The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-12
A STRANGE VALENTINE.
" hich Gould Not Be Accepted,
Unless With the Giver.

I.
In the dusky light of fragrant and
richly adorned drawing-room two peo-
pie were in animated conversation.
One, a woman of fifty, handsome
still, and with toilet suggestive of
much care and thought, was speaking
not only with decision, but with positive
anger; although her self-control was
great enough to keep her voice from
rising, it was not able to prevent a
tremulOus vibration which she vainly
tried to stife. She was sitting on d
high-backed, embroidered chair in an
attitude as faultless as the fit of her
satin gown.
The other, a girl Of twenty. with great
clear brown eyes and fluffy brown hair
and graceful figure, stood as a young
child might have done at resolving a rep
rimand. Her eyes were cast down. the
lashes dropping till they nearly touched
her cheeks. and her fingers were ner-
yously picking to pieces a sprig of
heliOtrope from magnificent basket of
flowers beside her.
at is the most absurd thing | ever
heard of, said the elder lady, with
scornful smile. Il really can not waste
any more words upon it. You ALWAYS
were quiXotic, Teresa. and this per
formance caps the climax In nearly
one and the same breath, Won tell me
YOU love him, and that YOU have refused
him. On! it is too Disappointing
AUNT.
"WeH?'
PLEASE let it drop-forget il"
The tone was pleading, the voice
sweet.
''tor@et it, indeed! Do you think |
will allow YOU to oppose me in this
style? Have | not daughters of nv
own, and cares enough of nv own.
without being longer burdencd with
one 50 obstinate and self-willed as YOU,
Teresa?"
Il did not know I mean said
the Young girl, deprecatingly. But she
was quickly interrupted.
Now don't plead ignorance; don't
tell me that YOU do not know my wishes.
and did not mean to offend me-
Il really did not think of YOU at ALL
''A'N fNAA'A hOlHC w tII lillS Us
plain speech. And whom do YOU think
of-only yourself? Selfish child lis
this my reward for educating YOU. and
allowing YOU every luxury, spending
time and money on You rs freely as on
my own?"
"Aunt-Aunt Geraldine, please for
give me-"
The young voice faltered; the pink
flush gave way to pallor; the brown ewes
filled.
No, Teresa; it's mockery to ask
that; and want You clearly TO under
stand that this is to be no longer your
home; YOU have exhausted my patience,
and now the end has come. | have
rented this house. and am going abroad.
Sibyl and Gladys are both delicate, and
need the change"
But, aunt, where am l to go?-what
am to do?''
"a pretty question to put to me now.
after such behavior! Consult YOUR
friends. have no further interest in
you"
The cruelty of these words seemed to
freeze the Young girl. Her brown ewes
opened widely. her color came and
went. She stared at the speaker as if
not able to believe the words lust
uttered, and then, rushing from the !
room, found her own apartment. and |
flung herself down in an agony of grief |
and self-reproach. To whom could she |
turn for sympathy or pity when the one
she had learned to regard as her natural |
protector spurned her and wilfully |
misunderstood her? What had she done
that was so grievouS? Had she not
battled against her own feelings, and
conscientiously done what she thought
to be right?
Meanwhile Mrs. Geraldine Ganse-
WORT, having spent her anger and in
dignation. rang the bell and ordered
her coupe.
She had to drive alone. Sibyl and
Gladys, her delicate daughters, had
gone to reception. Frank, her son, a
young physician, was never able to 60
with her, ''office hours" preventing.
Her thoughts were far from pleasant.
1t disturbed her circulation to be thus
excited. Teresa, in the plain terms she
USED to herself, was a fool, and why
should she allow fool so to annoy her?
But the girl should be punished. The
idea of portionless orphan refusing
such an offer as that of Leroy Jones!-a
millionaire, fellow whose horses and
yachts were the envy of all his comradeS.
And why. forSooth? Because she chose
to think him unsteady. weak; because
his little foibleS 20 this fresh. young.
unsophisticated girl seemed to be vices.
U, 1t was too veXatiousi the more so as
she felt that all her good. sound.
worldlY-wiSe advice aud training had
been wasted. As for Si5yl and GLADYS
oh! if they could have had such a
chance, poor dear delicate darlingsl
Frank Gansevoort was a hard-work-
ing young physician. His mother de-
plored the fact that he was not a
society man." and Sibyl and GLADYS
mourned over the disafection of their
renegade brother as if work were vice /,
and ldlprnSS q Virtfla. hI,t Foul L.. | D..