The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-22

ALL
Mr. Britt read the telegram slowly
Poor Nelly-thst should have been
given to her the evening before.
ana she got it at noon yester-
DAY. Don't you see the date
here?, His finger pointed to the
hour the message was received. ''No
matter. 1t is not worth making fuss
over now," he added. sadly, for he ap-
preciated the excellent qualities of the
dying maid d-Of-all-work.
u will forgive myself"
said Mrs. Britt, sobbing. "If l hao
even taken the tro IJle to talk to Nelly
OF her brother moe If 1 had looked at
this dispatch We itertlay-whO knows:
Her life might have been saved"
"What is this?" Mr.. Britt smoothed
out the crumpled paper covered with
eccentric lines and curious marks. at
is rough map of the city. Here are
the riyers-the point-Court House
and what are these? This is really
wonderful"
MIR. Britt looked at his wife wonder
ingly, who in her turn now examined
the paper. "Why what made the poor
girl waste all that time when she could
have bought good map Of the city for
half dollar
"YOu do not understand it,n said Mr..
Britt. Every mill in the city is down,
every large manufacturing establish
ment-all the principal points of inter
est. Plainly this was made for her
brother-a guide for him. With this
in his pocket he could never 90 astray.
He would learn the city thoroughly in
a weeks time, or less The thought
fulness that girl displayed surpaSses
everything" He folded the paper al.
most reverently, and carefully placed
it in mis- pocket. II will give this to
her brother when she is dead"
The sun was gliding the eastern
horizon with its wealth of summer
beauties, when the watcher fancied he
saw the dying girls eye-lids move. He
bent closer, graSping the hand ne had
held the livelong night.
'Speak to me, Nelly. Open your
eyes that [ may see their light before
you pass into glory"
Instead of opening her eyes, Nelly
startled him by saying very quietly:
Hands off now. Give one a chance.
There's never one of you can beat me
across the burn, an give me fair play.
But no holding back now. There! j
won't run at all. Listen, Hush!
Hould yer claverin'. Listen to the
lark. BE quiet, Jamie. See! That's
the sweetest bird ever sung-the bird of
birds. See! You an Ill never be as
high as that, jamie, till we are in the
arms O. the angels"
"You are ali gay an merry this morn,
as if We hadn't hard days work be-
fore you. Well, it's work yell have
without let or stop till We go to
America, where they've nothing to do
at all, they say, but eat and drink, and
wonder what new dish they'll have for
supper. If I'd a few more years over
ME, I'd go there myself, and take you
along, Jamie"
"Whist! There's the lame Mcguire.
Sorra one of him will ever pit sound
fut on the ground again, I'm afeerd
Patience! Look at the sack on his back.
Come now-who'll be first to give him
a lift? Sure there's as much fun in il
as paddlin' over the burn. DO a good
turn when you can't costs nothing"
''Now, Jamie-hOot! amt We ashamed
to let your sister beat ye runnin'i
Now then. Hold! That's no fair.
Jamie. Come backbone back, an
take a fair start. I'll give We as far as
from here to the road-an' beat We
across the meadow. Come away now
away, Jamie, an no trippin'."
And so the spirit of the maid-of-all.
work sped heavenward. .-Darid LoUry,
in the Current