The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-25

| sir! Confound your impudence, sir! d.
You mean to try to humbug me: Do YOU
| mean to attempt to deceive me: Don't
trifle with mel know ALL"
| Tel US, then"
"You-yOu are villain, sir"
| II deny it.n
"You are-an ungrateful villain. have
warmed a serpent in my bosom."
| Meaning me. sir:"
'Yes, you. o, shall not spare you.
You have basely gainei the affections Of
my daughter-wretched girl"
40, papa"
$50 away. 1 have been blind, but now (
see."
Il suppose" scornfully, "that Mr.. Hay~
man assisted your eyesi ght:"
He did-and cutie properly, too"
"Ar. Hayman Is an interested party, I
believe. He has aspirations--"
Never You mind, sir, what he has. lam
talking about you now. You are engaged,
l SUPPOSE"
Not quite"
Indeed! 1 wonder OF that. But the
affair has gone far enough, at any rate, and
L tell You plainly, sir, that 1t must stop
and now"
Mr.. Brown"
81 won't listen to a word"
But you must, YOU unreasonable old
man. Let me sum mp the situation. You
| have young and lovely daughter with
whom worthy young man is deeply in
| love"
Worthy young man." cried Walter,
fiercely. "DO you hear that, uncle:"
Il was referring to Mr.. Walter Hay
man." said Mr.. Bartlum, with a bland look
at the Speaker, who is in every way ex-
| emplary. You refuse this worthy younl,
man your daughters hand, and why: Be-
cause he Is worthy? Evidently. Well,
here am L, a most unworthy young man,
and you entertain an equally strong objec
tlon to me. How inconsistent! If this
worthy young man is eligible. am out of
the question; but if he is ont of the ques
ton, why not take me? You surely do not
intend TO make nun of Isabel"
Mr.. Theophilus Brown was evidently
staggered by this remarkable piece of rea-
soning, and looked alternately at the wor-
thy and unworthy rivals, and finally at
the fair Isabel.
so, papaw pleaded the bone of conten-
ton, "chOose for me, please. You do not
know how distracted l am"
"She loves them both" murmured her
father, helplessly.
'Isabel :" exclaimed Walter, ,implOringlC.
RESPECTED sir" said James. placidly,
"the decision rests with you. You are the
judge and jury, aud the evidence is all in"
walter" cried Mr.. Brown, with great
vehemence-''a thousand times Walter"
The worthy young man a11 his betrothed
Mr.. Brown smiled beneficently upon them.
MAY a Cousins blessing rest upon you"
said James.
Mr.. Brown looked at him savagely, then
keenly, and then, as he met his calm AMI
unfiinchinE gaze, said, sharply: ."You
take it coolly, sir"
BY way OF answer the handsome va%a-
bond closed his left eve very slowly and
looked at Mr.. Brown in silence. An un-
mistakable wink.
In an instant the old gentleman saw
through the trick, but before he could open
his mouth the arch-schemer laid his hand
on his arm, and pointing with his thumb
to the absorbed young lovers in the corner,
said. in a low tone:
Permit graceless vagabond, sir, to
treasure il his mind the thought that he
has brought two loving souls together, and
taught fine old gentleman to know his
own mind. You will never regret it, sir,
and just reflect what might have been had
your girl really thrown away her affections.
Do YOU see the point:''
Mr. Brown, after Il moment s hesitation,
grasped the others hand fervidlv, AMI
acknowledged that he dfl.-IIarper'S
Weekly.