The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-22

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That evening he called upon Annie, meet
ing William Morton just coming from the
house, as he entered the gate. As he
sat in the pleasant sitting room, Lee hated
his errand and his promise. There vera
other attractive subjects of conversation,
perhaps other things that he was more anx-
ious TO say to the beautiful girl. But at
length he began his task.
Are you mnch acquainted with Mr..
Morton?''
A little; are your
'Well, no. To tell the truth think that
perhaps we ought to be q little careful
about-about getting acquainted too much
too easily l mean, with those that we
don't-that we are not much acquainted
with" stammered Lee; don't youH"
Annies eyes looked a shade darker than
he had ever seen them before.
II admire your prudence more tnan can
| tell" she said; latter have seen more of
Mr. Morton. perhaps shall be able to adj
wise Won whether you can safely make his
| acquaintance or nOtr'
| The Young gentleman's visit was not pro-
| longed. and when. a day or two after Mr..
Parks asked him il he had spoken a word
to Annie, he answered:
| eyes. made a fool OF myself"
And the old man was obliged to abruptly
| turn his back upon his clerk.
| Lee very soon took occasion to offer an
| humble apology for his unfortunate Speech
| though of course he refrained from ex-
planning how he had been led to make it,;
| and on the whole Joel was a little diSap-
pointed at the inadequats result of this
particular piece of strategy. To be sure,
| Annie and Morton seemed to meet on
pleasant terms, but so. for aught he could
see. did Annie and Lee Tilton.
| In these days Joel frequently consulted
his novels professionally, and he one even
! ing happened to read in THE Hoosier
| SchoolmaSter' the passage in which the
| trustees unprepOSsesSing wife horIliieS the
! Young master by boISting of her wealth and
| shrswineSs. and broadly limiting that her
| daughter was at his DISPOSAL 1t occurred
| to Joel that he had so far been working
upon only one of the principles in the case.
Here was hint that must be used. So he
! soon co0trived an interview with Lee Til
| ton and began to talk. He Dragged of his
| success in life of the sharp bargains he had
| driven, of the money he had made and
would still make Noticing with delight the
| ill-concealed look of embarrassment and
| disgust on Lees face, he went on to speak
| of his daughter:
ssIYonderful girl, sharp as a razor. AS like
| me as two peas in a pod" Some day she
would marry. he supposed. He didn't want
! her to marry a rich man. Rather she would
marry a likely poor young man. one VINO
would feel soma gratitude for the lift he
was getting He would see that such huS-
band made q success of it. There would be
no trouble about That.
81 tell YOU" said he, finally, with leer,
''whoever gets that girl with my consent,
gets me-"
1t came to pass that Joel found it neces-
sarv to make a business trip of a month or
| So and he felt that he could not go without
striking one more blow. He thought that
he had undoubtedly made progress but he
feared that there was still danger; One
evening Annie met him with look of ScOrn
in her face and n hard ring in her voice that
told him what was coming. Read that"
she said, and she placed in his hand note
dated and postmarked at Boston.
Mss Annie Pnrks:-I feel it my duty.
| though a stranger to you, tc warn you that
Mr.. William Norton is a young man MOTTO ne
trusted. He is noted in Boston as heartless
a WE'LL WISHER."
"WeT. said Joel 'anonymous letters
don't amount to any thing. l shouldn't
mind that"
But. papa. Lee Tilton, wrote that" said
Annie bursting into tears. st is written
on the paper that you use in your office.
Don't you see as You hold 1T up to the light
faint impress of your business headings
This is the second page OF sheet, butlthe
other page surely had that heading. 0,
dear! how mean thing 1T Is!
He never wrote that in the world" said
Joel. ''I'll ask him il he did"
'No, father say nothing. It's of no use.
But, father" she went on, stamping her foot
in her energy, never speak to me of Lee
Tilton again"
Her father argued with her long enough,
as he thought, to fix her determination, and
the next day, with light heart, he de-
parted on his journey:
Mr.. Parks returned home on the expected
day some six weeks later, which day was
the 5fth anniversary of his birth. 1t was
evening when he wended his way home
from the station and he noticed that his
house was brilliantly lighted.
''Ah, a birthday surprise, perhaps"
thought he.
rich array, who after the expected greet
ings, hurried him to his room, where she
gave him this note from Annie:
DEAR PAPA: We have a few friends, and
have a birthday present for you. You
mustn't tease mother to tell. VIII meet you
i'll the psrlor. ANNIE. ,
land now, pa, do dress quick and come
down." said Mrs Parks, at the same time
prudently withdrawing. Descending to the
parlors Joel found a small and select party,
including Mr.. Dale, the clergyman. In
front of him stood Annie, with Lee Tilton
by her side.
a single glance made explanation almost
unnecessary, although Joel roared out:
What the-what in the world does this
mean!"
Just what you have been wishing. He's
going to begin now"
During the first part of the ceremony
which followed. Mr.. Parks seemed a trihe
dazed, but toward the last he did some
rapid thinking When the binding words
had been pronounced, Annie turned to her
father with dazzling smile.
''Abirthday present, papa son-inlaw,"
she said. rs it an acceptable onen'
Joel kissed his daughter and shook
hands with his present" Too much
affected to speak," it was afterward re
ported.
Soon Annie found opportunity to whisper
to her father, 30, papa, you don't know
how we have planned for the last two
weeks to give you this surprise. l knew
how sad Won were when you went av ay
because l felt so about Lee, and when
every thing came right, as it did, [
wanted so much to make it up to you. o,
that letter-of course you were right. Lee
didn't write it. Mr. Morton is to marry a
Boston lady, and one day he confided the
fact to me. And it came out by accident
that he and Lee had become good friends,
and that Lee knew of his engagement at
the time that letter came. And then knew
that | had done Lee injustice; and L
can't tell now Just how it ell came about
but aren't we happy, papa"
DIR. Mills was present and he offered his
congratulations to the host.
by the ny, ne Sald, tnls would almost
do for a scene in one of our novels, you
know. Only there doesn't seem to be any
chance for relenting and FORGIVENESS on the
part of the stern parent. The pleasant lit
| tie affair. is quite in accordance with your
wishes, believe"
"Emphatically So" responded Joel, with
dignity.
But after the guests had gone, Mr.. Parks
spent an hour in the privacy of his own
room in deep reflection. There was surely
no one to blame in this matter, he admitted
himself, and Annie had good husband, no
doubt. On the whole he need have no deep
regrets on that score. But he mourned for
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