The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-22

had appointed to have their second meeting
he found himself constantly regarding that
future date with the mixed feelings which
have been described above.
The appointed day and hour found Colone
Punter seated in his room trying to read the
paper, but in reality waiting little nerv.
ously for Mrs. Werner. She did not keer
him long. On entering the room she looked
keenly at the Colonel, and, advancing quick
ly, said in rapid, anxious accents:
20, Colonel Punter, don't keep me in sus
pense: is it truelr Then seeing his blank
look, she cried out: 1T is, and he is dis
honored." Then she sank into a chair and
burst into tears. This the Colonel had pre-
pared himself for; so in his most winning
accents he implored her to compose herself
This in a few minutes she partially sue
ceeded in doing, and Immediately proceeded
to cross-eXamine him as to what he had
found out and done at Aldershot; how there
was no doubt in the regiment as to young
Verner's being the son of rich people at
Singapore; how the Colonel himself had
told him so, and how he Colonel Punter)
had in fit of Indignation spoken to the
young man himself. For this she mildly
upbraided him, reminding him of her re-
quest, and the Colonel deprecated her wrath
and pleaded sudden impulse. When the
story was finished she rose, and, smiling
sadly through her tears, said:
II don't know how can sufficiently thank
you for your kindness to me, Colonel Punter.
You have indeed been a true friend, and
should like above all things, if you will
allow me, to ask your advice as to what
had better do in this sad matter; but, indeed,
feel quite incapable of doing so on this
| ha+ those
ports are true has, as you have seen, upset
me very much, and l think had better go
home now; but if you will allow me to fix u
future interview by note, when feel less
unequal to the effort, you will add one more
to your many kindnesses."
The Colonel very readily consented, and
| in another moment she was gone, and with
her, so it seemed to our gallant friend, all
| light and beauty departed from the room.
From that moment, too, though he would
hardly have confessed it to himself, he be-
gan looking forward to the day VIXEN he
should see that note upon his table.
A fortnight had elapsed since the inter
,, view above detailed, but Colonel Punter
! had not yet received the expected note. He
had not given up hope, but still he was IN
doubtedly depressed, and, whether it was an
effort to throw off this detection which had
induced him to accompany II is friend Cap
tain Jones to the Variety Theater, or
whether impelled by fate, or for whatever
reason, we will not stop to inquire, but at
any rate in that theater, and comfortably
ensconced in two stalls, sat Colonel Punter
and Captain Jones on this evening, some of
the events of which are about to be related.
The curtain had just fallen on the first act,
and the house, till at that moment wrapped
in gloom, sprang suddenly into light. Then,
as if by common consent, every man, woEl-
an and child in that great audience, with a
want of manners that would be permissible
nowhere else, but which is quite conventional
between the acts of play, commenced with
or without opera glasses, to scrutinize his
or her neighbor. For a few seconds the
Colonel had discussion with his friend as
to whether there was time for cigarette
between the acts. This was promptly de-
cided in the negative, and both officers,
grasping their glasses, proceeded to join in
the general inspection"
With a calmness born of long habit,
Colonel Punter was sweeping the house, when
suddenly his arm dropped and his gaze be-
came intently fixed on the occupants of a
box on the right of the stage; these consisted
of two gentlemen and lady, and the lady
was Mrs. Werner. On this point he had no
doubt wh:tever, though he looked at her
with ever-increasing surprise, for she was
in very full evening dress, and was extern
sively beieweled. She was, moreover, at
this moment talking and laughing loudly,
not to say boisterously, with her compan-
ions, both of whom the Colonel mentally and
| unhesitatingly pronounced to be cads. At
this juncture Mrs. Werner, turning her head
suddenly, caught sight of Colonel Punter
staring at her from the stalls; the moment
their eyes met he bowed, and she also bowed
slightly and smiled; then, turning to he
companions, she seemed, from their uproar-
ious laughter, to be telling them more than
| usually good story. Captain Jones had OBJ
served the mutual recognition pass between
his friend and the lady in the box, and was
greatly astonished.
why, Colonel" he said, ''do you know
her. You don't mean to say that you have
hi to so to the Hebrews, like younger
El,nF"
Yes, know her But what on earth do
you mean by asking whether I've been going
to the Hebrews.'
"Wel, think it was very natural ques-
ton, under the circumstances"
Il don't know what you are talking about.
Who do you think that lady is, thenp'
81 don't think at all, Colonel. know that
she's Mrs. Hart Moss the female representa-
| tive of one of the biggest money-lending
firms in town; and they tell me she's very
| good hand at the business"
Colonel Punter made no reply, but became
plunged in deep and apparently distressing
reverie, for he clenched his fist and almost
ground his teeth, until he attracted the
attention of Captain Jones, who had, in the
meantime, been nodding recognitions to
some people of his acquaintance.
why, Colonel" said he, whats the
| matterl The sight of that Mrs. Moss seems
to have disagreed with you awfully Whom
| did you mistake her for!"
sit has disagreed with me-" said the
Colonel, grimly, but see it all now. What
you say, Jones, is quite true; she is very
good hand at her business" Then sud
denly his countenance frightened some
what and he added:
Rome and have something at the club
after the play, and, if you will swear
secrecy, 1 will tell you the whole story"
And he did tell Captain Jones cry de-
| tail, finishing the narrative with these
words: $50 you see she made a regular
catspaw of me, in order to find out if Werner
was worth powder and shot. 1 suppose, as
his people live abroad, she found difficulties
! in the ordinary methods Of procedure"
81 ex1ect that you're about right, Colonel.
By Jov1! she's a clever woman
'Iwy der she had the audacity, though"
said OIL gallant friend, his anger boiling up
again IT moment. "Why, l might make
the wi lie matter public
''Shc knew you wouldn't, though"
"And she's quite right" said the Colonel,
''for l won't.-COrnhiH Magazine.