before him,-both stalwart meI
IN their time and the doors of many &;
, worthy deed. And my son, who rankc,
: with the best of his race. who sailet
, from this port, on his twenty-lirSt birth
day. Captain of as fine whaler rs ever
, rode the waYcs-my son is gone be
fore. 1t is not often that You see. per
haps, family on New England soil 81
proud of pedigree. But my ancestor.
/ were bold and hardy sailors whoS(
, names will not lightly perish. All
NADINE, it is a thousand piticS that the
bio ID of the RainfordS flows no more, fol
| am old man now and mine is already
turning to ice within my veins"
Amidst all my tuning rage and NOR
, tiiication. | could see, with certain
habitual pride il my grandfather. thai
Miss Lincoln, now meeting him for tbs
first time. was strongly impressed by hi.
words and manner. The ancient Frencl
descent OF our family was apparent IL
his cOu~tly bearing, made more emphatic
by the lcrdly air that years of sover
eighty on board his ship had given him
But As he sadly shook his snowy head
{ lamenting for his scattering race sool
to become extinct, my teacher, forget
ting his iniirmitv, fastened to say, nod
dine and smiling toward me: But herr
, is Ralph. Captain Rainford, good DO,
and Is bright as need b. 1T his lessons
/ whenever he chooses to study"
: He will always persist liz seeing m
against the background of black
board and a map" | groaned inwardly
while my poor mother, who so seldom
: heard syllable in my praise, grew
radiant with pleasure and deluge3 m.
cakes with a fresh supply of syrup.
NY grandfather had not heard tn
, teachers words. but he followed he
t glance and said, bending his shagg.
: brows upon ME with frown:
Nay, madame, the Rainford me:
, have passed away. The lad feature
5 my son, but only as a shadow in til
glass. Manhood is declared in action
and this mopish girl in pantaloonS-
dear madame. pray excuse the term
is but the hollow echo of voices hear,
. no more. His arms are pipe stems ant
; his hands are claws. He has never DON
a deed. nor can, nor will. He bears tn
, Rainford ewes and hair, and dwcIlS be
meath the Rainford roof, but as useless
t " as a picture on the wall. The me-
of nv name, dear madame. sleep il
| ocean graves, all save myself, whom
death has, maybe, forgotten, fer neve
| yet has tie spoiler sought n Rainford o.
2 land. All! if my son had left son, an'
| not doll, behind him. | would vet sai
tha Saas ooop more and he buriau Uhcr
r my father sleeps. il the far Accti
Ocean. with an iceberg for my Onl
: monument"