The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30
CHAPTER IL.

Mr.. William Cassidy was over head
and heels in love. The fact that this
was, and had been for some sixteen or
eighteen years, his customary condition
effected no abatement in his present
Joys and SORROWS. He had not hitherto
approved himself as a faithful or con-
slant swain, but while the tender passion
lasted it absorbed him completely until
he was out of sight of the lady, or, in
extreme cases, for some half-hOur after
ward. That he was single at thirty
years years of age was his fortune, but
his fault by no means. He had excited
the tendereSt sentiments in the breasts
of many young women in various ranks
of life: he had proposed to dozen and
had been accepted by some of them;
twice he had bought the magic circlet
after tender and careful measurement
of the proper finger, and twice he had
sold it ut an appalling reduction. One
very small Cockney-brother of one of
the neglected ladies-had followed Bill
with a riding-whip for days, with the
avowed intention of chastising him as
his pertidy deserved; but on encounter
ing the culprit, who was big and nOta
bic athlete, had foregone his revenge
rather than have his sisters honOred
name dragged into police-case. The
proclamation of this magnanimouS con-
clusion so affected the false lover that,
having first laughed until he cried, he
went home with the youth and made a
new proffer of his hand and heart to the
sister. But the lady (having made mat
tiers up with chemists assistant in the
neighborhood-an old flame of hers
VINO was about to set up in business for
himself. and who had been loyal through
MANY reverses) rejected him with scorn,
and he went away to enjoy a moment
airy heartbreak.
He himself believed that with each
new attack the symptoms increased in
virulence, and he was so far gone on
this last occasion that his most intimate
and trusted friends began to take and
offer with due eaution) odds of ten to
one, twenty to one. and the like on the
chances of his final settlement
Mr.. Cassidy was an artist of great
pHomise, though not as vet of any very
great performance At times, when
his dress clothes were in his own pos
session, he went into society. and shone
reSpiendent IN the midst of circles of
gay faces-for he carried gooi-humor
with him wherever he went, and peo-
pie caught it as if it had been an cpl
-demic-and made butterfly love to
heiresses with undesirable, beautiful
Irish impudenee. At other times, when.
from circumstances over which he had
exercised no control, he was for the
time deprived of society's conventional
evening garh, he stopped out of So
sciety, and spent his evenings at the
Cannibal Club. where the head-waiter
was always willing to give credit.
The CannibalS were artists, actors
and journalists, and taking them alto
.gether, they were a charming set of
people. The elders were singularly
kindly and lovable and mellow-hearted,
for it was a rule with the shallower sort
of man to eave the Cannibals when he
succeeded in life. and to put up for the
Roscius or the Eclectic; and so only the |
better sort of oldsters, who had some
spring green left under the winter
white, stayed behind. Mr.. Cassidy was |