Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-29


tage, the next wife and mother in this
elegant house.
"Why did you not tell me you had q
daughter!" she asked, as Mr.. Falconer ap-
peared two hours later. She had had q re-
freshing nap and was dressed for dinner.
''You did not ask me,'' he said; ''remem-
Der, you did not wish to skip any of the
pages in your book of experience. Is it a
distasteful one?'
Rather a momentous one, you must ad-
nit" she replied, smiling, Ito find myself a
mother as well as wife, on such short no
tice, but" and she looked in his face with
earnest eyes, Il will strive to prove myself
worthy of the trust you have shown in me"
81 am sure you WILL he said, touching his
lips to her hand; it was the first sign of a
caress he had given her, and she biushed
wildly.
"Gracie is very like her MOTHER" and
he toyed absently with the charms on his
watch-chain, land think you will find her
very docile and easily managed"
''She reminds me of Lilly Stanford" re-
piled Isabel, land loved her at first sight"
LILLY is indeed a lovable girl, and if you
can train Oracle to be like her, in spirit as
well as in looks, shall be well satisfied. To
tell the truth her birth was the cause of
|
| lectful Of her for that reason, and 1t is only
of late that have known much about her.
Mrs. Montford has lived with me many
years, and have trusted the child to her
care entirely"
''She viii naturally be little sensitive
about giving her up to the care ofanother,"
said Isabel, thoughtfully.
Probably, and little fearful and jealous
| Of you as a step-mother to her charge, but
leave it to your good sense, to be so kind
| and considerable that this difficulty will
| soon be overcome with mutual respect and
! goodwill remaining. Mrs. MontfOrd is an
excellent christian woman, and has every
claim on our consideration, and the fact of
her being my housekeeper does not detract
from her worth in the least"
"Surely have too lately been an employe
myself to feel any superiority to Mrs.
Moutford on that ground" said Isabel,
quickly.
"And yet, Mrs. Falconer, allow me to
suggest that you keep that fact buried in
your own BOSOM" he spoke, earnestly;
"while despise s1sob above all things, and
would have you treat our dependents with
all kindness and courtesy; still there is no
need for them, or society at large, to know
that you were not born to position equal
to that you now occupy; you may be trltie
awkward at first in small matters, but
doubtless Mrs. Stanford will gladly post
you on society points; she is an expert in
these things, though l must confess have
paid little attention to them myself, as fash
ions in etiquette change almost frequently,
as in bonnetS.n
"Ah, Mrs. Stanfordr' and the young
wife sighed deeply. Il fear she will be
foO TO- Il GIG
ness''
II think you are distressing yourself
without cause" said MIR. Falconer, kindly.
CAT least would advise you not to read
this chapter in your experience until you
come to it, and, by the way, that reminds
me that wish you to go out with me and
select a present for Lilly and Ralph as soon
as you areSuflciently rested land you had bet
ter pay Nine Morand a visit also, and have
your wardrobe .replenished, as 1 wish to
have you appear suitably clothed from the
first" He took cut a bill book and gave her
thousand dollars, more money than she
had ever seen at once before, saying:
" Please remember there IS no need for
economy, and if there is no. sufficient, ask
for more without hesitation"
She thanked him gracefully and quietly;
she was indeed dropping into her new
sphere of luxury with ease and dignity, and
no one would have known from her man
ner that pln-money in thOusand-dollar guam
titles was not an everyday affair in her past
life
Harvey Falconer looked at her with a
pleased smile; had she gushed or over
whelmed HIM with profuse gratitude he
would have been annoyed: as it was she
met his idea of a well-bred woman per-
fectly.
We will go in the morning." she said,
quietly; zones ideas are so much clearer
than in the heat of the day"
Meantime a far less peaceful scene was
being enacted in Mrs. Stanford's dining
room; the pOstman had come just as they
were gathered there for dinner, and Mrs
Stanford read the letter from her brother
Mercy on us!'' she gasped, ''you can
never guess the news"
"What can it be, mamma, why you actu-
ally look FAINT" Mrs Stanford had not yet
put on her evening complexion.
''Your Uncle Harvey is married; but that !
isn't all of it," was the answer.
I" MGrried.r' echoed Lilly, SIT must be mat |
rimony is a catching disorder, but to whom! |
i didn't suppose he had looked at woman |
since Aunt Matte died" Pardon the ex- |
travagance, but a society young lady must |
have some latitude of expression.
" Well, he has looked at one to some pur- |
pose, 1t seems" replied Mr.. Stanford, dis |
mally; ''you remember that homely girl |
that waited on you the other day at Nine |
ArnOts!"
'That Shop-girln' cried Lilly
''Thdt SlOD-0rlE' groaned Mrs Stanford; |
she has married her on one days acouaint-
ance. knew that Harvey Falconer was a
living monument of oddity, but this beats
every thing" and she read the letter aloud
Mr.. Stanford laughed heartily "Harvey
is original, at any rate" he said, helping
himself to the toast, which in the excite
ment was being neglected.
"What shall we do!' sighed Mrs. Stan
ford; 'the miserable story will get out Ill
spite of u.s."
-''Cut Harvey off with a shilIing,n sug
gested Mr.. Stanford, facetiously; his
record was truly American, having risen to
his present position from being a barefoot
boy in the streets of New York, consequent
people, and he saw no particular disgrace
in the fact that Harvey had married one of
them.
''Do be sensible, Mr.. Stanford said his
wife, rather snappishly.
Then say. in all seriousness, that YOU
had better follow your brothers advice.
and make the best of it." he resumed, Quiet
". "Rarvey's head IS pretty generally
evel, and I'll dare venture he has not been
taken in by any frothy-headed giglet, and
4 you take her up, and make the most of
her, she may prove perfect lion in society;
as likely to be as any other way, for you
know Dame Grundy dearly loves a ro-
nance"
But she may come Of some coarse, hor-