The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-01

"HOnder are a small party of Indians
Shipleigh," he said. Il suppose they are
some of the Utes whom We saw in the vii
lage yesterday"
DIRTY, inoffensive little beggarsn
I'VE may find them more offensive than
we shall like. See that your rifle and side
arms are in order, Shipleigh."
Shipleigh Obeyed the command without
the least sign of anxiety or curiosity. He
had talked with the tribe the day before.
and had formed such contemptuous opin-
ion of them that he was scarcely disturbed
at their approach. But they soon caused
his calm gray eyes TO open wide with as
constituent and anger 5 his mind received,
like the shock of lightning, the conviction
that he would have to fight for his life
1t was very hard fight; there were seven
Utes against the three white men, and one
of these almost unarmed. The ground was
mountainous and behind the projecting
| ellis lt was quite possible other Indians
lay in ambush. But they were resolved to
sell their lives as dearly as possible, and
very likely this would have been the only
favor granted them had not the firing and
their shouts attracted the attention of some
herdsmen seeking stray horses among the
hills. Never was human help more needed
than theirs. The Senator had been wounded
in the cheek. and was faint from loss Of
blood: indeed, when the rescuing party
came up, he had sunk 10 the ground. and
the EnglisAman was defending with a des-
|
companion.
That they were saved was the last impress
sion Shipleigh received for many a day.
for a shot from the retreating Indians laid
him senseleSS beside his friend. Fortu-
nate!y the herdSmen had horses, and there
was ranch scarcely half a mile away 50
that help was soon procured. and the two
| wounded men taken carefully hOm3. The
Senator's injury was a slight one. and he
| soon recovered from its exhaustion; but
Shipleigh's wound was a much more scri-
Gus affair. The ball was difficult TO extract;
fever. deliriUm and the usual tedious heal
| ing process followed, and for many weeks
the young artist lay PROSTATE in his room
ShipleiSh, however. had a better physi-
clan than every one knew of. One morn
| ing the stupOr left him. and he came tC
| himself a@aiu-very weak. and only dimlV
| compromising the situation in which he
! lay: but Dyandby the forms of 1mOgene
! Catherine and the Senator became cleaT to
| him. They were talking in whispers by
! fire on the hearth-StOne, and as he watched
| them lmOCene'5 eyes responded to his eager
glance. She glided to his side, and stopped
! tenderly toward him.
''ImOgene. beloved Imogenel l am dy-
| ing, l think You may let me tell you now,
sweetest. how love YOU
Then i'll whispers, with tears dropping
! from her great brown eyes upon his face.
| Imogene said words which brought light
again into the sick mans eyes and the
| desire for life into his heart.
His cOnvaleScence was not unhappy.
! The Senator lowered round him with num-
! berleSS little attentions, and every bit of
| interesting news he could PICK up, and the
| girls waited on his lighteSt wishes, and
even anticipated them Catherine, it is
true. being the Senator's hOuSekeeper, and
Louis Saitonstalf's betrothed, had many
Interruptions to her service, but Imogene
| and Arthur Shipleigh never regarded her
absences unfavorably.
What these two young people found 10
say to each other. hour after hour, day
after day, week after week, is a mystery
only few are given to understand; but the
| Senator must have been the blindeSt of men
if he had not anticipated the confession
which Mr.. Shipieigh made to him the very
first night he was allowed again to take his
seat at his hosts dining-table.
The answer was a little reserved. "YOu
saved my life, Shipleigh, and can not re-
fuse you my daughter
But, sir, not for gratitude alone. hoped
that you had respect-a real liking for
me.n
Il have-I have, Shipleigh But, to be
frank, l had hoped better things for Imo-
gene. A man likes his girl to do well in
money matters"
Shipleigh's face fell II am not poor"
he said, land | have a very good pro-
fesSion.r
'Well, well, let the painting l$siness go.
We must get you something better to do.
You are young and handsome, with heart
as good as gold, and-hang it! Arthur
Shipleigh, YOU are welcome to ImOGene."
SO the two men shook hands with
hearty grip and very dim eyes, and from
that moment ImOgene'S marriage was con
sidered a very satisfactory affair. But
somehow these impru1ent, foolishly-in-love
young people could not be persuaded to
wait until their house was built and
furnished, Catherine and the ex-Attorney-
General talked and talked and talked to
them; but Arthur wished to be married
imm ediately and 60 back to England, and
lmOgene wished to do whatever Arthur
wanted
SO the Senator, like a wise father, ac-
copied the situation he could not help, and
made great preparations for the wedding.
No one had lately spoken of Lord Hythe,
but lmOgene noticed that Arthur directed
no cards for him. The friendship, such as
it was. had evidently died a natural death
and a faint blush stole over her cheeks as
she remembered her little plan of six
months ago, and how differently it had
terminated for even in all her bridal love
illness she had no higher hope than to be
worthy of the noble heart who had chosen
her. To-day she would have thought it no
higher honor to be Lady Hythe than to be
Arthur Shipleigh'S wife. Such thoughts
were in her heart as Catherine half tear
fully dressed her in the pearly satin and
lace that made her toilet. Strangely
enough, Arthur's first words, as he held her
in his arms, a moment before the ceremony,
were Lord Hythe may be here any mo-
ment, ImOgene.'
How singularr' Brit Arthur saw with
delight that her interest was scarcely
reused. and that she had neither eyes nor
thoughts for any one but himself.
MY Lord may come now" he said,
triumphantly; Il care not how soon"
In q few minutes the solemn words were
spoken. and Arthur and Imogene were man
and wife. There was pleasant murmur
and futter, the sound of kindly kisses and
low laughter, and amid it the signing of
papers. Few paid any attention to the
latter form. Arthur Shipleigh wrote some
thing little hastily, glanced into his wife's
ewes, and put the pen in her hand. She
signed her old name without regret for
its being the last time seeing only the
tender face that bent beside her.
But eX-Attorney General SaltonStall laid
his finger on signature, and pointed it out
to the Senator. Then instantly there was
a momentary hush. and the radiant bride
groom, taking advantage of it, said,
proudly; MY father and my friends, the
signature is quite correct. l am Arthur
Shipleigh, Baron of Hythe." Then there
was little storm of applause, and my
Lady Imogeue rose graudly to the situa-
ton, and accepted it with such beautiful
pride in her love that not woman in the
assembly envied her in that hour her uneX-
pected honor.
Perhaps the only dissatisfied person was
the Senator He had a sense of injury that
demanded some apology; and when the
company was gone, and the bride with her
sister preparing for her journey, he said,
almost reproachfully: Arthur, you have
not treated me well. 1 am an American
Senator. sir do not like even an English
Lord to steal into my house under false
colors."
But Lord Hythe's excuses were ready; he
had wanted to taste what real life was, and
hoped in the great West, as a simple gentle