The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-29
A ROMANCE SPOILED.
The Dire Imposition Upon Rev.
SeptimuB HasIingdean.

SeptlmuB HaSlingdean.
Rev. Septimus Haslingdean, having beer
escorted to most comfortable seat by az
attentive guard, baving arranged his va
rious belongings and finally unfolded hi
afternoon paper, reclined against thu
cushioned back of the compartment for
moment, sighed gently as a relief conse
quent on the fatigue and bother of his drive
the trouble of buying ticket, and seeing
that he was properly taken cara of. Ther
he leaned his head out of the window tC
survey contemplatively the busy CROWD
hurrying and busting about. A crowd il
always moro or less amusing to a spectator
OF its movements, and the reverend gentle
man, being of a gregarious disposition,
rather liked looking on at other people
working or playing, especially well-con-
Quoted, respectable kind of people. who did
not render themselves disagreeable. Rev.
Septimus hoped he might be fortunate
enough to have his compartment COM
pletely to himself, and had intimated his
desire to the friendly guard The carriages
were rapidly filling, and the train would
start In another five minutes, so he blandly
surveyed tie figures fitting and flying to
and fro. gazing on their busy actions
with languid cOmplacency. He seldom
Travelled beyond the outskirts of his
own Arcadia, and objected strongly
TO encountering any discomfort on his
journeys. At his age-he was nearly sixty,
but his dressing glass in common with his
numerous friends and few enemies, told
him that be appeared certainly twelve or
fifteen years leSs-when nigh six decades
have begun to whisper unpleasantly of
aches and pains, bOthers and worries, it is
most needful to be gently punctilious as to
personal comfort Fate had been bonn
teous to the Rev. Septimus: she had given
him all the welcome offerings she could
scatter at his feet-gOOd looks ample for
tune, host of admirers, if not adorers and
worshipers, sunlighed path to tread on
through life. He had married a we'll
lowered wife, who had been moderately
kind to him, but after ten or twelve wears
OF calm domestic partnership had departed,
leaving him not utterly destitute, incon.
solable or prey to despair. His only
daughter had married well in her teens:
his only son had received an eryiable ap-
pointment in India.
Nearly everybody was seated: the final
Blammlng of doors ratified like musketry
fire all along the line of carriages. Rev.
Sepumus gently shook his newspaper the
odor of the printing ink being slightly of
fenslve TO him, At home, in the rectory
the daily journal was ALWAYS solicit0usiy
aired before being touched by the dimDled
white hands of the perhaps too fastidious
rector. With a reluctance he had not vet
overcome even wnen alone he took his
spectacles from their case, wiped the
glasses with a handkerchief fine and soft
as snow, such as a duchess might use
perched the gold frame across his hand
some nose, and meditatively resigned him
self to scan the latest news. Fate had, in
one OF her teasing moods, inflicted upon
her favorite the modification of wearing
spectacles, In malicious sport, as frolicSome
girls Will sometimes scratch their lovers
with the thorn of rose. Oft-times did the
rector think it was too bad, when he hap
pened to see some wretched old farm la
borer about seventy or eighty wears old
reading without glasses" and with mani
fest ease.
A soft, melodious voice said, so suddenly
as TO startle him:
May come in herel'
He looked up, whipped his spectacles
under the paper and stared at the speaker
not only answering quickly, Certainly" :"
but rising and actually opening the door
himself to admi6a most beautiful girl. who
sprang lightly in and seated herself oppo-
site to him. The rector liked beautiful
fashionably -attired girls, though he seldom
enjoyed the good fortune of meeting them.
De ranked them among the agreeable,
solacing things of this dull life-like roses
peaches, pineapples, RimmePs choicest
perfumes, and so on. In a mild, paternal
way, he disapproved of young female per
sons trying to be clever or intellectual or
straying outside the calm, sheltering pre-
cinctS of domestic duties, as he deemed it
necessary to rebuke them for Welding TO
the temptations and frivolity on the other
hand. This young lady was perhaps eigh-
teen or twenty years old, with charming,
frank, gir1ish face, bewitchingly pretty
and no doubt was as amiable as her looks
declared her to be. Her attire, a master
piece OF richness in material combined
Win cnasoe simplicity of design, set off
her beauty to the highest advantage.
so, thank you so very much" she said
with an upward glance from the shadow
of her long dark eyelaSheS-the glance of a
trusttul child, with dangerous CLEAN of
an admiriug young woman. The reverend
gentleman was accustomed to be regarded
with glances implying admiration; but
even the gods never tire of slipping nectar,
and a critical little bird might have be-
trayed the secret that he now priced these
gianceS more highly as the remorseless
years sneaked by.
81 am so unaccustomed to travelling, "
she continued. smiling. ''0f course / am
never allowed to travel by myself-papa
would be horrified. And mamma saws
there are SO many rude, disagreeable peo-
pie aboutr
"Then how began Rev. Septimus.
pleasantly amused aud gratified by the de-
Gghtful confidence thus displayed
.Oh, pardon me-juSt one moment, :"
said the young lady; an eminently re-
spectacle elderly woman appeared at the
door. 'You are very tiresome," the young
lady continued, pOutingly, to this indi-
vidual.
''Yes, Miss Ada, but 1 can change my
ticket at the next station"
MY maid was so stupid, or the man was
so stupid, or she did not understand. or he
did not understand don't know" ex-
planned Miss Ada innoceutly. "She ought
to have come in the same carriage you
know; mamma would be so dreadfully
cross if she knew, and papa would be hor-
ri6ed, but somehow Bellamy took a second
class ticket for herself and you see"
Exceedingly stupid - blandly assented
the rector, not altogether in-pleased, bow
ever. Servants are so apt TO Be negli
gent and thoughtless-"
81 am afraid so. But / must not find
fault with poor Bellamy-she is SO good, so
fond of me-"
Rev. Septimus smiled; who could help
being good to 50 delightful, so charmingly
frank creaturel She leughingly con-
tinued: "Papa.wa to have met me at the
station, but he had telegram, and was
obliged to 90 BY an earlier train, but he
will meet me at the next station You can
change the ticket at the next station. Bel
amy, or papa will see to it. Don't look so