The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-15

by such a request from you. ]
should feel honored," said L but
the general nuisance is SO great that
am obliged to tell these people what
really think of them" And then ex.
planned my glorious scheme for scarf
flying the autograph hunter, and eman.
cipating my brothers in distinction and
distress.
Excellent said Cudgell; "but
wouldn't it be rather awkward if you
were to meet some of them, say at q
table like this?''
"Mr. Fitzphosphorus knows his
friends too WE'LL" said Helena.
Don't be too sure of that" laughed
her father. "If you had sent him an
autograph album. you might have had
whitening quotation like the rest"
At this curious SILVER of PRESENT.
ment ran through me. and 1 looked in
quiringly at Helena, who had queer
ly mysterious expression in her eyes.
But here the irrepressible old lady
broke in again.
"When l was young" she qua
vered, "they used to write verses
about me. My brother Charles picked
up piece of paper one morning, and
said it was dropped by the man who
swept the chimney. remember two
lines very well indeed
"'Queen OF Beauty, while you sleep,
Dream you OF your chimney-sweep?'
Don't you know that l sent you
my autograph album" said Helena,
suddenly.
My blood ran cold. al have not re-
ceived it," L gasped.
1t was some time ago." she said.
{" had never asked for an autograph
before, and l thought L would try the
effect of the request on the only emf
nent man l know. l scarcely knew
you at all, though, when l sent the al
bum. And to make the onslaught all
the more formidable, sent a book for
papa and another for Aunt Jane. But
of course you have overlooked them"
l remembered with horror that only
that very morning I had cleared off
some arrears of albums in great hur-
~ and very bad temper, that l had
not examined the names of the sender,
and had left them to be addressed and
posted by somebody else.
Was it a fancy, or did 1 hear the
postman's knock? A few minutes later
a servant entered with three books.
why. here they are!" cried Hele-
ma, gleefully.
"Now, we shall see how Mr.. Fitz-
distinguishes his friends"
said Cudgell, with malicious smile
never liked that man.
Take some more claret and brace
Yourself up" said Tankerdale.
But was far beyond the terrifying
lid of claret. 1 saw Helena glance at
me of the books. turn pale and then
iery red, look at the other albums, and |
hen. with one indignant flash at me,
ush from the room.
"Hallor' said Cudgell, "you have
'een pitching it strong. This is Hell
mas quotation: God has given you
me face, and you make yourselves an
ther.' Here's crusher for you, Tan
.erdale: How like fawning publican
e loOkSn
"By George, sirn' cried my host
'ouncing out of his chair, "this is a
CELEBRATE insultr'
"And here is sweet thing for Aunt
ane," continued Cudge, striking a
ramatic attitude: "'Aroint thee,
itch! the rump-fed ronyOn cries.''
The old lady was purple with fury.
Calls me witch and an onion, does
e?" she screamed. When was
Dung, my brother Charles would have
roken his head. Now there's no one
} protect memo One-though vag-
bond out of circus, a monster out of
Here she broke down and wept. My
ninence has nothing TO do either with
circus or menagerie, but l did not
we'll on that / tried to convince
lem that was the victim of a dis
'trous coincidence, but in vain.
elena refused to see me, and returned
D answer to the many letters in which
swore by all the sacred symbols of
ature that l knew her complexion to
: as real as the jewels of her mind.
L have abandoned my great plan.
hen l am asked for my autograph
NV, give it with all my original
eakness. If any one who reads this
ould like to have my signature, 1
all be delighted to send it, and pay
e postage myself For somehow it
ems to me that am not so emil
mt as l was.-L. +. Austin, in Rar-
RS Weekly.