The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-22
BREAKING A MATCH.
Err. Parks Takes as His Guide a
Novel Of the Day.

One evening Mr.. Joel Parks, a wealthy
manufacturer in the thriving New England
village of Redfeld, and Dr. Mills leading
physician of the same place, sat chatting in
the doctors office. A stranger noting the
age and rather prosaic appearance of the
two men would hardly have guessed the
topic of conversation. They were discus
sing works of fiction.
Il must have been going on fifty years
old when l read my first novel," Mr.. Parks
was saying. ''You see man that starts on
journey, as l did, barefooted, SO to speak,
has got to attend to business and nothing
else for good many years, if he expects to
get anywhere in particular at last. He
doesn't have much time for light reading
doctor. But III the last few years. I've read
a good many, and enjoy them, especially
when they seem true TO life, and l think |
can generally tell when they are. | like
Trollope on that account. l never saw an
Archbishop or n Duke, but know as well
as ] want to that he just hits them off to
Il. And like HowellS, if he does hold such
men as be UP to ridicule And let me tell
YOU, doctor, there's instruction IN novels.
Those writers have to study human nature.
I've got many a hint about managing men
from reading those boOks.n
Eyes" said the doctor, I've read them
all my life, and like them yet-love pas
saCes and all Funny amt it.r he con
tiuued, how two Old gray heads like you
and me will follow the love story of Il silly
boy and girl who won't listen to their nat
ural guardians. and Sympathize with them
every time. We never have any feeling
for the sensible fathers ana mothers of our
own age who are being plotted against
Il don't know about that, was the reply /;
al do sometimes SympathiZe with the Old
folks, and think that If / had been in their
place ] would have been more successful ia
having my way
We'll, Joel said the otherwith a laugh,
q guess that is one point on which YOU
never get much instruction from the story
teller. Papa and mama always have their
ideas of their daughter future. The wrong
young man happens along and she develops
her ideas quite opposite from theirs. And
she always comes out ahead. If you want
to carry your point with Your offspring YOU
will have to learn how outside of a story
book
80, as to that, perhaps the instruction
is all there. only its instructions how not
to do it. don't suppose that L shall ever
want to interfere with my daughter about
husband or a lover; but if | should, am
not sure but that 1 could learn something
from the noyEelists"
Ttthere were no condolences there would
be no stories. II was coincidence that,
=,
an amigble lady whose mind was in her
husbands keeping, said TO him:
Joel, have YOU ever noticed that Lee
Tilton and Annie seemed to be taking a
notion towards each otherl'
Joel was engaged with his newspaper at
the time, and he did not take his eyes from
the list of newly-appointed poStmaSterS
which he had been reading. But it cost
him an effort, for his wife'S question was n
shock indeed. Such an idea bad never
occurred to him, and as he sat there physi-
cally at ease, he found his thoughts sadly
crowding each other.
Lee Tiltoni One of his own clerks |!
Likely fellow enough, pleasant and honest
But he didn't like Lee Tilton. He didn't
know just why, and he had never thought
of il before, but now he was sure of so much.
Lee was nothing but Redfield boy any
way; and Notwithstanding in a little
place like that and living with his mother
and sister. And then his daughter Annie !
What future was possible for that girl +!
Beautiful as any heroine OF fiction No;
his daughter should never be given 70 Lee
Tntoni That was one decision, absolute
and final. A subordinate question was also
discussed and settled in mental council of
war. IL would perhaps be as well that Mrs.
Parks should not for the present know her
husbands feelings in the matter So much
having been arranged, he slowly raised his
eyes from the paper, looked at his wife
absently, and said:
t'Oom-eh!'
al was asking if you had noticed any
thing in particular between Lee Tilton and
Annie, - replied Mrs Parks placidly.
'sNo, / think not; what have you no
ticed!''
'sWhy, / do know; not much of any thing
perhaps. But ne kind o. comes up here
evenings and they read together some.
And-well, one thing and another has led
me to think that they might be getting in
terested in each other"
Joel did not continue the conversation
but soon betook himself to the room, half
Office and half library, where he was wont
TO retire when he had leisure for reading
or when he had some perplexing business
problem to think out. Here he sat awhile
In meditation. He had accepted in full his
wife's revelation without thought OF inves-
tigating the grounds on which it was based.
His camp had been surprised; how should
he meet the foel Presently he stepped TO