Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-29

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phere of womanly purity and taste, laid
the letter on a chair where it would catch
the young girls eye on entering, and
withdrew
He was met on the lower corridor by
| the stylish widow, IN a most becoming
morning negligee.
Had Mr.. Blake seen her naughty, naugh.
ty Sim that morning!
Mr. Blake had He was even then placid
| ly munching bonbons in his favorite resort
the open transom over Mr.. Blake's door.
| He
Yet glance at the transom showed that
it was empty. Sim, taking advantage OF
Dicks absence, had probably descended
in quest of more bonbons 1t was a way
he had.
But thorough search of the room, which
Mrs Browns sense of propriety did not
permit her TO enter, revealed no trace OF
a higher flight to the second and third
Stories whittier the erratic Sim was wont
| to escape whenever he slipped his chain,
which on an average was six times week.
Ten minutes later Mrs. Brown, with a
heightened color and Sim struggling in
her arms, passed Mr.. Blake's door and en-
terei her own
But Blake had little thought for captor
or captive. The Marguerite refrain-''she
loves me-loves me not"-kept repeating
itself over and over again in the mind of
this usually matter-of-fact young man.
Would she or would she not wear his roses
Hope suggested she would-fear took a
contrary view. And so the pros and cons
struggled for precedence till the summons
to dinner
Though Dicks back was toward the din
ing-hal door, he knew with a lovers clair
voyance when Francie entered. Above
the clatter of chair legs, the rattle of dish
es and babble of voices he heard the soft
rustic of her dress before she reached and
passed him. but he had not the courage for
the moment to look up.
Not until Francie had taken her accus-
toned seat at the table directly opposite
did Dick raise his eyes to learn his fate.
And then his heart almost stopped beat
ing. He saw nothing of the little smile
and nod of recognition. All he saw was
that at Francie's viii throat. encircled by
dainty rGffle scarce whiter-nO roses lCcre
pinned.
How Dick managed to get through the
form of eating that Thanksgiving dinner
he does not know to this day. He ate and
drank mechanically of the odorous turkey
that tasted to him like the ashes of Dead
Sea apples. Side dishes were an abOmi-
nation and pie hollow mockery. The
only time re ventured a second glance in
Francie's direction she was chatting gaily
with that Internal young Golden, of whom
he had long been secretly jealous. And in
metaphor, this was the last feather.
Guess you left your appetite upstairs,
oh Toll oh g,tI1
on his left, entirely unabashed by Dicks
angry glare
The Rev. Er Putter. Dicks uis-a-ris, saw
an opening for a word in season. He was
a stiff, pasty-faced indiv. dual, with NUT
ton chop whiskers and chronic dislike
toward Dick. who had once surreptitiously
inserted Mrs. Browns pet alligator be-
tween his ed sheets.
Il fear" he solemnly remarked across
the table, ''that your young friend is not
duly thankful"
What the devil have got to be thank
full for" savagoly calculated unhappy
Dick
Rev. Mr.. Putters turned quite pale at
this unexpected and altogether diabolical
outburst which fell like a verbal thunder
bolt in the immediate vicinity Yet what
could one expect from young man who
had boldly avowed his sympathy with the
heretical professors at Andover.
From the standpoint of those who had
heard this explosive query, Dick Blake
had much to be thankful for. Youth,
health, intellect, cook looks and COM
Portable competency are certainly bless
ings worthy of being counted.
Thus in effect mildly remarked boarder
as Dick, having pushed his chair back
abruptly left the room, followed by a
wlstful, wondering look from Francie's
dark eyes, and one of different import from
Mrs. Theodosia Browns languishing orbs.
"And rich widow to be had for the ask
ing" muttered old Bynner, soto uoce, yet
loud enough for Rev. Putter to hear-that
gentleman beng strongly suspected of en-
PERTAINING designs against Mrs Browns
heart and bank account.
Mr.. Putter scowled and Widger, who
posed as cynic, shrugged his shoulders
Blake is one of those fellows who. born
with silver spoon in his mouth, is mad
all the time because it isn't gold, don't you
know" he observed, looking about for the
applause which did not follow what he
thought rather neat remark
But carelessly unconscious Of the char
liable comments of his fellow boarders,
Dick made his way to his room, locked the
door and began to make preparations for
an immediate departure to Kalamazoo or
Kamaschatka-it didn't matter. ANY
where to get away from his sorrow-from
himself
While thus occupied, highly, scented
note was slipped under the door. The con-
tents were as follows:
mrs. Brown would be desited to have
Mr. Blake make one of little informal
gathering at her rooms this Thanksgiving
| eve. THEoDosIE B. BROWN"
regret to say that the young man NUT
tered something uncomplimentary to the
female sex, and widows in particular, As he
tossed the note into the waste-paper eas-
ket Yet after thinking it over little, he
decided to 60. It would be proper time
and place to say goodbye to those Of his
fellow boarders who were present. II
would look rather strange to refuse, any