The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-09

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appliances, boats. rugs, dishes. ham,
pers and hammocts, and the little bum
ble-bee of a boat buzzed away. And it
was the beginning of the last day.
Ellington became but the shadow of
the young goddess. He directed her
choice of view for the picture. He car
ried her impedimenta. If she walked.
he walked; if she rested. he rested.
Johnny was also a shadow. if anything
can be said to be shadow that literally
surrounds its object. He had never
been more strenuous or eXacting, and
had never quite so desperately irritated
Ellington. But Fanny was patient and
indulgent, and did not seem to mind,
but rather to like, the nuisance.
Fan, see that treen' cred Johnny;
sit bends way over the water. May
climb it?''
20, no, Johnny, it isn't SAFE
ut is perfectly safe" interrupted
Ellington. II should like to 60 out on
those limbs myself
Hi" yelled the savage at this en-
couragement, and off he ran to do the
very thing most likely to keep people
uneasy.
Ellington was relieved and set about
making himself captivating. o, the
blessed quiet of the cool. green woods,
with the pine needles under foot. the
whispering boughs overhead and no
small boy to interrupt.
''Aiiss Fanny, our summers happi-
ness is nearly done"
Eyes, it is September
40, h.v IN +lx- hut T
away more reluctantly"
"And see how brown 1 am-see my
hand" and she held it up, smiling.
He caught it fervidly in his.
Splash. shrek.
johnny had climbed the perilous
tree and had fallen from it into the
lake. Fanny sprang up, dropped
sketching board, brushes, ct al, and
down the steep bank she bounded, Ed
ington at break-neck speed behind.
johnny was 1loundering Justify, striking
wildly out with legs and arms, and
struggling and snorting. Fanny would
have plunged into the water but for
Edingtons strong hands which grasped
her Just in time. He set her abruptly
aside and down upon the stones, and
without waiting to throw off his coat or
otherwise prepare himself rushed into
deep water, caught the boy by. his blouse
and dragged him out.
40, Johnny, Johnny" moaned his
sister, beautifully pale, but not hys
terical or Troublesome. When the limp
urchn was laid at her feet she clasped
him in her arms and rocked to and
fro. She did not mind the wet nor even
look at Ellington, who stood shaking
himself like huge Newfoundland dog.
The shrek had brought every member
of the party to the spot in alarm.
Johnny gurgled and gasped, and then
began to cry.
"He's all right said Cragmore.
''WhO got him out?"
'.Mr Ellington" sobbed Fanny,
yielding her dripping charge to her
mother. And ., Mr. Ellington"
going to him impulsively, show can l
thank you? How brave you are -
She put her cold wet hands in his
and looked tearfully into his face. 1t
was irresistible-no one was looking
he stopped and kissed her on her sweet
mouth
1t is needless to tell how they built
huge bonfire, dried themselves as best
they could, made coffee, coddled
Johnny. and whiled away the time
until the tug came at the hour arranged
TO their relief. Ellington was in a
somnambulsm of bliss; Fanny was
blushing and shy. 1t had been a fate
full day. But the evening was more
fatetul still. Ellington and Fanny had
an interview on the moonlit veranda.
1t was not interrupted, for Johnny had
gone TO bed, and nearly all the other
''resorters" had left DAYS before.
At about ten, as Cragmore sat smo-
king before the fireplace in the read
ing Groom, where a wood-ire burned
musingiy, he heard the swish of Fanny's
dress us the two entered the hall to-
gether, she going on up the stairs.
After few moments pause Ellington
entered and took a vacant chair near
his friend. CragmOre would not notice
his coming. He was conscious of a
keen, jealous pain in his heart, and did
not care to confirm his own misery.
at length Ellington broke the silence.
"Cragmore ~
CragmOre looked up to sec Eding-
toms face was OF deadly pallor.
"Why, Ellington" he said.
'See here" said Ellington, pushing
back his hat, and laying his fingers or
his temple, as if about to disclose a
bullet marx. The dark hair showed
unmistakable gray.
''And here. smoothing his mustache,
which was of pronounced grille.
Years" he said. Significantly.
''And yet that little spider caught me
in her web! am q fool. l have been
wOrld-wise for thisl l am middle.
aged, experienced, hardened for thisr'
And he thrust his hands into his
pockets and paced up and down the
floor
''Old fellow" said Cragmore.
touched, do you mean to tell me that
girl-is--a coquet?"
'.Coquetr' laughed Ellington with
bitter sneer. 'Coquet-she's a school
girl! She tells-me she goes back to
school in few weeks"
There was such a strength of scorn in
these accents that Cragmore felt called
upon to defend her.
'She can't help being young" he
said, gently.
Nor | being-the idiot am"
He went up stairs after q little, but
Cragmore heard him pacing, pacing all
night.
in the morning he had important dis
patches. He must 60. 'Good-bye;"
Goodbye all round. heartily. laugh
ingly. Goodbye, Miss fenny." Good
bye, Johnny
I'VE shall never forget that Won
saved Johnny's life said Mrs Roscoe,
half tearfully.