The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-07
A MIDSUMMER MADNESS.

A mlUSUmMEh mAUNESSs
"A life all wild and tempest driven,
a soul all reckless and unshriyen, a
-Athirst for every mad temptation,
In love with pride and desOlatiOn;
Such is the man whose tears implore thee,
Whose stern heart melts and pleads before
thee.
When 1 was q very harmless and
kindly boy of nineteen / wrote that
verse as description of myself. Worse,
was proud of the production, and be-
lieved myself born poetas well as a des
perate lover. Perhaps there are passing
disturbances in the brain cells which pro-
duce manias so innocent that they
escape medical recognition, and so
really one might easily take some fatal
step while he is not responsible being.
Certain it is that during few weeks of
.hallucination, from which l emerged
cool and sane, my fate was decided,
the lot of married man was marked
out for me. Yes, that unhappy sum-
mer. Well, I'll set down events in
their proper sequence. f. ~
''Jack, I've seen herI I've seen her!"
i said to Jack Clements, bouncing in
upon him one hot June Sunday, about
never mind how many years ago, for
there's lady in the case, and she
doesn't look her age. .H.fo
EtSeen whom?'' drawled Jack. f-i
'EThe loveliest girl in the world.
She sits about half way up the middle
aisle in st. Marks Church. Fair. hair
blue eyes, slight figure, pink bonnet,
dove-colored frock. Who is she Jack?','
Such question was not hopeless in
those days, when well-to-do New York
lived within narrower boundaries.
tLet's see," said Jack. "Humph!
ugly mouth, longish nose? That's
Miss Finn
''No, no; red pouting lips, nose like
swax-work."
al know" Jack asserted with conf
sdence. ''Bad complexion, STOPPING
shoulders; that's"
rose leaf" interrupted,
''Ha! justso! Sickly- looking rather?''
Jack suggested. "a sweet, sugar and
wafer sort of smile, and killing dim
Piles"
''Sugar-and-water smile!'' 1 echoed,
much disgusted. ''She has dimples- =
yes"
s'That," said Jack, sis Eleanor Ford.
1 know her. Like to be introduced,
eh?''
Like it! o, Jack, you're my best
friendn and l seized Jacks powerful
hand in my slight fingers. ....
He shook me off, and eying me up
and down, remarked: YOU'RE goingto
fall in love"
t'Going to?-I am in love"
you've got the sentimental fever;
most boys have it, early or late. You're
rather early, just nineteen last week, J"
Jack went on, in his merciless matter
of-fact way, ''and very slender, pret-
fy, rosy-cheeked chap you are. The
fever will go hard with you, my gentle
COlly. By-the-way, how's the Comet?
financially, mean.
Now hated to be called "Colly,"
my name being Collingwood Graham.
1 hated to be called rosy-cheeked, and
hated to be questioned about the
Comets finances. The fact was, in con-
sideration of certain capital duly sub
:scribed by my father, 1 was connected
with that struggling and short-lived
daily paper known as the Comet; and
fully believed that the destiny of the
nation hung upon my contributions.
YOU'D BETTER" observed Jack, ''get
into some paying business-groceries
or dry goods, or something marketa-
ble." .f sf
There are matters of more import
=ance than hides and leather" l re-
marked, rejecting on Jack mercantile
pursuits.
''But good hide means value in any
age of the world and among any peO-
pie, retorted Jack. ID believe in the
tangible, Colly. Now if were in love
with girl, I'd be careful to bring her
always something good to eat. u
-'Ah, Caliban," said /, surveying
Jacks immense bulk and full, hand
some face with easy contempt, ''you
don't understand the higher emotions.
''Humphr' was Caliban's only an
swer."
Within twenty-four hours Jack took
me to one of those big houses in Bond
Street (dear mel Bond Street was a
fine neighborhood them, and pro-
nounced the happy words: "Miss Ford,
my friend, Mr.. Graham"
L made an enraptured murmur.
She attempted to open conversation.
and only bent upon her a distracted
stare
Clements gave me a look and a
frown, and at last I offered few re-
marks in tragic jerks, sighed deeply,
then fell into melancholy contempla-
stion, my gaze riveted on Eleanor's face.
While in this attitude of pensive
alteration became conscious that the
folding-doors at the end of the parlor
were softly pushed apart, and pair OF
very big bright eyes were directed upon
me. Said Eleanor:
Don't open the door IN that way,
Midge; it's not polite. That is my sis
ter." she explained to us. "Her real
name is Adelaide, but we call her
Midge because it seems to fit her bet
ter"
1t did-it fitted her exactly. She
was child of thirteen, long-limbed,
hnnse -jointed, and preternaturally quick
OF motion She wore a baggy sort
of frock, and came sliding and
wriggiing into the room. She
nodded to me, said "Hellor' and
sinking into chair all sidewise, she