The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-09

! ginning 10 I'VE 100 IO1Sf lHdI, III SHOT,
lie would before long have to think OF
growing old. He tried to pay atten-
tions-!o 90 counting they called it
there: but it was perfectly evident that
the girl had not the least suspicion OF
his meaning. And, meanwhile, time
was passing: every month he WIS a
month older. while she seemed 4 month
younger. and it was very plain that If
ne ever meant to live he must begin
and as a married man; the last thing
that had ever entered his mind.
1t would take long to tell how he tried
to fight himself out of the desire to
throw himself and his money-bags and
his plans at the feet of not particular
" pretty child fresh from school, who
knew nothing, it seemed, except how to
laugh and how to spend. Itwould take
longer to tell how, having been at last
! driven to conclude that love is fate, he
took his policy from the spider, and,
mesh by mesh, got that big fly, Leys
| Croft. first into his web and then be-
| tween his claws. And then, by just five
minutes, to have lost the game, and to a
| boy whose very existence he had we'll
night forgotten-it was crully hard.
/ Ninety-nine men out of hundred would
have broken the web and given up the
| game EnOch Marrish was the hun
dredth man: and, whether visiting his
field, or feeding himself with cruel, he
had but one tnought-hOw to weave the
web anew, and a stronger one this
! time.
Not that Enoch Marrish had become
so much passions slave that he would
really have paid away Legs Croft, the
best farm in the country, as the price
even for Patience Blackthorn. MammOn
is not to be conquered by Cupid quite so
far as that would 90. H 5 old web had
been a scheme to gain both by one
stroke: his new one also must gain both,
and a GOOD bit of revenge besides. But
what, in the name Of vengeance, was
that plan to BE-? He could not see ii for
all his thinking; he only knew that it
had TO be done.
He had Just swallowed his last mouth
full of Scalding cruel, and was scrIping
the saucepan, for the sake less of appe-
tite than of principle, when quick step
came up the graveled path, and Il radiant
face came to the kitchen window.
''MarriSh!" Stephen Harlow hailed
him. 'Are you very busy there? L want
a word with YOU"
EnOch's impulse was to throw the
saucepan NJ the fellOw's head; but that
would only have damaged a good sauce
pan. and done no good in any way.
He never forgot anything; so he held
his hand.
Here / am. What's your word?'
''Why. that I'm to be married as soon
as there's been time for the banns! You
were the first to wish me JOY, you know.
| know your times precious; but will
you spare morning for once, and be
best man?'
ZIP" He was really taken aback by
such a request, considering what his
thoughts had been.
IF you wouldn't mind. | can send
for one to Millport; and, if l could,
you've been so old friend of my Pa
tience that d sooner have you than any
man anywhere. Say yes"
Mn Patience! Had the young lover
taxa and stabbed him. his heart could
not have felt the dagger more sharply
than such a word. However. he must
not let even so much as 4 look hinder
any scheme that he might form-must,
form-within three weeks ut the utmost;
for what he had heard, was both sud-
den and terrible news.
Yes, then, | will.' said he.
THANK you, with all my heart, Mar
IRISH. | knew you would; and when YOU
want it yourself, I'll do as much by you.
| forget, thOugh-a best man must be Il
bachelor. Why don't you do as | do,
and get Patience of your own?"
Wont YOU come in? l have just
had breakfast, or I'd offer you some
thing. SO you are getting rich man,
eh?''
I've got my foot on the ladder
Fancy my coming just in the nick OF
time As l did-it looks like Providence.
Marrish; it makes one see things clear
that one never saw before, | wonder
who the scoundrel was that wanted to
buy my Patience. You know, of course
of course, | shan't ask. mt | should
/ like YOU TO tell him, when YOU see him,
before he tries to buy Il girl at market
again, to ask her if she wants to be
sold. The Scoundrel-the cold-blooded
/ brute cit makes my blood boil. | hope
! shan ever know; for | don want to
/ be bothered with having to leather 4
cur. But never mind him. No, thank
you'll can't come in now. I'm off to
Manchester. and rs I'm on Shanks'
mare, mustn't play by the way.
TO HuncheSter? Law business?
Lucky You can afford it. I'm my own
/ LAWYER
Not this time" said Stephen, with a
laugh. which raised in Enoch the devil
of murder. I'm going to buy ring. "
"A ring?" aSket EnOch-rather stu
pidlv. it must be owned.
1.-The ring.'
He nodded good-day, and went off
whiStling a tune. There had not been Il
happier man in England last night;
there was none so happy this bright
morning in the world. He had paid
back his benefaclor tenfold; he was
young and strong; his employers had
such faith in him that they would make
sacrifices to keep him; he was we'll up
on the ladder of fortune; he had not, so
far as he knew, a single foe; he was in
fellowship with all the world; he
had won the girl of his heart-no Won
der that his soul sang within him as he
marched along Manchester road. The
ring, and what shall the poSy be?
There must BE- posy; though it's not
the mode in MiGlport-but hang the
mode! Patience must keep to her sweet
country ways. wonder what she II
think of that big town-how she will
open her blue eyes! What wonderful
tn ngs thought the tall chimneys were
when l first came. She Il get on with Mrs.