Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-12-05
SOMETHING EVENTFUL.
My Wife Got Her Wish With a
Vengeance.


Ny wife and 1 were very happy
couple. We loved each other, and we
had two children, who were as pretty
and healthy and nice hammered as par
ents could wish. We were also rich,
and when one has love and wealth, not
counterbalanced by bad health or bad
temper, one has pretty nearly every
thing that can render life delightful.
We had, indeed, only one subject of
mplaint-sOmetimes we found exist
ence a trife monotonous.
81 think" my wife would say, yawn-
ing-''I really do think life is too I'M
eventful. 1t is quite stupidity fat. Why
doesn't something interesting happen?''
'Well, what would you like?" l would
reioin. "Shall hire an assassin to stab
me at the opera? or gypsy to steal the
children? Or"
NONSENSE" cried she, laying her
pretty hand on my lips. ''Of course
don't mean any thing fearful and hideOus
like murder and kidnapping. l don't
know what l mean; any thing would do,
so long as it was exciting and unusual"
This, however, was the one thing in
which / couldn't crafty her, for one
can't buy unusual events by the ounce,
or keep them bottled in ones cellar. So
tried to assuage her longing with phil
osOphy.
1--WE are both young" said. 'Who
knows what may happen before we keep
our golden wedding? We must wait"
Wait exclaimed my wife. Eyes, the
end of the world is coming, but we shan't
live to see it,"
Time, however, proved that 1 was
right. One day she received the follow
ing letter from her only brother in Aus
tralia:
MY DEAR LUCY: have just nursed back to
life, after long and dangerous brain fever, my
great friend George Stormont; and, as the doc
tors concur in saying sea voyage is the best
thing for him, mean TO put him on board the
Mt. Vermont, on the 2Sth, and ship him on to
England. His only relation. married sister,
lives in Scotland, so l am desiring him TO go to
you, as am sure you will be willing to put him
up for a short time till he IS equal TO a long
railway journey, and feel confident you and
Frank will pay him all the attention you can
for my sake.
III he RECEIVERS on the voyage, you will find him
sociable and agreeable and up to every thing
but the doctors tell me he may not be quite
himself for some months, and, IL so, you will see
him as he is nova silent individual rather &C.
centric, preferring solitude, and always moon
ing about the place and wandering into rooms
where he has no business. But one must ex-
cuse ne vagaries OF an invalid, and trust that
you and Frank viii bear with him, as 1 said be
fore, for my sake.
mo more now, as am busy with my usual
avecations, and extra busy looking after Stor-
mont With much love to all, ever your aTec-
tionate brother, EDGAR ARRowsMITH.'
''P. S.-StormOnt will arrive fortnight after
tbs letter"
He came, however, that evening. We
were astonished, but we FASTENED to
welcome him, and found him in the
study-a small, spare man, with a short,
dark beard, and cropped black hair. He
rose slowly from the easy chair in which
he was seated, and looked at US foolishly.
I'VE are very glad to see you, Mr..
Stormont," said 1, taking his hand.
GLOW are you? Better l hope"
Not much, said he, in wearied tone,
and putting his hand to his head.
Country air will soon set you up"
said l.
How did you leave Edgar?"
Edgar wrote you were coming up by
the Mt. Vermont; but surely, she isn't
in yet" remarked Lucy.
Il got off earlier than 1 had dared to
hope" said Stormont. I'm the Mt.
Rosa there was berth, and it was
thought better ! should not delay."
THAT was the mail which brought
Edgar's letter." said Lucy.
Yes" said Stormont.
After that he relapsed into silence,
and we could only extract monosyllabic
answers from him. We saw that he was
fatigued, and presently showed him to
his rooms - two apartments on the
ground floor. which Lucy's thoughtful
ness had provided.
My wife fancied you might like to be
saved the stairs. - l said
He thanked me warmly.
1T was very kind of Lady Dennis, he
said. Il sleep badly, and often take a
walk in the early morning: so this will
suit me exactly, as / shall be able to
leave the house without disturbing any
one
Take care none of my servants mis-
take you for burglar" sand 1, laugh
ing.
20, they won't do that, he returned,
with a smile.
So l left him, and as he was very quiet
and taciturn, and his brain evilteHtly
still extremely weak, Lucy and Wskound
that his presence made very little diff
ference TO US. =" 'u
Don't mind me" he said, the next
day, Il feel exhausted, and converse
ton tires me. But I aru not i'll, and you