The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-10

Horace, me boy" said he, looking
confused and fiurried, I'm here on a
most unpleasant errand. I've bad news
for YOU"
"Out with it." said Mr.. Leverett.
squaring his shoulders
There's been fall N silver" said
William. land I've lost the last half
penny had in the world.
Now look here. Bill Cassidy" said
Miss Leveretts father. - know YOU
of old. and I'm going to deal plainly
with YOU. / told YOU long ago, Bill,
in perfectly friendly spirit, that if
YOU wanted to play tie fool with
Young woman, YOU mustn't do it with
nv daughter. won't have it Now,
what do You want?"
Il want to stay evecution-if that's
the legal term, > said William. Its
solemn truth. upon my word of honor,
that | told you Just now. There been
fall in silver. It's no trope, Horace,
its no fight o fancy. It's fact. lit
eral fact, and | have not one penny
piece in the world"
Bill, said Mr.. Levcre't. solemnlv.
Il won't stand it. | told you at the
beginning: Don't start this unless you
mean to 90 through with it. because |
'front.' have the little girls feelings
tamrered with Now, didn't L."
"Ye did" said William, mournfully
asserting.
We'll. I'm going to keep you to it."
Horace" said William, who was
much moved by this statement, ''ye're
a true friend. If all their fathers had
have behaved like this, I'd have been
polyglot LONG ago. But YOU don't want
US to spend the wedding-night in cas-
ual ward. III tell We now. Twas me
own foolish hurry that did it. might
have known | wouldn't be ready in
time"
"And have prophesied the fall in sill
ver?" asked Mr.. Leverett. William
grinned mournfully.
Horace" he said. with a reSolute
father ike yourself to back me, L ID rs
true as the needle to the pole. am
really in earnest. | am sincerely and
devotedly attached to the girl | mean
business. | wouldn't leave her to mar
~ Duchess. But I've been unlucky.
and all me pictures are hangin' about
in the shops and none of them sellin'.
There's no taste for art nowadays"
well, what delay do you want? I'm
not going to agree to a postponement
sine die. 4 month";
81 can't b. ready in that time" an
swcred William.
Two monthS?"
''Nor in that either. I'm afraid I'll
want SIX at least"
"Split the difference and make it
four. said Mr.. Leverett.
Done returned William, with sub
dued exultation.
Wait lit" said Miss Leverett's
father, with calculating ar. What
does it cost you per week to live?"
Il don't know. upon me word.
Can YOU get along on three pounds
4 week?'
Can I?'' demanded Mr.. Cassidy.
Like flea with fat baby for free
hold"
What did you get for the Girls and
the POodle?' -
William caught something of his
future father-in laws business aspect.
Internationally pounds. But the
frame cost tive-and-thirty shillingS."
And how long did it take you?"
"About ten days, off and on an
swered William.
More of than on, expect said
Mr.. Leyerett, severely. '.NOw, | have
a proposal TO make to You. | shall be-
col.ze your banker" Mr. Cassidy made
an instant movement to shake hands.
but the stern parent repealed him. i
shall allow you three pounds week,
and pay it to you every Saturday In
return you viii make over to me every
picture you have now in your possession
and all YOU may paint i'll future so long
as this arrangement remains in force.
| shall hold The said pictures in trust
for you, and shall sell them to the best
advantage. Then l shall bank the
money in Matilda's name, and when
You have two hundred pounds in hand,
you II have to get married; because I'm
nos going to lS,ve the little girl triiied
with. Now then. Bill, what do you
say? Yes OF nO?'
.'Bedad. then" said Mr.. Cassidy.
I'll say Yes, and thank We kindly
Il II be the first chance | ever had of
seeing a regular income; and be
Moses, Horace, ye'llmake man of me,
after all! But make it two pounds in
place of three. They say if you give
the horses in Asia Minor corn it kills
them, and I'm bit like that mesclf."
The principle is the main thing"
said Mr.. Leverett land that seems to be
agreed upon. We can discuss the
details of the measure later on. I'll
call on you tomorrow, and in the
meantime We'll 90 upstairs and see
Mrs. Leverett and Mat Ida.
Upon me word, Mrs. Leverett:"
said the newcomer, with his charming
Irish impotence, you have no right
to be looking like that. If it weren't
for Horace and Matilda, and may be an
objection on your own part, I'd run
away with you"
For shame, William" said Matilda
Mrs. Leverett laughed at him; but the
master of the house, squaring his
shoulders against the mantelpiece,
opened his lips in rebuke-
No levity tonight, Bill. This is q
serious occasion. My dearS. l have
something to say to you. You. Mrs.
Leverett, admitted this serpent" in
dicating William, Ito our paradise.
You, Miss Leverett, fell ready prey to
hiS-wileS and Establishments. You were
both fully acquainted with his character
and antecedentS, and you acted with
your eyes open. Now, Bill, explain
yourself"
, Mr.. Cassidy. thus unexpectedly
brought to book, assumed an aspect of
detected humbeneSs.
Mrs. Lsverett," he be an, ''you have
heart that can feel for the unfortunate.
Matilda. YOU have inherit ID YOUR
mothers virtues. and can cast meSelf