The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-08

enough for a thousand wool-sacks, =
said Dr.. BaZ, making his escape
quickly, to avoid the torrent of in.
Vective that would have been poured
upon him for his satire. Contact with
Wymer, Woy & Wymer somewhat
Jared upon the tender heart of the
little doctor; but peep at William,
standing at 4 window, with his arm
around Laura waist, was sufficient
to bring his spirit again into perfect
harmony with the season.
The lovers were looking oat upon the
night. The snOw-fakes were falling
lightly, and as far as the eye could
reach a field of Purest white was spread
before them. The window was in a
recess, shut OF from the room by
heavy curtains, so that they were a.
most in secluSicn. William was speak
ing 10 Laura in soft, loving tones, and
her pure, truthful face denoted how
lovingly she was following his words.
Three Cnrlstmasrs. M darling"
SAID William. dating from last year.
What 4 contrast! Last year YOU and
1 had not seen each other, and next
wear We shall be in our own coy nest
Before / saw YOU, did not know what
= happiness there is in restfulness of
spir!:. 1t was impossible for me to set
&c myself down; now | would be this;
now 1 would be that: something within
me always whispering: Move on:
don stop wherc YOU are. For months
and months | Thought of e!nigrating
90 the Australian colonies, and / used
to dcVOur the news of every fresh dis
.Corcrv in the other part Of the world
/ dreamed night after night OF
tremendous nuggets, almost too heavy
IN lift, and would wake in a rage to
lind i ali 4 delusiOn. At length !
quite made up my mind; there was
nothing here TO bind me to the old
land; / would 90 out to the new
Away posted to WOy & Wymer, and
gave Instructions to sell my farm; they
soon found 4 purchaser, and the con-
vCyance was drawn up. Stephen
WinEworth was the man who wanted
to buy it, but happily did not sign it
away ID him. for 1T that precise time.
my darling, | me; YOU, and thought:
"Nhy be in such 4 hurry. William? .
And when / discovered that you loved
me he drew her closer to him
''away to tho four winds of Heaven
flew ali ideas Of parting with my land
/ h"d found my happiness here"
1he looked up into his face shyly and
timidly.
Does never q thought come into
Your mind, William, that it might have
been as well for you if you had gone
away?"
What question, dearest! Asked
to try me! Wei, it is small trial.
Put me to severer test. and see me
smiling at you with perfect truthful
nests 90 now, loving you. believ-
ing in You, though all the world were
against M"
"Nhat mean is, it might have done
You good. You are naturally inn
Yes" he interrupted. with rapid
shakes his head. ''impulsive, self-willed
and Obstinate
u will not hear you say that. for it
is not 50. 1ou are naturally impulsive,
bold. manly, fearless"
f. interrupted her again with 4
happy laugh. Two sides 10 the shield.
But ewes of love cant see clearly"
And nov YOU are going to settle
into a quiet, humdrum life, perhaps
not exactly suited TO you"
That is just what Stephen Wink
worth said. When he went to the law
Ncrs', with his money in his hand. SiX-
teen hundred sOvereigns-and | told
him had altered my mind, and did not
intend to sell my farm, he called me
raSh-hcadcd; said that / did not know
what was good for myself, that the bar
gain mad been made. and | could not
draw back from it. And there the
money is to this day-at least. so old
MIR. Nymer is always telling me-and
there are the deeds ready for signing.
All | have to DO is to go to the office,
and write my name. and pocket the
sixteen hundred pounds. But were it
n million times as much, it would not
tempt me, il it threatened 70 part us;
for Your love, darling, is worth all the
gold in the world to me, and do not
intend TO forfeit it BY any act of mine"
"H you have found your happiness"
she said presently, after a delicious
pause, (which pray that you have--I
will try that il shall be so, believe me,
I have found mine. Tell me. Will
lam, what made YOU so eager to 60 TO
the gold colonies"
They seemed to offer the most
tempting lookout But there 3caS an
other reason. 4 friend of mine, who
mad been scapegrace in his younger
DAYS. had gone over, and reformed.
and made lots OF money. He wrote so
about the mode of life there,
and lis freedom. and the gold, that he
fairy turned my head"
Your friend, said Laura, and hest
fated.
"Yes?" questioned William.
"Was he simply wild and thought
less?''
"He was worse. He committed q
great wrong
sin what way, William"
HE forged bis fathers name"
"Oh, William she cried, in a voice
so fraught with pain that he held her to
his breast and asked her, in alarm, what
allied her. She recovered herself quick
ly, and, laughing Historically, begged
him to proceed.
Well" continued William, '.he
forged his fathers name and the forg-
cry was detected. The old gentleman
gave him means to carry him to Aus
tralia and he escaped punishment. But
his father, in settling the claim, was al
most ruined.n
And afterward?" said Laura.
the father died. and the young
reformed and became a
frst-rate member of society"
1T is a melancholy story" said
Laura. in tone of sadness.
''Stsphen Winkworth and poor Alice