The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-19
But Stephen was even more in earnest

| asked PERMISSION 70 call the girl HaQ uoU
as she said afterwards, sufficient presence
profoundly amused at herself, and scarce
less so at Stephen. The handsome, litter
ate young giant was new type to the
high-bred, "cultured" Philadelphian; and
though she considered flirting a very
unladylike proceeding her esthetic interest
was sufficiently visible TO afford Stephen
all the encouragement he needed.
But for its elements of possible TRAGEDY,
| the situation would have been rather a
| comical one to a looker-on who could have
| read the hearts of those interested. Ste
phen Dare was thoroughly accustomed to
| consider himself great catch, and it never
| entered his calculations TO be regarded as
| an inferior by any one who possessed less
| money than himself. He was simply and
| frankly unable TO estimate worth by any
| other standard. Birth, education, refine
ment, he considered accidental qualities,
| like the shape of ones nose: the first
] always valueless, the second and third
occasionally useful as a means of support,
and not bad for women. 1t was no doubt
the peculiar delicacy of Myra's beauty and
the dainty polish OF her manners that made
her so attractive to him, and perhaps it
was scarcely his fault that even on these
points he was half incapable of appreciat-
ing her. SmoketOn manners were by no
means deliberately finished; were, in fact
wonder that when Myra lifted her great,
pathetic eyes to his and murmured "Thank
you so much" in return for his gifts of
fruit and candy, he should fancy that her
manner meant fra, far more than the loud
voiced gratitude of the bellies of Smoketon.
On the other hand, while Myra readily
understood that Stephen admired her, it
would have been impossible for her to
realize that he looked upon her in full Sc
curity as his whenever he chose to claim
her. The gulf between them was, to her
eyes, so impaSsably abysSmal. 1t was true
she had never given him q grain-or at
least not more than grain-of what her
own conscience or a man in her own circle
would have called encoura cement. She
had refused his invitations to drives,
theatres, etc, without hesitation or excep-
ton, but on the plea of her deep mourning,
and with eyes of such tender sadness that
Stephen quite believed it to be " only those
COMPOUNDED fashions" that stood in the
way. And when he came to the house it
was quite impossible to refuse to see him.
He was good hearted, honest sort of fell
low, Myra thought, though rather monot-
onous If one had him seven times n week,
for he had absolutely no general informa-
ton, and his range of thought was narrow
in the extreme. That terrible Miss Bangs,
who called one afternoon in an apple-green
silk and velvet which would have been hor-
IIDIe even udu she not Dee0 so conscious OF
1t, and who was so evidently in love with
Steve" as she called him, was twice as
intelligent. A very good wife for him, too,
If he would only be brought to believe it.
1t was so much better for people to marry
in their own class.
The truth was, Myra as well as Stephen,
Judged her fellows by a standard of her
own establishing, and the one who most |
truly measured things by the eternal veri- |
ties was poor, homely, neglected Mod.
Consequently when Stephen, at last. |
asked Myra to be his wife and was rejected |
with naughty surprise which she could |
not quite conceal, it was Mod who was |
least astonished. Stephen believed he |
understood the whole matter perfectly, for |
it was, in fact, the presence of Champ |
Preston in Smoketon which had hurried |
him on to q declaration.
"a long, lazy, tow-headed fool" was his
terse description of the all-conquering |
Champ, whose soft voice, handsome face,
anguid elegance of manner, not to speak
Of his attractions in the way of stocks,
bonds and landed property, had for several
seasons made him the lion of Eastern
society. He had been abroad at the time
of Mr.. Tracy's death. Immediately upon
ais return he followed Myra to Smoketon,
where, as he coolly informed her it was
his intention to bivouac with the aborigines
Until she was ready to be married and re-
,uIu Will nun 10 CIVILIZATION. |
Myra readily allowed herself to be per-
'uaded. Smoketon was more distasteful
10 her than ever since Stephen had taken
lis dismissal in such vehemently bad part.
He seemed actually to think / was in love
With him, and declined to be convinced
hat was not, ;" she confded to Champ.
They all do, my dear" he replied, |
anguidly. eff fellow is decently civil
% one of the daughters of the land she
links directly he is wildly enamored of
Ter Don't be afraid of this aspiring but
iingy sutton; high tragedy in love has
zone quite out of style, 1 assure you"
Ppm not afraid" she answered; "but
Tou should have heard how he went on.
t was thoroughly shocking and disgust
ng."
Horribly bad FORM" assented Champ,
neditatively caressing his long, yellow
Stephen fully believed himself to have
een outrageously trifled with. 81 don't
lame her." he said to the long suffering |
iod, "for he's got ten times the money
ave; but it pretty rough on fellow, all
he same, to be sacked like this; and I'll |
eft even with him yet!'
That's the trouble" said Mod, perfectly |
unconscious that she was enunciating a
rofound truth. That's the trouble, |
stephen, about money. You are certain
o meet some one who is worth more than
|
uch thing, people care SO much about it.n
Stephen carried matters with a very
Ugh hand. He laughed more, drank more,
nd talked louder and faster than ever in
is life; but once, when he and Mod were
assed by the stylish equipage in which
'hamp and Myra were driving, poor Mod
cit her heart sink within her at the dark
lance which Stephen sent after the pair,
under his breath: 500 it while
ou're young, old fellow; but you amt
larried yet"
Mod had ample opportunity to observe :
i'm closely, for he set up rival team to
hamp's and took her out behind it every
ay, usually managing to cross the track
f the other couple once at least during the
rive. He also purchased a revolver and |
racticed daily until his incredible per-
ormance upon silver half-dime made .
DOR Mods blood run cold.
Ought not Champ Preston to be warned? |
tut how and of what? She could only
Tait and watch.
The wedding day arrived-a warm Feb
uary morning-pouring with rain, In | ,
eed, it had rained for two days over all
he surrounding country. The river was
unusually high, and the Smoketon Daily
Trumpet had already warned its readers to
xpect a flood. But Smoketonians were
thoroughly accustomed to floods. Some |
antilles on the low ground near the river
we're washed out regularly every spring,
nd accepted the misfortune calmly as a |
ecessary part of the inevitable spring
leaning, so the warning blast was less
Elective than perhaps the foresight of the
Trumpet deserved.
Happy is the bride the sun shines on,n
uoted Stephen grimly, as he stood at his
hamber window carefully examining his
evolver; land blessed is the corpse that
he rain falls upon," he added moment
ater.
Mods premises adjoined his, and she saw
all. The marriage ceremony was to take
lace at nine O'Clock, and the happy pair
we're to go directly to the railway station
Will he he st the churchSv o,,aStio,od | ,