Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-10

7
Pushes with Importance.
"Joe and Iwere on top of the hay
stack, eating strawber-oh, well, never
mind about that (for Joe's face is
study, and its predominant expression
says plainly, ''just wait till catch you
alone, and then!'') land we heard
voices below US at the stile leading
into the four-acre meadow. So we
looked down and listened"
"Of course" from Johnny.
stAnd there was Bingo talking to
girl. Yes, Alicia. She was such
pretty girl, the prettiest girl have
ever seen, and Joe says so, too with
propitiatory glance at Joe-but his
expression is still vindictive, and Alicia
begins to yawn). well. Bingo took
off his hat and he said: Miss Vivian!
This is pleasure. >"
Miss Vivianr' exclaims Johnny
aha! no lesser star will satisfy our
Bingo. He waits for Venus herself"
Miss Vivian" echoes Alicia. Now
/ understand our eldest brothers sud-
den burst of extravaganza. and the
three new waistcoats which he has
bought this month"
80 Joe and l leaned little further
over the edge of the haystack, and we
listened to every word they said. And
Bingo had just taken hold of her hand
not at all in the way that he takes hold
of mine when he wants to pull me over
the stile, and somehow l don't think
he even thought of pulling Miss Vivian
over it-when just then Joe sang out:
"Bingo the earl, the ehivalry's pearl,
Went a-philandering after girl
Alicia filings herself back in the rock
ing-chair with shout of laughter.
'.Oh! Joe! fanny! Oh! Oh! Ohr'
'Yes, he did, and Bingo jumped
around just like dog does when you
tread very hard on his tail, and he
looked-well, he looked so mad that
we lay quite fat on the hay and said no
more"
Lay low and said nuthin'," quotes
Johnny.
"Oh dear" gasps Alicia, sitting up
and drying her pretty blue eyes, "how
l wish l had been there. Children, it
is very wrong in you to listen to your
elders. o, dear! Bingo! Fancy Bingo
in love! He must be sorely smitten
before he would say any thing to lady
but hot day. or good morning. And
fancy the romance of saying sweet
nothings by stile! How l do wish l
had been on the top of the hay stack!
1 wonder if they will meet there to-
morrow at the same time. Let me see.
Just $50. Johnny, do you think you
could pull me up to the top of the stack?
But mind, children, you must never
behave so badly again. l hope Bingo
will punish you both. How long does
Miss Vivian propose to say in the vii
lage?"
las long as her aunt remains there,
l suppose, answers Johnny. Dread
full old person the aunt is. Blows her
own trumpet from morning till night.
She is always Fostering people, also,
with recipes for some hOrrid mess or
other. Nutritious and digestible food
she calls it. That little Miss Vivian
has bad time with her. What a
pretty girl she isr'
Perhaps, you, also, would like to
meet her at the stile Tomorrow" said
Alicia, unfurling her big fan with a
careless gesture, and with a sudden
bright spot of color in each cheek.
Certainly, if you wish me to do so"
pray, please yourself.
"Ho! no! They are going to fghtr'
Joe claps his hands on his knees and
grins. :
go away, children" says Alicia,
rising with much dignity.
"Yes. go away" says Johnny,
want to talk business to your sister,"
business repeats Joe meditatively.
And then promptly takes to his heels.
At the time of which l write James
Alexander MacTavish, known from his
youth up, and without rhyme or rea-
son, as Bingo, is just twenty-four years
of age, broad-shouldered, blue-eyed,
and as well set up as any young fellow
north of the Tweed. A kindly heart
interpreted by these same blue eyes, a
ready hand and a silent tongue are the
chief characteristics which impress
those who meet him casually. And
only they who know him well and init
mately are aware that beneath the
quiet, unruffled surface. there exist I'M
fathomed depths of self-respect and
self-reliance. Left at eighteen head of
| the house of MacTavish, and sole pro-
tector of the seven boys and girls who
look to him for food and guidance, he
early learned the lessons of self-control
and reticence. His brothers respect
and love him, and even saucy Alicia
(though she would not own to the
fact) behaves rather better and with
more decorum in his presence than in
his absence. He never asks himself
announcement questions about the
growth of his character; self analysis
is foreign to him, but year by year he
pursues the same quiet and consistent
life, and meanwhile his virtues flourish
and grow strong. A certain shy def
erence in his manner toward women
causes them to regard him kindly, but
those who smile as they notice how he
avoids female society are far from
guessing that in his Utmost heart he
eherishes an ideal of womanhood
which he tends and honors with chiVal-
rous devotion. Does he perhaps fear
that contact with society may shatter