Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-08
ssExactly."

Nv ny. Dora Bellune Is my cousin
and am on my way to see her.
How very amusingI Well, had
an intuition that we should meet again
in fact, l had quite mapped out your
destiny before reaching Bedford"
"Let US hear the horoscope-past,
present, future; the first will, if cor
rect, be a guarantee for crediting the
last"
'.IcOnsent to tell you what think OF
you; but only will you tell me first who
you think | am
Would you be offended if said a
charming woman? Don't frown. 1
have not said it.
''Be serious. Am 1 maid. wife or
widow"
Not a miss. certainly" with a fine
contempt on the noun.
"Of course not, or you would not
have deigned to be even decently civil. y
Frankly, am at fault now. Is it
wife? Is it widow"
81 own there may be reason for a
doubt. You see, it is difficult to be a
widow without having been a wife, and
as men don't marry girls nowadays, it
is equally difficult to be wife. How
ever as no other status has been in
vented. have no husband"
"And no wife, although have been
married"
"a widower! HumI l should not
have thought so"
No, not a widower. / was married
without my knowledge, by mistake, in
default. The newspapersmarried me
heard of it in India-and so persist
emily that l got three months leave
only to make mysC free man once
more. left the 2. and D. three days
ago, and am on my way to the Bellunes
to ask what they were about in allow
ing their nearest relative to be labelled
all over the world as booked and done
| TOR"
"a hard case, and one deserving of
much pity. So the indignity of we'd
lock has been put upon you. Accept
my deepest sympathy"
You may laugh, but it was, it is
odious. All the fellows out there affect
to believe it is true-that | am dere-
lict husband with family. On land
ing here found no end of letters of
congratulation. l dare not show my
self at the clubs. If at first l was in
clined to treat the matter lightly. now
l am determined to sift the whole thing
sue the libellers, and give public de-
| nial-"
TO the compromising accusation of
matrimony? l would, if l were you"
II shall" he said sternly.
They were just steaming into the
Carlisle station. Jessica remained
alone while her companion smoked
cigar on the platform. She took ad-
vantage of the gathering twilight to
rise, and unperceived, to examine the
label on the hat box reposing in the
rack. She had some difficulty in de-
ciphering it, and fell back into the seat
as the owner OF it stepped once more
into the carriage. He fancied she
looked very pale, and asked her if she
was tired. She did not answer at once,
but as soon as the train was fairly I'M
der way she said, abruptly: us your
name Montgomery Swift"
at is" he said, surprised; but glanc-
ing at the hat box, which lay in an
altered position, he added: Have you
guessed that, too, you fortune teller?"
''And you call yourself captain?"
continued Jessica, in the same harsh
| voice.
II do. till become major"
Impossible! There is not Captain
Montgomery Swift in the whole British
army"
Il beg your pardon. am that hum
BILE officer"
No, you are not; there is no such
man in the army list-there was not
year ago."
Possibly not at that time, for year
ago was Monty Gordon. Last Christ
mas good old man, who was my god
father, died and left me all his for
tune and estates, on condition that l
should take and bear his name. l
complied, A Swift was manufactured
out of Gordon, and yet remained
captain. Under either appellation,
equally at your command. But now 1
must ask of your dressing-bag the same
introduction furnished by my hat-box,
and learn by what name l can address
my travelling incognita when l meet
her again at the Towers" He quietly
bent over the flap of Jessica's neat
russia leather bag, but saw only the
letters -. NJ. 81
All" he said, ''the same initials as
mine; then, interrogatively, "they
spellP"
''Jessica Montgomery Swift"
A dead silence followed. Jessica
lay back against the cushions motion
less, with a crimson flush on her cheeks
and forehead. Captain Swift felt that
some painful mystery was about to be
disclosed, and that the woman by his
side was gathering strength for great
effort He generously repressed every
sign of curiosity and establishment, and
waited her pleasure.
After a few moments she turned
toward him and spoke slowly and hest
tatingly.
Il throw myself upon your mercy,
Captain Swift; do not deny publicly to-
morrow that you ever were married to
Jessica Wynne. Do not pursue those