The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-18
FABLE TIE .sRvRNTH.-CoxrrNUEp

FABLE T.IE acknowledgements
Assuredly he had a right to triumph,
If ever man had in this world. Plain,
almost old, awkward, and almost with
out single grace, ignorant (till quite of
1ate) of women, and starting too late.
he had, in no very long time, distanced
u rival who had every advantage in
which he was lacking, and in such wise
that there was no fear of future trouble.
He was no murderer, and yet near
enough to satisfy his conscience by
being none. As for the rest, everything
is fair N love, war and money. As to
the first, the only unfair thing was that
it should have cost him so much to win
Patience, lie had noticed, did not eat
much. and no doubt he would be able
to make her see the advantages of water
cruel as diet before long. Nor, so he
noticed, did she care much about new
clothes; she would really be a model
wife, even If he had gone out to choose
one otherwise than by liking. But still
it would take good long time to save
UP, in dreSSmakers' and butchers bills,
his estimated losses by neglecting his
own affairs for neighbours, and by
two journeys from home. And then
there would be the fees TO the clerk and
parson to set against the absence of =
wedding-breakfaSt and all the common
,tomfoolery; and then he supposed he
would have to keep Tom Blackshorn in
grog and tobacco for the rest of his
days. but I'll cut the old fool down
to one pipe and one tumbler, and one
can get brandy cheap at Manchester.
if one goes the right way. Or shall
i let him have as much as he wants,
so that he'll want no more the sooner?
III figure it out as soon as | get home"
Under all these circumstances, there
fore, Enoch Marrish had Intentionally
postponed buying the ring until the
very latest possible moment; for, since
he could hardly give less than
guinea, three weeks interest on TWEEN
ty-one shillings at five per cent is near
" three farthings; that is to say, three
times as much as q man who means TO
die rich ever allows himself to lose
without cause. His last journey had
cost him guinea; and now there was
another to go. What tomfoolery it
all is, to be surer' grumbled he. as he
walked towards Manchester. LAS if a
woman couldn't be just as much a
wife without a ring on her finger-or
as if. anyhow, bit of brass wire
wouldn't do as we'll"
Thus muSing, in as near approach to
happiness as his natal stars allowed, he
plodded on, with his eyes Just in add
vance of his toes, when he was caught
by something sparkling just under the
Aedgerow.
Nine people out of eleven would not
have seen the CLEAN; and the tenth
would have passed it bv. But between
the metals and Enoch Marrish was q
state of perfect sympathy. Even old
brass has its uSes-it does to add to a
score of scraps, and may serve to make
up a pound. 1t was really getting
ineedful to pick up everything; his
pockets were beginning - bulge with
,ends of string, and his coat to bristle
with pins. So he stopped for the piece
of glitter; and lo-a plain gold ring!
Now, that is mighty queerrf ex-
claimed he, glancing round, as pickers
do who mean to be keepers. And so it
was; for people in that parish were not
likely to go about ring-dropping. "And
gold it is-eighteen carat, should say.
its mighty queer / should be going to
spend guinea on the very thing. and
come across it lying for nothing, under
my very nose. That looks Ike luck,