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


about it. She confessed all. He then fiew
into a violent rage-he is very violent at
times"
"Yes, know he IS"
"-and actually swore at her, and for
bade me the house. To-day | wrote him a
note, making formal offer for Isabel's
hand. and was to come tomorrow for an
answer, but Isabel heard you were coming
"Indeedw
and we determined to make an appeal
TO YOU. In the first place let me ask YOU if
l have acted wrongly in any way"
mo" said Mr.. Bartlum, looking at Isabel
with considerable admiration; you have
acted quite right. You couldn't help it,"
Then, sir" exclaimed Walter, Eve ap-
peal to you. Make an effort to soften
| Uncle Brown. It's only crotchetv whim
of his, and you have such influence over
him: you are his adviser"
Hold hard" cried James. II suspected
all along you Were in the wrong box, but
you would come IL. Permit me, before this
! goes any further. Who do Won think l
ann"
Ferguson, of Ferguson & Board, law
yers." cried Walter and Isabel, in a breath.
! You're mistaken; my name is James
Bartlum, your cousin froul-well, say Cal
ifornia. Just arrived this morning.
so, Walter" cried Isabel, with a gasp,
'what have we done:"
| , we dLe IuiuSu, sdlu w utter, tragic
ally.
! ''Wait a Bit" said Mr.. Bartlum, sooth-
! inglv. Don't break down all at once.
am getting interested in this affair. l am
always on the side of youth and love, old
as | am. Now that | know all, perhaps |
can help you more than Ferguson. DON'T
say anything TO Ferguson: d.a't appeal to
| him. \ man with that kind of name is apt
to be fiinty-hearted. Trust to your cousin
James.
so, Cousin James," cried Isabel, con-
WINGED at once, ''bless you! You have
made US feel so happy
"Bless you, SIR" echoed Walter, also
very mnch affected.
"All right" rejoined Cousin James, dry
! ly. "a brilliant, and, let us hope, feasible
! plan has occurred to me. which for the
present | shall keep in the inner recesses of
my bosom. VIII you trust implicitly to
me-"
'Implicitlv," cried Walter
VERY well. Then-you travel out OF the
house"
What"
"Go! and when you come back to-mor-
row for an answer to your note, and Uncle
Brown says No. which he undoubtedly
will, submit quietly"
''Give up Isabel: Never"
''For Il time, young man-for a time! Be
diplomatic and trust to me-"
Yes, do, Walter" pleaded Isabel. 81
ALL sure you can lTuSU uI1u.
Now, them" said cousin James, when
the ardent lover had torn himself away,
| ''you are very young, and you are a fe-
male, but you look sensible. Can you keep
a sccret:'
Yes
"I'll try YOU. Please sit down"
When Mr.. TheophilUs. Brown returned
from his search for the recreant Ferguson,
he opened his blue eyes very wide on see
ing his daughter and the eX-tramp enjoy
ing very lively tete-a-tete.
cousin Isabel and l." said James, with
smile, ARE excellent friends already. 1
confess did not remember her Wien she
came in. Everybody has changed in five
years except Uncle Theoph."
"Humph," growleI Mr.. Brown, not alto
gether admiring this familiarity, but yet
compelled to admit that his nephew was
evidently preSentable.
Within week Mr.. James Bartlum had
taken the Brown mansion by storm. Mr..
Brown was a wilower, and since George
had gone away the dinners had been rather
lonesome, but cousin James changed all
that. An interminable talker, with a
knowledge of men and manners gained in
a school TO which Mr.. Brown and his guests
were entire strangers, and a perfect mint
of anecdotes and chitchat, the young man
entertained his uncle'S guests in a most
surprising manner. Mr.. Brown was vast
ly amused when he pictured the conster-
nation of his guests did they but know his
nephew's antecedentS, which he wisely
decide ed to keep to himself. and then he
told himself that his nephew lg1S an edu-
Gated gentleman, Notwithstanding his
scampish adventures.
Isabel was completely captivated, to the
intense and growing wrath of Walter. He
had religiOuSly kept his promise, and after
being refused ISabel's hand as anticipated,
had been kindly allowed to make an
occasional call, on each and every occasion
only to find Isabel "not at home"
To the opera with Mr.. Bartlum: out rid |
ing with Mr.. Bartlum; here, there, every
where with Mr.. Bartlum, until Walter was
reduced to skin and bone, and began to |
suspect that he was being duped. Once or
twice at dinner he had eSSayed to commu-
nicate with his beloved but the attempts
were always failures. Either Mr. Brown
had his eye on him, or Isabel had not her
eye on him, or, as most frequently
happened, Cousin James engaged him in
spirited conversation until the opportunity
had gone by.
After this sort of thing had been gos.s,. !
on two entire months, the yoInT lover had
worked himself into such fever that lac
made up his mind to have an explanation,
Orwell, anything!
The opportunity came the very next
week at bali. After some little ma
neuverlnS he ran the faithlesS couple to
earth in bay-window.
isabel" said he, trying very hard to be
calm, Il have right, and DO demand an
explanation"
AN explanation, Walter" said Isabel,
in the Innocent, inquiring tone very effect
ually calculated to madden the average
man.
"Gracious heavens" exclaimed Walter,
very effectually maddenei, lis it possible
you affect ignorance: Do you think 1 am
blind: FaiJhless Isabel, had l not seen
with my own eyes"
Don't talk so loud" interposed the
faithless James, soothingly.
Don't you talk to me-" exclaimed Wal
with you at another time and place"
"One moment" said Cousin James,
coolly. Permit me to remove the lady
from the scene of strife.'
Before Walter could interpose thew were
gone, and before he could leave the window
his faithieSs friend had returned and taken |
him by the arm like a school boy.
Young man." he said, with a patroniz-
ing air, you are making donkey of YOUR |
self. After making all possible allowances |
for your youth and inexperience, can not |
close my eyes to the fact that that you are |
something of an IDIOT
Il won't be talked to in this way" said |
Walter, sava gely.
20 yes, you will. 1t is for your own |
good, my dear boy. Everything is going |
along very nicely, aud il you will only |
keep quiet"
''But L will not. have been shamefuIly |
deceived, and unless Isabel explains every |
thing to my satisfaction I'll do something" |
"What VIII you do?"
81 don'5 know" (gloomily).
Don't do anything rash"
''Yes. l will. I'll expose you.''
"To who NJ"
''Fo everybody. Toto Uncle Brown!' |
Mr.. BarIum was panic-stricken at this |
announcements.
..Wretchel youth YOU wouldn't dare.v