The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-24

and kiss Ruby just once, by way of
earnest. Ruby took the kiss calmly and
sedatelT: so then knew the matter was
practically settled.
but there's one thing, Mr.. Payne, I
must really insist upon," Ruby said.
very quietly: land that is that I
mustn't be called Mrs. Aikin-Pavne. If
marry you at all, l must ma -ry You
as plain Mr.. Payne without any Akin.
So that's clearly understood between
u.s."
Here was a terrible condition, in
! deed [ reasoned with Ruby, explain
ed to Rubv,I told Ruby that if she posi-
lively insisted upon it, l must go back
to nv three hundred a year. and my
paltry schoolmastership, and must give
up my uncle Atkins money. Ruby
would hear of no refusal.
You have ALWAYS the alternative of
marrying somebody else, you know,
SIr. Payne,' she said. with her most
provoking and bewitching smile, ''but
if you really do want to marry me, you
know the conditions. "
but, Ruby, you would never care to
live upon miserable pittance of three
! hundred year 1 hate the name as
much as YOU do. but | think | should
try to bear it for the sake of twelve hun
dred wear and perfect comfort"
No, Ruby was memorable. Take
me or leave me-" she said with provok.
ing calmness, "but if you take me, give
up your uncle's ridiculous suggestion
You can have three days to make yoU
mind up. Till then, let us hear nc
more about the subject"
During those three days kept up
brisk fire of kilograms with old Blenk-
insopp in Chancery Lane; and at the
end of them l game mournfully to the
conclusion that must either give up
Ruby or give up the twelve hundred a
year If had been hero of romance
1 should have had no difficulty at all in
deciding the matter; | should have
nobly refused the money Of-hand,
counting it as mere dross compared
with the loving heart of beautiful
maiden. But unfortunately | am not
hero of romance; am only an ordinary
graduate of an English University.
| Under these circumstances, it did seem
to me very hard thatI must throw away
twelve hundred vearfor mere senti-
mental fancy. And yet on the other
hand, not only did hate the name my
self, but couldn't bear to impose it on
Ruby; and as to telling Ruby that l
wouldn't have her, because preferred
the money, that was clearly quite
impossible The more l looked the
thing in the face, the more certain ii
appeared that l must relinquish my
dream of wealth and 90 back with
Ruby) to my schOolmastering and my
paltry three hundred, After all, lots OF
other fellows marry on that sum; and
to say the truth, | positively shrank my
self from going through life under the
ridiculous guise of an Aikin-Payne.
The upshot of it all was that at the
end of the three days, L took Ruby a lit
tie walk alone among the olive gardens
behind the shrubbery. ''Ruby," L said
to her falteringly, you're the most fan
tastic, self-willed, imperious little per-
son ever met with, and l want tc
make just one more appeal to you:
Won't you reconsider your decision and
take me in spite of the surname?
Ruby grubbed up little weed with
the point of her parasol, and looked
away from me steadfastly as she an.
swered with her immovable and annoy
ing calmness: "NO. Mr.. Payne, Ireally
can't reconsider the matter in any way.
1t was YOU who took three days to make
your mind up. Have you made it up
yet or not pray?"
81 hare made it up, Ruby"
"And YOU mean-?" she said, in.
terrogatively, with faint little tremol
in her voice which had never before
noticed, and which thrilled through me
with the ecstacy of first discovery.
''And l mean," L answered. ''tc
marry you, Ruby, if you will condo.
scend to take me, and let my Uncle
Atkins money go to Halifax. Can you
manage, Ruby, to be happy, as poor
school masters wife in very tiny cot.
tage?'
TO my joy and surprise, Ruby sud
denly seized both my hands in hers.
kissed me twice of her own accord, and
began to CRY as if nothing could STOP
her. Then you do really and truly
love me-" she said, through her tears.
holding fast to my hands all the time
.'then you're really willing to make
this great sacrifice for me!''
Ruby" | said, ''my darling, don't
excite yourself so. And, indeed, il
isn't very great sacrifice either, fol
| hate the name so much hardly know
whether | could ever have endured &c
bear it.
You shant bear it." Ruby cried
eagerly, now laughing and clapping hel
hands above me. "You shant bear it,
and vet you shall have your Uncle
Atkins money all the same for al
that.
.Wby, what on earth do you mean,
Ruby?" | asked, in amazement.
surely, my darling, you can't under.
stand how strict the terms of the will
actually are I'm afraid you have beer
deluding yourself into belief in some
impossible compromise. But you must
make your mind up to one thing al
once, that unless l call myself Akin
Payne, you'll have to live the rest OF
your life as poor schoolmaster wife.
The next-of-kin will be sharp enough in
coming down upon the money"
Ruby looked at me and laughed and
clapped her hands again. ''But what
would you say, Mr.. Payne" she said,
with smile that dried up all her tears,
''what would you say if you heard that
the next-of-kin was-who do you Think
why me. sir. me. Ruby Estcourt?"
could hardly believe my ears. "You,
Ruby" l cried, in my establishment
You! How do you know? Are you
really sure of it?"
Ruby put lawyers letter into my