Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-16

treasured girl felt that he was no mountain
brigand.
"Why, no, don't think you are" she re-
piled after conscientious elaboration
Il think you're pretty as a picture" he
said, boldly. Il do, honest"
Mays face grew hot with shame and In
dignation.
At last her bold, unmaidenly actions in
corresponding with a stranger was bearing
its bitter fruit. She seemed to hear her
aunt's thin, sarcastic voice say: Men
know who they can say those things to-"
"Where is this mans wife!'' May thought
SIS she offended because wrote to her hus-
band and said nothing about herr" She
grew cold at the thought.
II don't want you to say any more such
things to me-" she plucl1ed up courage to
say.
"Why, amt agoin' to- he said, in tone
| Of alarm. 81 hain't no such thought. Don't
be mad with me-" he added, pleadingly
why, here, hain't asked you to take of
your things nor hev nothin' to eat. hain't
got no manners"
He got her some cake and tea, and then
with real delicacy left her alone until the
minister came. The minister's wife accom-
panied him, and she came into the front
room to May, leaving her husband and the
man of the house in the kitchen.
'Iwas determined to come if it did rain"
she exclaimed, kissing May efusively.
'.Isn't it so romantic; just like story, your
coming way up here. Well, think you've
done well. suppose you're little nervous;
l was"
''Did you ever teach school.' asked May.
''Why, yes. l taught one term once" re-
piled the visitor, looking as if she considered
| the remark irrelevant.
''It was too bad about your trunk, wasn't
it'll Never mind, your dress is plenty good
enough. Well, you're all ready I'll call in
the men. You don't feel faint do your"
When the minister came in May rose and
stood before him like a child at school Her
heart beat so fast and such mist came be-
| fore her eyes that she did not realize that
her host was standing beside her.
She made terrible effort to grasp all the
rules of grammar, arithmetic, geography,
and spelling at once, and felt to her dismay
| that her brain was in a state of complete
chaos.
The minister cleared his throat-''The
State" he began slowly.
GEOGRAPHY is the first thing" she
thought and tried to get an instantaneous
picture in her mind of the entire earth and
all its diversions, but all she could think of
were the names of Mount Typographical and
the river Yang e-Kiang.
"The state Of matrimony is one ordained
| by God for the purpose of-"The minister
had got so far, when he paused, arrested by
the look of horror and amazement on the
girls face, and her companion thinking the
blank was for him to fill out, calculated in
loud firm tones, Il do"
'Stop! quickr' cried the girl "there is
some mistake.''
| you can't expect me to say it just right
the first time" said her host, realizing that
he hadn't responded in quite the right place
but you'd orter make some allowances, seein'
/ never was married before"
Married! ~ she cried, recoiling from him
| ~ came up here to teach school, and you
know l did. know my aunt would have
said it was dreadful venturesome thing to
do, but no one has any right to marry me, il
did"
| ''But, my dear young lady," said the puz-
zled minister, ''Tom-Mr. Hunter, has made
a confidant of me from the first aud he sure
ly understood thatyou were to marry him"
81 advertised for wife, YOU remember -
said the crestfallen Mr.. Hunter, turning to
her, 'iand you answered it"
81 did not" cried May, Indignantly. 81
wrote to Mr.. Hilliard, of Huntersville, for
a school"
There is Mr. billiard at Huntersville, -
| said the minister.
This is Hunters Point" said the min
| ister's wife, who had been trying vainly to
get in a word.
~ must have got off at the wrong station
gasped May, sinking into a chair. 81 have
made terrible blunder."
st does seem to be dreadful mixed up
mess, but p'raps we can straighten it out,
said Mr.. Hunter, dolefully. Isn't your name
| Maria Smith"
''My name is May Smith," she answered,
| rather shortly.
'Now look here, my dear" cried the minis
ters wife, ''this is rather awkward, l know
but think can find a way out of the laby-
rinth. My name is Mrs. Seavor-we'll begin
at the very beginning-and Mr.. Seavor is an
ordained minister come up here to marry
YOU, May Smith, to Tom Hunter, one of the
best fellows that ever lived. Now" said
she, clapping her hands enthusiastically,
''why can't we have the wedding after all /.
| I'll vouch you'll never get better husband
| if you search the wide world over. know
you'll never be sorry"
"If you only WILL" said Mr. Hunter,
pleadingly; 'Pve taken such shine to you"
sMy friends" said Mr.. Seavor, 81 dislike
very much to interfere with the romantic
procedure that Mrs. Seavor has laid out"
81 never could consent to 1t, never" in
| terrupted May.
I'm any case" he continued, lit is my
oil hot Mr.,
agreed to marry some one, and the lady in
unfairly treated if he married any one else' u
Mr.. Hunter groaned as he perceived the
cogency Of this reasoning.
''I'll do the square thing by her." he said,
| 'sbut was never so disappointed in my life. u
Mrs Seavor staid that night with May,
keeping her awake until nearly morning to
listen to the praises Of Mr.. Hunter.
"If you can't find her, said Mrs. Seavor
they started to drive over to Huntersville in
search of her school and his stray betrothed,
IF any thing happened to her-though most
likely there hasn't-things never do happen
| the wav we want them to, except in books
but if they should, just bring May right
back to my house for dinner, and Well have
Just the prettiest wedding that ever was
in spite of her'-she added, meaning the
absent Maria Smith.
From which it will be seen that the un.
cooquerable Mrs. Seavor, although a min.
ister's wife, let her sympathies run away
with her sense of abstract right and justice.
The morning was bright and mild, but the
ride was a very silent one.
Mr.. Hunter wore an expression of suffer
ing and resolution that would have done
credit to medieval martyr.