Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-03

WIZ C5S2lEsS177gzv
''Now, MY DEAR LITTLE INVALID"
Falconer were driving in the park.
"Wouldn't it be perfectly lovely if-?" and
she looked up at him with knowing smile.
Gam to discover another unexpected
talent in my wifes' he said, laughingly,
as he looked down at her face, ''the talent
Of match making!"
81 think not" she replied; "there are
some matches which make themselves"
Like ours, for instance'
"Yes, like ours" she answered, little
absently; ''do you knowI have not quite
recovered from the surprise of it yet!"
"Wen, have" he answered, gayly. ''It
seems the most natural thing in life that
you should be here by my side, and as if l
had known you always. By the way, we
have cards to brilliant reception at Mrs.
Belmond's next week; l suppose it is to be
one of the social events of the season"
"Shall we goa"
81 think So" he replied; s'the cream of
the city will be there, and some whom
should like to have you meet. l should not
like to have my wife eclipsed in the line of
DRESS" he added, after pause.
| (Which remark indicates another visit to
Nine. Morand, l suppose" she said,
| quickly. "W hat an advantage you gentle
men have over US ladies. When you con-
| template a festivity you are not obliged
to rack your brains for a new design in
broadcloth."
"Then you do not consider the posses
sion of fine clothing the chief aim IN life"
| 81 do not" she answered emphatically.
|'To be sure there is a certain pleasure in
selecting beautiful materials and having
[ them made up artistically and well, but in
the abstract, how foolish it seems to have
dozen dresses, where two or three would
| answer every purpose"
Looking at things n the abstract, my
dear, there are great fsany queer things
in hfe-the unequal distribution of wealth,
for instance. While you are signing over
the necessity of getting up a new costume
which you do not need, your poor neighbor
may be shedding real tears of distress over
the lack of means to get the one dress which
she does need pitifully, and SO the world
goes. In the abstract, the 'all things in
common rule, practissd in New Testament
times, is the true one, but in actual expert
ence, IN our time of hurry and greed, it
would produce worse muddle than we
have now"
1.-THE requirements of fashion are another
abstract nuisance" said Isabel, laughing.
sit seems such utter nonsense that l must
put enough rich material to trim my poor
neighbours dress lavishly into bungling,
unnecessary train, which serves no pur-
pose whatever except to get in the way and
trip upawkward gentlemen"
"There is one fashionable folly which
hope my wife will never give up to,' he
said, gravely. 81 notice with pleasure that
you have not as yet appeared in public with
barred neck and arms"
She blushed rosily. spray do not think,
Mr.. Falconer, that could be so lost to all
sense of delicacy as to appear IN pro-
miscuous crowd of people dressed in such
manner. assure you blush for my sex
when see such exhibitions, and I believe
it is at the bottom of great deal of the
laxness and immortality to be found in our
fashionable life"
81 do not doubt it, he replied, heartily.
81 believe many a scandal in high life may
be traced to this unwomanly folly for it's
origin, and it ought never to be seen out
side of the slums or variety theaters;
shamelessness is to be expected there"
81 am glad you agree with me-" said
Isabel, land wish you would carry your
good taste little farther, and tell me what
to purchase for this OCCASION
'Since you speak Of it, noticed piece of
velvet brocade in delicate shade of
lavender gray, at Hoags, which l thought
at the time would make up beautifully"
''There, now, yOW are developing unex-
pected traits" she said, laughing merrily;
Il had no idea that you were so much of
man milliner.'
He retorted smilingly: LET US go into
partnership business; you to make matches,
l to design the wedding garments
A little kindergarten outfit had been pro-
cured for Oracle, and these were placed in
Lottie's room, and many happy hours were
spent there blythe young teacher and her lit
tie pupil, who never wearied of the pretty
contrivances by which she was learning the
rudiments of more advanced study.
Lottie had become much attached to the
little girl, and her affection was fully re-
ciprocated by the affectionate child, who de-
lighted in waiting upon her and taking the
steps which still caused Lottie such pain
and WEAKNESS.
They were engaged with the simple les
sons when Isabel returned from her ride,
and Oracle was bending over her little
desk engaged in a problem in addition
wrought by means of pegs stuck in the
holes of a gaily painted board.
what studious pair we are,'' said
Isabel, coming in with ruddy cheeks from
the bracing October air.
Mamma, there has been man in our
room while you were gone," SAID Oracle,
looking up from her work gleefully; the
home room was spoken of as our room be-
cause each felt an ownership in it.
"a mani" replied Isabel, in some sur
prise; ''what an unheard-of proceeding"
'You had better investigate the matter"
said Lottie, demurely, and Isabel, in obe-
dienoe to the hint, rose and went in at once.
Mr.. Falconer was there before her, and
hanging upon the wall in the best light the
room afforded was picture, the exact coun-
terpart of the one chosen for Ralph and
Lilly, and the first offering which had been
made to the home shrine since it had been
established.
GTo BE CONTINUED.