The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-02
IN A FLASH.


When first I remember nv Aun
Barbara, she was over forty wears o.
age; but she could never have been ac
counted handsome woman. She wa,
very tall and very angular, with long
thin face, the most remarkable feature
OF which was Roman nose of com.
manding proportions. But as she had
one OF the kindest hearts in the world,
her Faucity of good looks seemed a
matter or triiing moment to those who
had the privilege OF knowing her well.
1t was at my request that, some two or
three years before her death, she wrote
out the following narrative OF an actual
occurrence in her early life. | put the
manuscript away at the time. and did
not come across it again till the Other
day. On looking over it once more. it
seemed to ne not unworthy of being
transcribed for wider circle Of readers
than that comprised by the writer s
immediate friends and acquaintances
You ask me to 90 back in memory
(begiEs my aunt to what seems to NE
ROW like period Of remote antiquity,
when /, Barbara Waldron. was twenty
four wears of age, and my sister Bessie
five wears younger, and endeavor to
pgt down in writing the little story
tod you by word CT mouth Il few DAYS
ago
You must know, then, that in those
iar-oT days my sister and ! were keep
Ing house for our brother John, who
ri lnat time filled the position o. stew
ard and land agent to Lord Dorrington.
The house we lived in was a pleasant
but somewhat lonely residence, about
half mile from the little country town
OF Lcvensfe!d. The house suited us
for several reasons. In the first place.
the rent was low; in the next. q LARGE
walled garden was attached to it, in
which Bessie and | spent MANY happy
hours; and in the third place, there was
q side entrance 20 DOrrington Park. bv
which my brother could take short
cut to the Hall whenever he had bust
ass with His Lordship or His Lordship
had business with him. Our household
was q small one, and besides ourselves
comprised only Mary Gibbs, middle
aged woman and her niece, a girl of
sixteen. Johns horse and gig were
looked after by a young man named
Reuben Gates, who did not, however,
sleep on the premises. An important
part OF Johns duties was to receive and
pay into the Levenslield bank the rents
due from the farmers and other tenants
OF property held under Lord Dorring-
ton. One snch tenant was a certain
MIR. Shillito, a corn and seed merchant,
who was noted for EA; eccentricitieS. 1t
was only in keeping with Mr.. Shillito's
ag@ravating way of doing business
that he should never pay his rent at
the time other people paid theirs; that
he should always pay it in gold and
notes instead of giving check for the
amount, as he was quite in a position
10 have done, and that he should make
a point of bringing it himself, instead
of naming a time when my brother
might have called upon him; and
finally, that he seldom arrived with the
money till after banking hours.
We come now to certain autumn
evening. Kitty had Just brought in the
tca-tray. Il was growing dusk, al
most too dusk 10 see clearly without the
lamp, but Bessie and | liked to econo-
mize the daylight as much as possible,
especially now since the long winter
nights were so close upon US. John
had come in for cup OF tea This
evening he was going to drive over to
Eethercroft, some ten miles away, dine
there with some friends and stay all
night After dinner there was to be
dance, and I was not without my sus.
piciOns as TO the nature of the attrac-
lion which was taking him so far from
home. although he laughingly pooh
VOohed the soft impeachment when I
challenged him with it. John was in
the act of putting down his cup and
saucer when we heard Z noise of wheels
outside, which presently came to q.
stand opposite the house. He crossed
the room and peered through the win
dow.
''lt's old Shillito. come to pay his
rent" he remarked a moment later.
1.-Two hours after banking time, as
usual. What a nuisance he isr' He
went down stairs, and about ten min
u;es later we heard Mr. Shillito'S trap
start of. Presently John came back.
NINETY pouGds, all in gold and notes. "
he said. I've had to lock it up in my
desk till morning
l may remark that iron safes for the
custody OF money and other valuables
were by no means so common in those
days, especially in cut-of-the way coun-
try-places, as they appear to have since
become.
But the money will be quite safe
in your desk, wont i, John?" asked
Bessie.
'Safe enough without doubt, seeing
that no one but ourselves knows of is
presence there. Only, IS q matter of
business, l should prefer to have had it
IL the coolers OF the bank" Presently
be added: The old fellow was half
seas over, rs he generally is; and l
have no dOubt, with so many houses OF
call by the way, that he will be soaked
through and through before he reaches
home [ wonderif he goes to bed sober
night in his life?'
A few minutes later John kissed rs
and bade us good night Bessie and
went to the window to see him start:
but by this time it was nearly dark.
de waved his whip at us as soon as he
had settled himself in his seat, then he
gave the reins little shake. Black
BcryFS heels struck fire from the stones
as she sprang forward, the gravel
scrunched beneath the wheels, and S
moment later the shadows of evening
had swallowed up horse and gig and
driver. My sister and pulled down
The blinds and drew the curtains and
rang for Kitty to bring in the lamp. n
The evening passed after our usual
quiet fashion. We worked little and
read little and played some half-dozen
duets, and chatted between times. till