The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-22
THE BLACK STOCKINGS.
Their Assistance in the Recovery
Of Stolen Property.

Of Stolen Property.
Poor Jack he was fellow among a
thousand; brave as lion, merry as a
lark, and so handsome and dashing !!
Shoulder to shoulder we had marched
many long mile under the baking
African sun, and when Jack succumbed
to fever and died, there was not dry
eye in the regiment
Larry, old man." he said to me,
watching, through the opening in our
tent, the last sunset his mortal eyes
were to look upon, "I can trust you
to give these trinkets to my sister
Mora, can't l? She will prize them.
She always had tender spot in her
heart for her good-for- nothing brother.
Poor childi she will be alone now
quite alone A risky fate for pretty
girl of twenty. Dysart has written to
her, telling her you would hand over
the little traps; all 1 have to leave. He
will be to the fore if any thing goes
wrong; but Dysart is not Well,
never mind, Ny little Mora-Larry, l
wish"
The sentence was never finished, and
the voice which, with its merry ring,
had given courage and hope to many a
fainting heart of late, sank into eter-
nal silence.
Reverently took charge of the poor
boys legacy to his sister, his medals
and crosses, won at the peril of his
life, and soon afterwards fate led me
back to Europe
Jacks sister was in Paris, and
thither 1 was eager to betake myself
with all possible speed, to resign my
charge and, if possible, on the strength
of my intimacy with Jack. to win a
place in his sisters regard.
If fellow can fall in love with a
photograph and glowing description.
]. thanks to poor jacks affectionate
eloquenee., was in love with Mora
Moncrieff / believed that my COM
rade's halfuttered wish when diving
was that l might win the right to pro-
tect Mora But, then, there was Dy-
sart Who was Dysart. any way?
Clearly l had better remove all I'M
certainty upon this point as soon as
possible.
Arrived at Marseilles, I found let
ter from my aunt, Mrs. Carriston, beg
ging me to visit her for few days at
Mentone, as she had an important
matter to discuss with me. This invi-
tation, interfering as it did with my
desire to seek out Mora at once, was
most unwelcome; particularly as 1
strongly suspected the reason of my
aunt's ardent wish to see me- She had
doubtless been playing little too reck-
lessly at Monte Carlo-the love of
gambling being long-established in
frmity with her-and wanted me to
help her out of tight place. Well,
one good turn deserves another; in my
bread-and-jam days many half sove-
reign had found its way from Aunt
Carriston's purse to my jacket-pocket
why should l not pat cheerful face
upon the matter and Refriend her nowP
though devoutly wished the sum-
mons had come at any other time.
Accustomed as had been of late to
the very light attire of African ladies
on their native soil, my aunt'S toilet
and appearance struck me forcibly.
She was handsome woman, perfectly
aware of the fact, and the rustling,
tinkling and faint odor of patchouli
which accompanied her movements at
tracted an attention which was not, on
the whole. ill-paid for the trouble it
took to look. She wore her silky
white hair high above her still fair
forehead; some soft-tinted shawl hung
usually about her silken shoulders in a
loose, picturesque fashion; glittering
profusion of costly rings detracted
from the beauty of her hands, and
pendant from her waist dangled be-
wildering array of ornaments, mostly
of considerable value-a velvet bag
with massive silver clasps, embossed
and jewel-studded scent-bottles, and
chatelaine so loaded down with trink-
cts that it was as if she had dragged a
silver grappling-hook across a jewel
er's counter, retaining all the miscel-
laneous haul.
/ thought this display vulgar in the
extreme, but contented myself with ex-
pressing a fear that she might be
robbed some fine day on one of her
walks abroad, as she persisted in wear
ing all this warpaint indoors and out.
Don't be fussy old granny before
your time, Larry, dear" was all the
thanks 1 got for my solicitude- al
haven't lived ten years on the Riviera
for nothing "-(she had not, as her
losses at Monte Carlo could testify
land I'm quite able to take care of my
self and my property. We have, fort