The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-02

| DacnelOI lie no longer. lnuSs
change it for better
And Archibald McFadden was putin g
this rash resolve into execution when
the reader formed his acquaintance.
For Mr.. McFadden was a man quick to
act.
Fate steals along with silent tread.
| Found oftenest in what least we dread,
! FrOwns in the storm with angry brow.
! But in the sunshine str .ke5 the blow
| -COrper.
| As Archibald busted off the seat with
his palm-leaf fan and pulled himself
into it he noticed young lady stand
ing near the front door, talking very
earnestly with the driver. The mule
resumed operations suddenly, but that
only disconnected the conversation,
without breaking it off. "What is the
matter?" said Archibald to a vinegary
looking lady of uncertain age who sat
near him. The lady drew the folds of
| her dress little closer to her, twltched
her nose slightly but firmly, and re-
marked, with rather unnecessary vigor
| that she was not in the habit of being
| spoken to by strange men in the cars.
| Then she relented little, if her feat
ures were any indication, and finally
! told him that he might find out if he
listened. He thanked her-for he was
never deficient in politeness- struck
her off his list of possibilities and ad-
dressed his ear to the young lady S
story.
Il thought that ticket was all right, y
| she said, taking one moment between
each word for an attractive blush, but
if you say not [ suppose [ am mis-
taken"
''Oh oh-h-hr' she shrieked, after a
long look through the glass box. Its
Turkish bath ticket! thoughts pack
age only Yesterday"
Indeed" said the prim lady, with
her nose and infection rising at equal
angles, while the driver impaired the
information that neither he nor the
officers of the company were likely
to need such thing. Il have friend.
however" he was just going to say,
when the mule interrupted and the
balance of the proposition died within
him.
Il guess you will have to put in an
other ticket" he said, when he had
recovered himself.
"But | haven't one" said the maid
en-, beginning to show the sparkle of
two tear-drops. Didn't [ tell YOU [
picked up the wrong package"
"Well, then, some money. Five cents,
pleaser'
Il have none of that, either" she
said, TREMENDOUSLY.
..LVaII - y,iJ tho Jrivnr fna l1v- bT1t
Archibald McFadden, as we have seen,
was man quick to act.
Never, sir" said he, glancing de-
fiance around the car; no woman
shall be put out into the cold world
while Archibald McFadden has the
money to pay her car fare.
He had forgotten in his earnestnesS
about the temperature, but the senti-
ment was all right. Then he put his
honest hand into his pocket. He
flushed little and then made the same
effort on the other side; then he tried
his vest; then his cOat-tails, and then
the pockets where more Sanguinary
men carry their revolverS. His hair
stood straight up as the search was
finished and the palm of his hand still
showed empty air. He would have
said nothing about the cold world if he
had spoken again. 1t was remarkably
warm on his side of the car.
well, them" began the driver once
more. Il was just going to say, when
that old codger interrupted me, that |
would let you ride free. You can pay
the fare some other time"
Archibald breathed harder than ever
and the young lady sat down. There
was something about her he liked. The
fair hair rippled back from her fore
head like the wavelets on sunny
brook. and her blue eyes beamed to-
ward him like the violets on its banks.
''She is a better girl than the one |
am after" said he, ''even if she has no
money. and. by Jove, I'll sacrifice my
self Pll find out, however" he added,
prudently, "before the thing goes too
far, whether she can sew on buttons or
not" And then he braced himself up
in his seat and patted his hair down
with his left hand.
"Ahem, madame" said he. "Ex-
cuse me, but | was Just in the act of
helping you when that driver coarSely
interfered. Can l be of any further
service?"
mo. sir, thank you," said the fair
one, sinking back into the corner as if
she were glad to be through with the
adventure and conversation.
Archibald was discouraged but not
cast down. He moved little nearer
and cleared his throat. Don't let any
little feelings of reserve" said he, in
mild chosen words. prevent you from
accepting a necessary favor from a
stranger. | wish" he went on elo-
quentlv, throwing his whole soul i'm
preseively through his eyes, ''to be of
any service that can"
The young lady was speechless and
only shook her head.
'.She is evidently affected" thought
Archibald. Now to press on to vic
tory" He moved up an inch nearer
and had a choice word just ready to
fall from his lips, when the lady rose
suddenly, smiled ut some one running
after the car MY husband, said she.
Sweetlv. You can offer your sugges-
tons to him." Archibald fell back
abashed rs stalwart young man, with
clear dark eyes and big mustache,
climbed into thecar. The lady greeted
him enthusiastically, like one very glad
of his presence. and whispered some
thing in his ear. He turned, glared at
Archibald, and stepped toward him
with clenched fists. $50, sir-r-r-!
said he-but a swash which made the
car reel, crash. the breaking of glass,
and the hoarse adiectives of the driver
stopped him where he stood. One side
of the car grew dark, He reeled. fell
on the floor, and Archibald, bleeding