Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-14

stout, middle-aged unintere5ting man.
Why is it that we are so apt to be disap-
| pointed in our friends husbandsl It seemed
as absurd for him to be in love, as it would
have been for him to wear doublet and
hose. There was incongruity about 1t.
However Elizabeth smothered these unfa-
| vorable impressions in her own bosom, and
helped Helen in her wedding preparations
with all the sympathy and cheerfulness,
that she could muster. The excitement OF
wedding is very contagious and irresisti-
bic, and in spite of herself Elizabeth was
| seized and swept away by it. What with
! the unpacking of the wedding presents, the
arranging of dresses, the decorating OF the
house, and the constant meeting with other
people, all filled with the same enthusiasm
| and interest, Elizabeth found herself full of
tremulous excitement. Her heart beat and
thumped unreasonably when she finally
walked up the aisle before her friend on the
night of the wedding, she was as full Of
emotion as any girl of eighteen.
She helped Helen change her white satin
gown for the plain, little travelling dress
and it was then, while they were alone,
together, that Helen suddenly said:
elizabeth, whatever became of Tom Bar
buryl'
Elizabeth colored. "He is at home" she
said, shortly.
Helen was arranging her hat, and did not
look at her, but said, quietly: Il always
thought he was such very nice fellow"
Elizabeth was silent. 1t was only few
minutes aftcrward that Helen said goodbye
She threw her arms around EliZabeth's neck
and kissed her again aud again. Good
bye, dear" she said, and then she looked
straight at Elizabeth out of her wet grey
eyes, and added: 30, Elizabeth, l am so
happy!n
Somehow Elizabeth felt that she had re-
ceived the charge to go and do likewise"
She tried to think ii was by accident that
Helen had mentioned Toms name, but acct
dent or not, the thought persistently stayed
in her mind that Helen believed it would be
good thing if she should marry Tom Bar
bury. She could not rid herself of the i'm
preston that she had somehow received
Helen's consent and blessing.
She thought of Tom a great deal; she
couldn't help it. He was so superior to
Helen's husband, in fact he was superior to
most of the men she met. She began to feel
guilty that she had not appreciated him
more.
On the long Journey home she INDUCED in
great many day dreams. What if she
should marry Tom after ALA Her home was
absolutely hers in her own right. OF course
he would come there and live. Perhaps he
would give up his business and look after
hers. She was sure there must be plenty
to do, for lawyers were always bothering
her, bringing her some papers or other to
sign. But even if he kept on at his old bust
ness, which had certainly been good and
- -
dreadful after all /; and for the first time in
ten years Miss Elizabeth mentally shifted
shoe leather without finding the odor disa-
greeable.
Then the thought darted across her mind
that perhaps Tom would never ask her
again. She nervously and hurriedly tried
to remember how he had taken her last re-
fusal. He certainly hadn't seemed crushed
by it, but perhaps a man gets used to that
sort of thing after awhile. She thought of
the first time, ten years ago, when he had
told her that he loved her, and she had de-
clined TO take his honest. manly love. All.
he felt badly'enough then! Miss Elizabeth
groaned.
Il wish, wish that had married him
them" she said to herself, i would be Il
happier and better woman to-day if l had.'
Sometimes he had asked her seriously, some
times almost as if it were a joke This last
time, she remembered that his kind, good
face scarcely changed at all when she said;
No, dear Tom, it can never bcn What if
he should never ask her againl But she re-
assured herself. OF course he would, why
it was habit of his that had almost become
chronic! And the very next time she would
el,o I,,f ho ,irht
eyes"
1t never occurred to her that it was rather
selfish thing, to give him her hand now
because she was getting little old and
lonely, and needed him.
He came to see her as soon as she came
home, and heard all about her visit and the
wedding, listening with that look of pleas
ure which his face always wore when she
talked to him.
As he arose to go he said:
elizabeth, we have a little girl, sort or
cousin staying with us. She is very young
and shy, and I'm afraid she isn't having
very good time May bring her to see you,
and will you help me to make it pleasant for
herr"
Certainly, Tom" said Elizabeth, gra
ciously, ''let me help you all can. 1 shall
be very glad to do So"
She thought afterward that it was just
like Tom, to be thinking of some ones
else pleasure. He brought the little cousin,
pretty girl of about eighteen, with q face
as innocent as child, and soft, timid man.
ners, that won ones heart.
Miss Elizabeth invited her to dinner, she
gave q little party for her to introduce her
to the young people of her own age, she
took her to drive and had her come and
practice her music on her own grand piano.
She was very kind and sweet to her, and all
for Toms sake.
He has asked me to help him." she
thought, land will show him that l can
give my help freely and gladly"
The only trouble was that she so seldom
saw Tom alone now, for Lucy was nearly
always with him.
But never mind" thought Miss Eliza
beth, "she will go home before long and
then we will drop back into our old ways"
One night, however, Tom came alone,
and they sat by the fire as they had done so
often. She was a little stiff and formal in
her manners, for her thoughts about Tom
made her conscious now that she was alone
with him. She found it hard to be as easy
and natural as she had always been, but he
did not seem to notice it.
Suddenly he reached over and took her
hand. Every drop of blood seemed to fly
from Elizabeths body. She was frightened,
she had not expected it so soon. She had
not thought he would ask her again for two
or three mouths at least, but there was no
installing that look and that deep. earnest
tone. She had see n and heard them too
often not to know what they meant now
Elizabeth" he said slowly, 81 have
something that want to say to you"
Her heart beat wildly, she nerved herself.