The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-15
A "MODEL FATHER. -
Story Of a ScheIning Tragedian
and His Pretty Daughter.
Low Cunning and Selfish Ambition on
the One Hand, and Innocent Purity
and DutifuI Devotion on
the Other.
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
CHAPTER XI-CnNTIxrEp.


''You told him the whole story?"
81 told him that Bassett had swim
died both him and the girl; that young
Weatherley had popped the question
and had had No for IN answer; that
Miss Ba,Sett was turned out-of-doors BY
her dear ould father. and was living
with Mrs. Leyerett, and the sooner he
wrote to her he'd be meEding her heart
and his own. Twas a month after that
before heard from him, and then he
gave me full and particular history OF
all his doings, but nothing about my
letter. So L left him alone"
This letter, as it turneI out after
ward, lay in one. of Mr.. Hogan's sad
die bags. 1t was eXhumed at the close
OF the campaign. and delivered, with
apologies for delay, on the anniversary
London postmark.
Mr.. Cassidy. being provided with
funds, set cut for the scene of war, and
next day a telegram from Colonel
Sprague reached Mary Bassett. Cam
eron's wound not likely tobe fatal, >
ran the message; and, as may be fam
cied readily enough, this curt statement
of the case left room for many anX-
ieties. Cassidy had promised to wire
Immediately on his arrival; and nine
days after his departure came the news:
"Mending slowly" A week later
came another misSiye: "Still mend
inc" aud, on the heels of this, an
actual arrival from the seat of war, in
the person of young Weatherley.
Now, this young person being by
nature of a soft and impreSSionable
temperament, and being, moreover. a
little hysterical in all his doings and his
ways OF thinking. had taken 4 pro-
digiouS liking for Jack Cameron, and
was disposed 10 martyr himself in
atOnement for the wrong he had once
helped to do him. He confessed, with
many self-upbraidings, that if he had
not dishOnorably planned to throw
Cameron out of the saddle, Bassctt
would never have been tempted, his
VillainOus deceit on Jack Cameron and
Mary would never have been practiced.
Mary's peace would never have been
snipwrecked, ard her accepted lover
would never have cast himself volup-
tarily into the way of Russian bullets.
The whole blame of This tragic business
being thus brought home to him by the
voice of accusing conscience, he was for
awhile extremely miserable and de-
jected, but quite suddenly he bright
ened, and, having wired for great store
OF delicacies for Cameron from the
capital, and awaited their arrival, he
betOOk himself at once 10 London by
the shortest route, and arrived, so TO
speak, breathleSs.
The Leveretts and their guest were
gathered round CassiGy's last me, sage
when Mr.. Weatherley sent in his card.
Now, nobody knew, or had any reason
10 know. where the Young man had
been this last six months, and nobody
particularly cared to see him.
Tell him, not at home, " said Lev
erett, throwing down the card.
al beg your parding. SIR" returned
the maid, ''but I've told the gentleman
already as you was"
''Show him into the downstairs room,
then" said the master of the house.
Don't let the young man come up
here" Mrs. Leverett besought him, at
the head of the stairs.
Not l." said Horace, emphatically.
''Leave him to me; I'll sort him. -
Mr.. Weatberley, having paused no.
where TO change his dress, presented
rather singular appearance for Lon
don. He was habited in a tourist coat
with many folds at the chest and strap
about the waist, and he wore cord
breeches and boots to the knee.
MIR. Leverett. believer" he began,
breathlessly; and receiving a nod in
answer. went on; I've Just run over
from the Shipka Pass. Mr.. Leverett."
He looked so pantin@lN at haste that he
M ght have meant this statement to be
literally received. Il met Mr.. Cassidy,
who is. l believe, a friend of yours, in
ConStantinople. l explained my wish
TO him. and he thought You might ac-
cede to it. Poor Cameron's getting
better, I'm glad to say. and"
You have seen Cameron?' asked
Leverett The young man, so far. did
not seem to be here with any fresh in
tent upon Miss Bassett's affections,
take q seat"
Il saw him shot," said Weatherlev.
Leveretts glance was invitation enough
to carry him on with his story. He
got thirty or forty yards in front of the
Turkish lines clean under Russian fire,
and there he sat sketching-by CAD he
did, sir-as cool as you please, and
bullet hit him in the leg. L thought he
was killed st first, and should think
there must have been hundred of 'em
pottin' at him; but when ~
The youth paused suddenly, and
blushed. Leverett eyed him with q new