The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-23

as If 1t had been fine old port or gen.
erous Burgundy. Whenever he came
to a quotation-even though it eX-
p.essed the deepest misery-there was
a lurking look OF cheerfulne>s upon him,
and furtiye note of JOY sounded in the
magnificent bass voice. II was plain
that he was annoyed. and it was Just as
clear that the possession and employ
ment of the magnificent voice consoled
him.
His companion was lad of two or
three and twenty, with a conspicuously
graceful figure and conspicuously va
cant face. HIS features, like his hands
and feet, were small and delicate, and
his face was as smooth as an egg, in
spite of assiduOus shaving.
The man with the voice was Mr..
Montgomery BaSsett, the well-knOwn
tragedian, and the other was one George
Weatherley, the only representative of
an old house in those parts. He had
lands and houses, and money in the
funds, old plate and old wines in plenty,
roomy and well-stocked stables, and
whatever else the ownership of which
is popularity supposed to help to make
life pleasant
Look here, Mr.. Bassett." said the
yOungster, who was pale and perturbed,
''you must have had some sort of a
notion about this, you know"
No said the eminent tragedian.
Like DGsdemona, she hath deceived
her father. He laid both gloved
hands upon his brOadcloth breast, and
sighed so heavily that he shrugged his
shoulders. He enjoyed this SO pro-
foundly, in mOurnful and respondent
way, that he repeated it in hollow
murmur, dropping his hands listlessly
at his sides 10 express spiritual laSsi-
tude following on the shock of dis
covery.
"Tll tell YOU what it is, said the
youngster; 1t is horribly caddiSh thing
for a fellow like that to stand in girl 5
light-isn't it? Suppose his cused
pictures didn't sell? He'd have to
starve, now, wouldn't he. by lingo?
Then she'd be nice and happy,
wouldn't she, now, Mr.. Bassett,
wouldn't she?'
You are quite right, dear boyn' said
Mr.. RIssett. Jack Cameron. who was
fairly prosperous young painter,
would have seemed good-enOugh
match for his daughter month ago.
But circumstances alter c;ses. Jack
had neither lands nor houses, nor money
in the funds. nor old plate, nor old
wines. Mr.. Weatheriey was decidedly
the more promising son-in-law of the
two.
Now. if she married me-" pursued
young Weatherley, blushing and stam-
mering somewhat, shed be well off,
now, wouldn't she? And she's never
been on the stage vet, and what she
was going to do ism anything to any
body, is it? And the wife takes the
husbands position, doesn't she, Mr..
Bassett? And I'm my own master, and
over age, and there isn't anybody who
could control me, is there?'
Nobody dear boy, nobody" said
the eminent tragedian, mOurnfully.
Look here, Mr.. Bassett," the Young
ster began again, ''yOu can't have
any engagements on Sunday even
ing You come over to my place, now,
and let us talk things over and see what
is to be done. I'm not going to be
beaten by fellow ike that; and I'm my
own master, and nobody can dictate to
me about my choice, can they, now?"
1T is pity. dear boy" said Mr..
Montgomery Bassett, with ponderouS
solemnity, that you never spoke out
until this evening"
Well" said Young Weatherley.
defen>ivelv Il hadn't made up my
mind; but Eve made it up now, and
thought I'd tell you first. because that
was honorable, wasn't it? And then
I'd 10 sooner begun-had !, now?-
than that fellow comes spooning Miss
Bassett along the lane, on the other
side of the hedge. confound him. Who
asked him to shove ms nose in, / should
like to know? | d;dn' t. The fact
that Mr.. Cameron had not waited for
his invitation seemed to wound the
young man deeply. But | say. look
here. Mr.. BasSett," he continued.
you re not going to stand this, are YOU?
Because | m not, can tell YOU
Il admire your spirit, dear boy" re-
turned Mr.. BasSett. land whatever in
fluence have shall he eXerted in your
cause. But am 4 father, and though
| am but poor stroller he rolled
his rs at this point with a long drawn
eNa@geration of humility land by act
of Parliament 4 vagabond. | have a
father'S heart. | can not force the in
clinations of my child"
Young Weather,ey took a gloomy
view of Mr.. Bassett, and began to
switch in a savage fashion at the
flowers along the banks of the lane.
Coming in little while upon a gate
way, where mOldering old heraldic
lion ramped at nothing across Il time
eaten shield. they entered, and, walking
up wide and trinity graveled drive,
approached 4 handsome mansion of
warm brown stone, beautiful with ivy
and many-cOlored MOSES. Mr.. Mont
gomerv BaSsett looked on this desirable
freehold mansion for the first time; and
it is curious and worthy of remark that
the beauty of young Weatherley's resi-
dence made Jack CamerOn'S advances
to Miss BaSSett look almost criminal
and shameful. The inside of the house
confirmed this shadOwy and half-formed
opinion. The furniture of black oak,
or mahogany liquidly lustrouS with two
hundred years Of polish, the magnificent
pier-glasses, the rich hangings, the sub
dued gold of ancient picture-frames, the
yielding carpets, one and all accused
Jack Cameron with such assured voices
that his sweetheart's father began to
hold the meaneSt opinion of him. He
thought of his daughter living here as
the legal mistress of all these splendors,
and of himself as 4 frequent and an
honored guest. He positively sdU a
visiting card, of the best ivory card
board. on which was inscribed in neat