Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-12-06


BTTl<5 ing for the truth of.
Ugi fGSI The scene is in a pretty
~ E1$N town of about 5000 inhab-
~ itants, which nestles costly
~ in a broad valley between
the foothills of one of the mountainous
Western States, pierced by one of the
great iron arteries of commerce Of the
Gould Southwest system of railways.
The time was the month of May, 1888.
At the period mentioned I was asso-
ciated with my brother In the pubica-
ton of a small weekly paper in this
fourishing little town of D.. I be-
came acquainted with almost every. one
In town, and was always ready to par
ticipate in such of the social pleasures
as the limited population allowed.
The rOller-skating craze had seized
the town during the preceding winter,
and of course all the girls and boys
learned to skate. The society boys and
girls of D. were like all boys and
girls of small towns, in that they di-
Vlded themselves into "sets" or crowds,
and it is with the members of the set
to which L belonged that my story has
to deal. For present purposes we will
know them as Maggie Reynolds and
William Byron.
Maggie Reynolds was the &C
knowledged belle of the town, and she
carri d her hOnOrs with becoming
grace. She was slender, delicate
little bunch of nerves, of the brunette
style. The only daughter of wealthy
parents, she was spoiled, petted and
willful. She was both vivaciOus and
pretty, and of course a most agreeable
companion.
William Byron, who, by the way,
was close friend of mine, was a train
dispatcher in the service of the rail
way upon which D. is located. He
was a good mate for Maggie, and from
the time the pair became close friends
at the skating rink everybody thought
IL would be a match
Byron was also of small stature. He
had seen a deal of the world and was a
ready wit, very much of a gentleman,
and exceedingly well thought of by
the girls, as we'll as by the public gen
orally. He was temperate and indus
trioUs, which, taken in consideration
with the fact that he was an excellent
dispatcher, established him in the con-
fdence of both his chief and the super
intendent of the division.
William Byron and Maggie Rey-
nolds were both graceful, finished
dancers, and, as they learned to skate
together. made the most accomplished
and best-appearing couple that fire.
quented the rink. They were together
so much that the rumOr of their en-
gagement was finally accepted as a
fact.
The rink was to close for the sum
mer with q grand masquerade and
skating contest, numerous prizes be-
ing offered. It was knOwnsthat Mag
gle and VIII intended to contest for
the first prize, and everybody said
they would win it. I never knew the
causes which led up to a change of
this programme, but the change was
made, and it was an expensive one-at
least I always thought it had very
strong bearing on the events of the
succeeding hours.
/ am not a believer in premonitiOns,
but I can recOllect very distinctly that
/ neN er looked upon the friendship be-
tween the two with even the smallest
degree Of favor, and 1 knew Maggie's
disposition and feared that she was
merely having little pastime at Wills
expense, and felt equally as sure that
VIII was deeply In love with her.
When the night for the contest final
" arrived, the whole town assembled
at the rink, and from my position in
y Il
the hall. Maggie had arrived, accom-
panied by her mother and brother, and
VIII was on the floor few minutes
before she arrived. She went i'm
mediately to the gallery with
her mother, while VIII remained
on the floor below, mingling with the
merry thrOng of maskers, and 1 no
tieed that he was not in his usual
spirits. He looked and acted Ill at
ease. He was nervous, and acted as
though he knew he was being scruti-
nized. Maggie did not wear her usual
bright, happy smile, and did not act as
though she intended to skate.
AT the last moment before the con
test began, q well-dressed, dapper
young man, a passenger brakeman en-
pIOyed on the road, who passed a
good deal of his time in D., and
whom I had often seen at the rink,
and noticed as an excellent skater, as
cended the gallery stairs aud sought.
Miss Maggie's side, and they exchanged
a few words, and Maggie arose, accom-
panying him to the floor below In q
moment they appeared together in
full view Of the audience, which di-
yined In a moment the meaning of the
move. Maggie and VIII had quarreIed,
and she was going to skate for the
prize with Mr.. Sander, for that was
the name of the good-lOoking and ae-
cOmplished young skater.
VIII left the rink before the contest
was over, without exchanging a word
with Maggie.
AS soon as I could get away from
= The contest searched for but could