The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-23

of hope for the future, and tried to lure him
away from the tempting presence of his en-
chantress. But he turned from her with
an angry shrug of the shoulders.
They are calling you below" he said, as
the voices of the girls came up to the organ
loft. Il suppose they're afraid to come up,
ha! ha. This IS Christmas eve, isn't it,
What was to dol let me think o, there
was the festival music. have it now, all
but those lost chords. And there was a
wedding march. Who was to be marriedl'
with a sudden touch Of suspicion in his
manner-''you, was it May, to Hiram
Wnght!r
50 Oh, mol mol" cried the Door girl, cover
ing her face with his hands. ''In mercy,
no."
" Re has no music in his soul, but he is
rich, and he has always loved you, May.
You know 1 can never marry you. The
eagle does not mate with the dove. Yes,
May, marry your black browed lover, and he
can blow the organ bellows while l play
| divine symphonies for the world to hear
and applaud. Music-mad, do they say! Oh,
it is a sweet madness! are you crying!
can play tears and signs! love them-ha
hann
Then she left him and went downstairs
with heavy, heavy heart. There were
the girls and the young men who had called
Tor their sisters and sweethearts. Among
them was Hiram Wright, who had neither
sister nor sweetheart there.
Hes waiting for yOu," said Kate Bios
som, tucking her little gold thimble into her
pocket. Il wouldn't lose it for any
/ thing, " she admitted in Mays ear, " because
| George Simpson sent it to me from Paris,
and il has our initials on the band. There's
Hiram WRIGHT waiting to see you home"
Don't leave me, Kate, dear" said May,
eagerly, "walk that way with me. l can
not bear his company just now"
The church was prettily trimmed with its
! arches and wreaths of evergreen, and the
star that was TO be illuminated by lamp
at the evening service. The girls hurried
about getting their wraps and hoods on
for the air was cold-and chatting alto
! gether as they did so.
81 hope old Michel viii have it good and
warm this evening"" SAID one, as she shiv-
'' sTh here's Maurice up-stsrs, girls; he
mustn't stay there" suggested Alice Baker.
"Oh, ne goes home when he gets ready y
whispered another, fearful that May would
overhear her. "Poor fellow! they say he's as
poor as a church mouse since he's given up
his business, and gone to studying music. "
May did hear, and smiled to herself at the
| congruity of the statement. What if he
were, she had enough for both, if only that
were needed. But an unbalanced mind
Who could restore the treasure of intellect
that he had SO nearly lost!
On their way home, Hiram Wright man.
! aged TO walk by Nays side, and whenever
there was an opportunity poured into her
y = hx-
her silent contempt, he asked her taunting-
ly what she had done with her ''mad lover u
He must indeed have believed that all
was lost, when he could so far forget him
self, but he was not prepared for the superb
anger of the woman he loved and who now
openly scorned him.
"Mad he may be, as you say" she retort-
ed, in a loud, firm voice, ''but call Heaven
TO witness that would rather die with him
| than live with YOU
The young man persisted as if she had not
spoken.
why do you refuse the love of man
who can give you every thing, for one who
can give you nothing. What comparison is
there between us!"
None; or if you insist there is one, that
l can give you. You are in love with your
self, but Maurice is in love with me. 1t is
disloyalty to him to even speak his name to
you -
. And YETI he sncered, ''he leaves you to
con2e home in my company, while he fol-
lows the prorlp,ings of a whim, and makes
az IDOL of an idea, chimera of the brain. -
- We will not discuss him further, and
after this l do not wish your further &C
quaintance, Mr.. Wright said May, with
dignity.
do you mean what you say, May
Allen?'
q l do; you have proved any thing but a
friend to Maurice Dawson since calamity
overlook him. You knew that 1 was his
promised w.fe-that this very Christmas eve
we were to have been married; but for this
unhappy visitation. Yet you force your
unwelcome attentions upon me, when you
would not dare to address me if Maurice
were himself"
- Have you fnishedr' inquired the
Young man, in a husky voice, abe
cause if you have 1 will go, and
if can help it-never see your face
again And, as for your mad must
cian, you may think less of him when he
goes to a mad-house, where he is certain to
end his career"
Poor May. She walked into her home
with dilated eyes, and such an expression
OF despair on her face, that her mother rose
from her chair by the open fire, and de-
manded in a frightened voice:
What is it. What has happened, May,
to make you look like thatl"
And May sobbed it out on her mothers
shoulders, ending with the despairing re-
frain:
s~And this IS Christmas eve, when every
one ought to be so happvw
MAY" said Mrs. Allen, gently, 1--WE are
not put into Slis life only to secure happi
ness. The great Founder of Christmas
came into the world to suffer for others.
Can you not think less Of yourself. and of
Maurice, and wait patiently until there is
change. Sometimes, my child, the darkest
hour is just before the dawn"
Il will try, MOTHER said May, sadly. 81
wish now had not spoken as l did to
Hiram Wright. Bat he looked so strong
and triumphant and seemed to rejoice so at
the misfortunes of poor Maurice that l
could not bear it l only wish may never
see him again.
It was the echo of his own wish. But on
his way home Hiram met the old sexton of
the church hurrying off as fast as his
rheumatic old limbs would bear him.
al promised my gal would look in on
her an the babies on Christmas eve," he
said; ''now you're smart young man, an
would We mind being a bit obligin' like,
and lookin' after the church door tonight.
The fire is all right in the furnace. Only
when ye come out, mind ye don't lock emmy
one in"
Hiram had it on his mind that he would
hand the key which the old man thrust on
him to the first one he met VINO was likely