The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-04
IN A TIGHT PLACE.
How an Accident Determined
Young Lady's Choice.

Young Lady's Choice.
It was at that time of the year when the
period technically known as the season
had closed, and the symptoms, natural and
artificial, which accompany the progress
of the month of September into its second
half were present in their usual preva-
lence, when Ned Chiffon found himself
pecuniarily justified in purchasing an ex-
cursiOn ticket, good for ten days only, and
avaiIing himself of the ''greatly reduced
rates" at the Mendon House, under the
shadow of Weehausett, for a brief outing.
1t must be brief indeed; for even the small
pickings that come to young lawyer just
admitted to the bar were of importance in
his calculation of ways and means, and he
must be on hand in his little office-shared
by real estate agent, and with desk
room to let, where the promoter of a Mex
lean railroad had just failed-for fear that
his great case should come and find him
absent. And it was the very day follow
ing his arrival that, at three O'Clock in the
afternoon, he was stumbling along the
powders that fret the current of Rocky
Branch, with the recklessness which comes
of frequent submersion.
His fish basket thumped lightly against
upon the eager and not unskillful fisher
man, and sadly interfered with the exer-
else of his craft. For, early as he de-
scended to breakfast, there, in the breezy
dining-room of the Mendon House, he had
seen an apparition which caused thrill of
mingled alarm and delight in his soul.
A round-faced boy, with short hair,
brown cheeks and other physical evidences
of an outdoor life of some months dura
tiOn, sat alone, engaged in the demolition of
hot soda bread, thin steak and cakes with
maple molases, with one of those appetiteS
which are unappreciated only by their
posseSsors. 1t was not so much the boy as
the contingencies which the boy repre-
sented that caused the commotiOn in the
young lawyers breast. Where George
Burleigh was disporting himself, neither
his devoted mother nor his comely sister
Alice could be far distant; and it was Alice
Burleigh who had, a short three months
before, displayed an amount of worldly
wisdom little less than incredible for her
years in declining the possible honor and
preferment of Mrs. Ned Chiffon. How
much of the purpose of his sisters suitor
this youth had OWNED can not be known;
but it was with sort of reminiscent grin
as well as a start of genuine surprise that
he raised his eyes to encounter the glance
of Chiffon, and instantly exclaimed in
a voice largely mingled with potato,
''Hellow
Mastication interfering with the further
expression of the boys sentiments, Chiffon
was able to return the salutation before
George recovered his speech and began to
display the usual volubility of his age.
II say, why didn't you come up here be-
fore, Mr.. Chiffon? it's been getting awful
stupid since the fellows went away. Alice
is no fun at all, and there's nobody else
that's good for anything. Mother thinks
so, too, for | heard her tell Alice that she
hardly expected any congeni2l society
that's what she said-after August. She
saws her health forbids her to return; but
know better. If it wasn't that somebody
was comng'-and here the boys tones
suggested confidence and buttered biscuit
u believe she'd go tomorrow"
"Do you expect friendS?" inquired
Chiffon.
mo, don't" frankly answered the boy /;
S'hut mothers bound that he shall see Alice.
4 heard her talking about it with Uncle
George. He's sort of guardian to Alice,
YOU know. was out on the piazza roof
tending to my snake, and | heard mother
tell him they could talk freely, because
Alice was away and George was in bed.
If my snake hadn't got out of his box
could have heard it all, though it didn't
amount to much, except that he was on a
tour through the moutains, and would be
along this way about the middle of Sep
tember."
"Who is 'he?'" asked Chiffon, undeterred
by any fastidious scruples from getting
what information he could from this scion
OF the house with which he had sought to
ally himself.
'Why, that Lankton fellow, of course
who's been hanging around Alice. Mother
likes him ever so much"
Now, this is but fragment of the con-
-verSation, ranging through topics of home
md society, sport and adventure, witt
which young Burleigh entertained his
- -, ,l-f,
with a wisdom peculiar to his years, and s
happy freedom of expression that would
hardly have pleased either the mother OF
the sister whom he so easily introduced in
his narrative. But this is the portion
which caused the preoccupation of Ned
Chilton's mind so favorable to the contin.
ned happy existence OF the spotted trout
against which he had sailed forth after
his early breakfast.
For although he had received his dismis.
sal from the lips of the fair Alice, he had
being an obstinate fellow, by no means re-
linquished his purpose, and, being so fool
lShly in love, had neither given up his
hope; and the appearance of Arthur Lank.
ton as Suitor, favored by parent anC
guardian, was peculiarly unpalatable. Il
was not college rivalry which had bred an.
tipathy between these young men, nor YET
competition in the business of the law, tC
which profession each had devoted him
into conflict in the courts had also imposed
upon Chiffon the unpleasant duty of ex-
posing, in the interest of his client, certain
conduct on the part of the opposing cOun'
sci which touched close upon unprofessiona
sharp practice. And the natural conse-
Aouence was that Lankton heartily hated
his former classmate and rival, while Chill
ton was far from kindly in his sentiment:
toward such a claimant for the band o
the girl who held captive his own fancy.
The singular coincidence that brought
them all TO this particular spot in th'
mountains together, with associated
thoughts, had been in Chilton's mind as h'
fished up the brawling stream all the day
with such poor luck, and was uppermost il
his cogitations as he unjointed his rod anC
took the homeward route.
This led him, when near its close, through
the Cathedral Woods-a wide and Ions
stretch of heavy pine and hemlock growth
that occupied the plateau between the