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

''Weu, we're pretty couple to think OF
going TO ball How cd was you your last
birthday!'
Mandy, you needn't be throwing it up &c
a Teller that he's getting on to the shady
side Of life I'm Wiling to admit that
amt quite so young as / was once, but you
amt so old as be. It's on your account
was thinking oft"
''Well, Nathan, don I think of it any more.
It's foolish -
Nathan slept very poorly that night. He
was thinking Of the ball. Poor, foolish fel-
low, he wanted Mandy to have one more
chance to shine. He said to himself: why,
they couldn't none of the girls compare with
her. I'd like TO know what's been the
good Of our coming to town if we amt
s8-goin' to git inter sassiety. I've alters
wanted 10 move in the best circles and when
here's a chance TO git acquainted with the
Hallams and McDonalds and all the rest,
what must Mandy do but turn stubborn
He had set his heart on going and he
could not bear to give ii up.
At breakfast the next morning while
Mandy baked griddles' full Of crisp, brown
cakes, and Nathan heroicalIy dcyoured
them as they hOated in rich amber strip.
he spoke: Mandy, I've been thinking it's
our dutyto GO
TO 20 to what. Nathan" said Mrs Skin
ner, absenIy. She was thinking she must
get somcthingto tempt Nathan s appetite.
He never stepped of with four griddles
fun when we was up home. 1t must be the
air aiG't quite 80 good here IN the city" she
thought.
Why, the charity ball." said Nathan
impatientIy interrup;ing her reverie.
n =
ing herself; -'Ircmember you did speak Of
it."
Speak oft! 1 say we must go, He
that giveth 20 the poor lendeth to the Lord
YOU know Our money may be took awTy
from Us if we don use it right
Wei, l can't help IL I'd like to helL
some Of them awful poor folks, but l can't
20 to that ball ana, Nathan, 1 wouldn't
quote Bible to git me TO go.'
You've got to, Mandy. I've set my boot
down that well go, and 1 won't be dis
pated."
IfIwerc 10 tell you that Mandy never III
tended in the least TO go, you would won
Ger why she meekly answered: Every
vel, Nathan, If you're so set on goin', I
suppose wc1l GO
Mandy was a wise woman, and she had
not lived with Nathan Skinner all these
years without learning to let him have his
own way, apparently.
Good Now, Mandy, that sounds right.
You know you'Il have to have a new dress
and some other fiXin's So
Nathan Skinner, you're extravagant.
Such things is sinful. l shall just wear my
black silk"
NO, You mt do no such thing. Iain't
been reading the papers lately for nothin'.
# you'd noticed you'd seen me study ng
them new fashions. What was lookin'
fer, a new gown fer my Mandy"
Nathan leaned back in his chair, shut his
eyes and said, mcGitatively: Il see We
standin' on that ballroom floor a wavin'
ostrich feather fan, yer back hair put up
on the top Of yer head, yer front hair cut
rather short and wavy like, and dress
let's see, whatl yer dress be? l think
purity red velvet, and you'n wear gloves,
Mandy, long ones, to reach plum to yer
shoulder"
He opened his eyes and said, brskly: "Tn
go with yea and help You git things; you
see know yer taste IS pretty sober and
amt 4 -goin' TO have you look glum. Wen
have to ct at it to-day, Mandy. After you
git the dishes done up, We'll go down and
see what we can find"
That day they were seen to enter every
dry-g0ods store in the city. Nathan in
variably took the lead.
''Trot down yer best velvet" he would
say, 4 don't care how much it COSTS
The shade of velvet which he wanted was
not to be found. He had an exaggerated
notion in his mind, CLEANED from some very
fashy novel, IS 10 the wonderful richness
which velvet might possess. A disappointed
couple they started home that night.
Let's give it up. Nathan"
Wei, l rat&er think won't. They keep
more variety in them big stores down &c
New York, don't they! I'm goin' to send
there"
He composed letter beginning Dear
Sirs." and then there was 4 long pause.
The letter when finished aid not satisfy