The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-19
MOD" BANGS.
An Evil Intent Thwarted, and a
Noble Deed Inspired.

Anywhere else she would have bee
called Maud, but Smoketon people wsre to
busy making money to pay proper atten
ton to dipthongs, so to them she wa
simply Mod.
Smoketon was not so large place as on
might imagine from the mere number of it
factories. 1t crawled along in a blacky
unwholesome manner, upon the banks o
one OF the loveliest rivers in the world, t.
very Unfair length, but was in part
scarcely more than half mile wide, being
shut in on the east by beautiful rolling
green hills, over which it had made 6
grimy and Intellectual effort to climb
Among these hills flowed swift, clear
mountain streams, doubling and winding
many times on their way to the great
river, to which, when the snow melted in
spring upon the hilltops, they often
brought a larger tribute than was quite
convenient.
1t was indeed n beautiful country.
Champ Preston said in his languid way,
when he visited the place, that the part of
Smoketoa which the Lord made was a per-
feet success, adding that he had never
visited town where the people so bowed
down to money and possessed so little of it
themselves, for there were no millionaires
Mods surname was Bangs, the vowel of
which was as unduly prolonged by the
Smcketonians as her dipthong was unjustly
shortened. There was nothing visibly
heroic about Mod. She was the eldest
daughter of Smoketon operative, teach
ing in Room No. 6. Ward eleven, of the
Smoketon Public Schools. She was small
and slender, awkward in person and move
ments, with q protruding forehead, life
Iess-looking sandy hair, and small, dull,
INEXPENSIVE eyes. She was also an en-
thusiast in her profession, and had dim
lOngings after couture" and cravings for
sweetness and light" Above all she
cherished romance and worshiped hero.
stephen Dare was not at all a bad fellow,
especially in his own opinion. He was a
handsome young giant, with frank,
merry face, usually obscured by a cloud of
SCOT; for Stephen, though only twenty-five,
was 'boss" at Browns mill, the largest
nailmill ia SmOketon. He was well of,
too-wealthy Tor place whose richest men
only counted by tens of thousands; so it is
not wonderful, perhaps, that he was much
petted and spoiled by the Smoketon lasses,
even though his schooling" had scarcely
passed beyond an elementary knowledge
OF ''the three Rs"
Stephen and Mod had toddled about In
each others company when both of them
wore dresses; they had been deskmates
during the boys brief experience of school
life, and had cOnfided their joys and sor-
rows each to the other, though Mod was
rather the better listener. The Eleventh
ward schoOl-hOuse was on Stephens direct
way home from work, and as Mod always
remained there until six O'Clock to study,
stephen had got into the habit of calling
for her, and,thence one September after
noon they were walking home together
when they first saw Myra Tracy
Stephens hands were in his pockets his
shoulders well squared under the shabby
old coat, and his full breadth of chest dis
played in its garniture of blue-checked
shirt; he was wbistling under his breath
and his chin, dark with SCOT and three
days growth of beard, was carried proudly
In the air. Mods eyes were red from a tit
of weeping into which she had been be-
trayed at the close of enc of those DAYS
which come to every teacher, when the
very spirit of evil seems to get into every-
thing and everybody. She wore a faded
pink Bingham and carried dilapidated
lunch basket Ill her glovelesS hand In
this guise they turned a corner and came
suddenly upon lady in deep mourning
who was gazing around her in perplexity.
She was tall, slender and exuuisiteIv
graceful, with a wild-rose complexion and
large, pathetic gray eyes, from which, as
they approached, she sent long glance
straight into Stephens heart
Excuse me-" she said, in low, musical
tones, "but | wonder if you can direct me
TO Mr.. Tracy's?"
al. IS. Tracy, of Browns Mill?u asked
Mod, IS Stephen, without even the presence
of mind to remove his hat, could only ram
his hands further into his pockets ard stare
in silence.
The faintest possible smile wavered
around Myra Tracy's beautiful mouth as
she bowed in silence.
30, then, L. s. Tracy lives on the next
St RI mil he
to cross the railroad and go up the hill
through that alley by the carpenters shop:
it will bring You out right opposite his
house."
THANK you so much," and with another
smile and bow Miss Tracy moved grace
fully away, somewhat amused at the
novelties which had come into her life in
the shape of alleys by carpenters shops
and handsome young workmen stricken
dumb by her charms.
''By jinks! amt she a daisy J" exclaimed
Stephen, recovering his breath and his
Smoketon vernacular when the vision was
gone.
"You never took off your hat, Steve,n
said Mod, glancing with a strange new
pain in her heart at the mans flushed face
and sparkling eyes.
80, confound the hat! 1 forgot it. I
say, Mod, she must be Trscy's niece. You
know his brother died in Philadelphia last
month, and heard his daughter was to
come here to teach her uncle's children.
This must be the very girl"
''Guess ought to call, if she is q teacher"
said Mod, little bitterly. Stephen replied
promptly:
Don't see why you shouldn't She is
awfully swell; but l bet you've got as
much money, every time. Look here,
Mod! don't tell anybody, but wouldn't
mind marrying that grill"
whether she'd have you or not, 1 sup
pose?"
Have me! She'd be lucky to get me-
poor rs church-meuse, and teacherl
SIZED jump at me-"
II know who'd be sorry for it, then.
Those Eastern girls never know anything
about Homework. She'd Just hold her
hands"
mot shei I'll take care of that" with a
loud laugh. ''As for work, she'd soon
learn, and should expect to keep girl"
Mod came to dead halt before store |
they were passing. "Won't you drop in |
and order your cooking stove:" she asked |
sarcastically; ''the rest of your arrange
ments seem to be complete"
"Don't you worry" replied Stephen,
Laughing good-humoredly; shat will be |
ready in time for the wedding" and they |
walked on together again.