The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-15

4
| envelope. She walks back slowly through
the garden, and as Mrs. Winters comes x
| the window she is Just in time 20 see the
| joyous look die out of the bright face, anC
| an expression of deep disappointment settle
| upon it.
80. mama, Willie says he can not leave
| Tor a month yet. Pm so sorry"
There was a touch of cadence after the
''sorry" which would have been very
sweet music to Mr.. Willie Gsynor's ear:
could he have heard it. A big sigh ac'
companied her words as she looked regret
fully at the flowers, which had been gath
cred especially for him, and which now
seemed to drop their lovely heads in unison
with her sorrow.
But young hearts are made of strong ma
terial, and blithesome Ella was soor
absorbed in her household duties, and now
not shade of trouble appeared upon the
smiling face.
Let not nv readers find fault with Miss
Ella when disclose the fact that she had
strong penchant for pet dogs. They were
her playmates and faithful protectors in
childhood. and all the dignity of young
ladyhood lacked power to wean her affec-
tion from them now. Great shaggy fei-
lows with affectionate brown eyes were
her special favorites, but every canine,
from the puny pug to the slim and grace
full greyhound, found place in her affec-
tions. They had, as she herself expressed
it, "afforded solid comfort and consola-
tion" all her life, and she never had the
least occasion to find fault with them until
to-day, when her most particular pet
covered her with shame and humiliation.
This is how it happened: Donuing her
large sun-hat, and calling her pet Nlgger
and smaller satellite named Ruby, she
sailed forth for her usual evening walk,
which eventually ended in a race or scram-
bic on the way home. All went well until
Niger encountered a casual acquaintance
in the shape of pugilistic- looking black
cur, who was evidently on the war path.
He shifted around Niger, which proceed
ing must in dog language have meant a
challenge, for Niger, to his eternal dis
grace. Immediately threw down the glove,
so to speak Qending the while very un-
willing ear to the agoniZed entreaties of
his young mistress), wavered a moment,
and then went for his opponent with vim
which promised to make things lively all
round. Ruby made a few spasmodic
dashes toward the combatants, but deem
ing prudence much safer than valor in this
instance sat down at a safe distance and
watched the fight uneasily. Miss Ella
was in despair, and looked around in vain
for assistance; espying a stick she picked
it up and poked aimlessly in a futile effort
to separate the angry animals. She had
JuSJ given up dIOCLip0 W AOA
great relief, a man appeared on the scene.
He was grimy aud ragged, but she took no
notice of that, and begged him earnestly
to save her pet from the monster who was
seemingly bent on devouring him. An
amused smile fiickered around the mans
mouth for an instant as he looked at her,
then, grasping a dog with each hand, he
flung one of them clear over the fence, and
was about to fling the other in an opposite
xrynn 10 i'm hu a
coat-sleeve and claimed her pet, all dirty
and disgraced as he was.
"I'm sure Pm very grateful, indeed" }"
stammered our distressed heroine, es she
held out her hand toward the stranger
with some money. To her astonishment
he took no notice of her action, and, lift
ing his hat with grace which would have
done honor to Chesterfield, walked
quickly out of sight.
A few days after that identical tramp
in truth, he looked typical specimen of
the tramp, from his rt-button, conspic-
uOus by its absence, to his dusty shoes
called at the cottage. Now, Mrs. Winters
pet aversion was a tramp; the very name
suggested visions of murder, fire and rob-
berry. When. perchance, she did give en-
ployment to such people, it was under the
pressure of some stern necessity, and
always with fear and trepidation.
that was the tenor of James message from
the kitchen. A hurried and anxious con-
sultation with that ancient and worthy
domestic disclosed the fact that the
"kindling was almost out" Relying
upon the assurance of the intrepid
Jane, who promised to keep an eye
on him, she was told to show him
to the woodpile. Later on Jane set him
down to dinner in the kitchen, and, acting
TOnly tho hbartv M
giving Mrs. Winters a wink, whereupon
that wise and cautious woman ensconced
herself behind a convenient ambush and
proceeded to study Mr.. Tramp.
For the first time in her life her opinion
wavered. The cap which half concealed
his face when she had first seen him was
now laid aside, disclosing to view broad,
white forehead, SurmOunted by a hand
some crop of brown curls. His face was
Sunburnt, but there was no mistaking the
beauty in every line of it-a youthful face,
with not even the shadow of a muStache to
hide the clear-cut, refined mouth. She
came and saw, and was almost conquered.
There could be nothing bad, she argued, in
that comely young face. She had seen
honest brown eyes like these before, some
where. He certainly could not be one of
the class which she detested so much
Yes, she would get him to give the flower
garden hand, also.
They are busy every day now among the
flowers and weeds, Ella and Mrs. Winters
taking a hand. The tramp" proves a
valuable acquisition. His taste and know
ledge anent matters horticultural surprise
them. He preserves a stolid silence unless
when spoken to, and to Elias surprise
never once recalled the incident of the dog
fight. Owing to her secluded life Ella
Winters ideas of men and things were
mostly gathered through the medium Of
the modern novel: therefore she could not
be blamed if her imaginative mind found
ample exercise in the study of this brown
eyed youth who so badly played the role
of tramp. His age might be twenty
or twenty-five, and an expression that
manner reminded her of the pictured face
upon the mantel-piece.
"What do you think of our gardener
now, mammal" inquired Ella over her tea
cup one morning.
my dear, think he is just Splendid
answered her mother, looking radiantly
through her glasses at Ella.
"What do you think / found him doing
yesterday" went on Ella, with a peculiar
smile.
Mrs. Winters looked up now with a shade
of alarm upon her face. Was she wrong
after all to allow herself to be so easily di-
vested of her fears? But her anxiety was
ailayed by the smile upon Elias face.
II surprised him reading this, mamma u
holding up pocket edition of Lies Misera-
bles" in triumph. I'm French, too," con =
tinued Ella, nodding her little head in a
wise manner.
Ella is helping him to tie up some rose
bushes to-day and tries to draw him into
converse ton. His usually reticent manner
changes little, and he astonishes her by
his knowledge of books and their authors.
His language and manner evince the great
est taste and culture, but he soon checks
himself, as if by an effort, and relapses into
almost sullen silence. To her surprise ne
came to the parlor window one day and
presented her with an exquisite half blown
rose, and she accepted it from this hand
some vegebond with as much grace and
thanks as if it had been given by prince
aye, and blushed, too, under his gaze as
She ninnai II in her hnsnm Willie IIavnnr