The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-24

| =
have the fortushus circumstance to b
obleeged ter stop over among us. Yes
sir, your Honor. | give you the wei
!: kim of the place.
Thank you.'' said. He proceeded
to say:
"You dew me a high an mighty
honor to tarry in our midst, noble sir
1t is airly Wit, bein' only six an half
and this evenin' my woman has {
party, an would you 90? You viii
meet all of our bic folks, for | insure
YOU that no other'Il be asked. VIII you
not 90. noble sir?"
/ told him that his courtesy was
simply overwhelming and | could not
resist the invitation. But my evening
dress was not what it should be for
such an occasion.
mo consequence, sir; no conse.
quence," he said. 1.-The honor of your
presence will more than recompensate
thatr'
"But, Mr.. Briggs" said, 81 am a
stranger, and it will"
20, no, no." he interrupted. ave
have all heard of you"
Before could ask him to explain when
and where he had ever heard of me,
he began to walk backward toward the
door. arrived ut which he informed me
that he would call for me in an hour.
| went on with my supper and was just
eating the last morscl of berry-pie when
| was startled by stick being pushed
cautiously through the window-shade.
| That boy againi | was preparing to
arise and drive him away when there
came a gentle knock at the door
| said "COme in" and there entered a
tall individual, dressed in black, with
the whitest of dicbies and sleekest OF
beavers. He advanced slowly. Iarose
to receive him. In a solemn voice he
said:
Permit me to introduce myself to
your noble self-Rev. Mr.. Whitney,
pastor of the Congregational Church,
at your service"
Feeling it my duty to return the in
PRODUCTION, began:
''Thank you, sir, my name is Al"
He interrupted me with:
"Your name is familiar, sir. l am
very glad to meet you" And he shook
hands with me, then he took the chair
which l offered. / was about to say
that it was stormy day, but he fore
stalled me.
81 suppose that this is weather some
thing like You have at home." he said
Thinking that he knew that | was
from Boston, and supposing that the
people of Southern New Jersey re-
garded Boston as hyperborean, simply
acluiesced. Heproceeded with a perfect
stream of conversation, speaking of
the climate of northern Europe, of the
Greek Church, of sundry other matters,
never, however, committing himself.
[ could not add word; he did all the
talking. For half an hour he kept at
it, then he was interrupted by little
gentleman in gray, who came briskly
in, and after Introducing himself as DIR.
Biglow, cordially invited me to come
to his house and spend the night. Be-
fore | could answer him. he caught
sight of little current of steam that
was coming through the hole in my
window shade. Hestepped softly across
the room, lifted the shade and disclosed
nine faces ut the window.
"Well. well, boySI' he said. ''This
is insulting to his Highness. Jump
down and go away"
Letting the shade fall to place again, |
he said with a ripping laugh:
Every body is so curious to seey you,
sir!'
Il should Judge" 1 said. ''that your
people very rarely see strangers.
Fact, sir; such strangers as you are |
never seen here. Shall have you with |
me tonight"
L told him of my promise to Mr.. |
Briggs and of my fear of offending Mr.. |
Spott by leaving, and then kindly re-
fused,
but you must call on me, then" he |
said. my wife and have only been
married a week. (here he exchanged |
smiles with the clergyman). land it
will please her very much"
told him if | remained in the place |
during the next day, l would call |
After lingering over my bear-skin coat,
and telling me that they had but little
nice Russian seal @ in this cSuntry.
he excused himself, saying that he had
a patient to visit, but would be in at |
Mrs. Briggs party. To my relief the
Rev. Whitney left with him. After
they had gone Mr.. Spott came for the
tea dishes.
The parsons very plain man."
he observed. Hes so great in the |
pulpit. You'd oughter heered his SER
mon las Sabba' day. He took the
10th Psalm an expounded it verse by |
verse. Sir, it was glorious! But. of |
course, you don't believe his way, an
so 'tain't as agreeable to you"
He took up the platter of dishes, and
began to back out as Mr.. Briggs had |
done, at the same time apologizing for
not having done it before, but really
he hadn't known that was the way to |
do till Briggs had learnt him" Plainly
he had never walked backward before,
for just as he reached the door, his heel
caught in rug, and he fell PROSTATE,
dishes and all. l hastened to help him
up, and assisted in picking up the bits
of china. After all was cleared he
kissed my hand with his tobacco-juicy
lips, and departed.
For few minutes l had opportunity
to breathe. and to think over the even
ing's episode. The idea of being in a
robbers nest, put away, but L rea-
soned that Bunkville might be popu-
lated by lunatics. Why was it that L,
a plain commercial traveller, should re-
ceive so much attention? 1t never en-
tered my mind that it was a case of
identity, but put it in what
ever form l chose l could not account
for the strange behavior of these Bunk
Williams. The whole matter had per-
picked me, but l was destined to ex-
perience a greater measure of per-
plexity.
For the sixth time in the space of
forty minutes nv door was ranned |