Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-04
.syos saw ;t ,, Vas tho ,a.7, rasno,,,

don see why the e1ItOr should attack ne
that way"
Il couldn't keep it out, father. What dc
you suppose have to do with things that
90 into the paper,"
%. you don't care. You're like that
worthless brother Of yours: If you were a
boy, you'd desert me like him-that's al
/ you care about your father
He was in grumbIing mood today and
did not spare the patient slave who served
him. She would not allow. however the
allusion to the boy VINO, four years ago had
| gone forth with a mothers blessing, 70 seek
an honorable livelihood.
What has VIII done." she asked, hotly.
''1fo be sure, he has never come back. but
/ he has sent you money and viii some day
! come 10 US. But never mind. dinner is
ready
She saw that he was waited on. and then
went TO the window Far down in the town
she could see the people thronging church
ward, for the special Easter services had
/ been widely advertised and the churches
would be crowded. The sky was covered
with gray, misty cloud that was drifting
/ swiftly to the southwark. She listened 10
/ the gusts of wind that shook the building.
and she thought of the blizzard that the dis
| patch had said was coming.
I'm gOin' down town. Madge,' said her
father as he rises from the table.
Stay with me" she pleads. but slam Of
the door IS all the answer she receives.
II was a long and dreary Easter. The
biting north wind grew fiercer aud wilder.
At three o'clock the snow commenced fall
ing. NOtin large, feathery flakes as in we'll
regulated Eastern skies but in tiny. icy par
ticles, that pierced the skin of the traveller
exposed 10 them. The storm howled on, and
by five. when Madge saw her father come
uusteadily around the corner Of the house
on his way home from a favorite lounging
place where he had spent the day, the snow
was binding and the cold had almost CON
quered the feeble efforts Of the kitchen
stove
well, air We goin' to the Officer asked
Haven, in a somewhat liquor-weakened
voice.
No; there is no paper on Monday morn
ing, you know" replied the compositor
That's so, forgot about it. It's mighty
cold here; what's the matter!"
THE coal is nearly gone Didn't you get
some yesterday.'
Didn't have no money, an now I'm out
of job, l can't get none. What'u we do,
Madge!"
then it'll be all right"
Il heard sOmethin' ter-day."
"What was il, father!"
THAT Horris told ON me, so as to get my
job. Said to the compny that was a good
for-nothin an got me discharged. I'll get
even with him, dOggOn his doggoned picter,"
and the man clenched his hands angrilv.
Suddenly his face lighted up with a strange
expression. He comes back tonight from
the GUlch, doesn't he!'' ne blurted out, and
then went to the door. The wind was still
fercer, and the air was fairly black with
snow. The thermometer had been register
ing below zero for two hours, and now was
drawing near to the twenty degree mark.
No church bells could be heard indeed that
Easter Sunday is to this day remembered
as one upon which no evening services were
held, on account of the terrible storm. Up
from the stream to which the steep banks
separated from the house by the narrow
wagon road led, came the roar of the waters
as they dashed eastward, as if getting a
good Roadway for their long, sluggish jour
ney across the plains to the sea.
I'm fix him, the girl heard him mutter
in his half-drunken frenzy, and then taking
a lantern from the closet he went with it
out into the night.
What can he be dOing?" she thought, and
waited with breathless anxiety for his re
turn. 1t was a long time, but when he came
it was without the light and with buster
ing and blowing that told he had been facing
the storm.
Where is the lantern, father." she in
quired
1T went out, and had to drop it. to hang
on to myself" he replied with a leer.
swer; and, as the freis dying and the bitter
cold is creeping over her flesh, she goes to the
single upstairs room of the swaying cabin,
where she prepares to sleep. Before doing
so, she peers through the curtainless win
dOws. She can see nothing, but she can
feel the dust-liie snow sift against her face
as it is driven through some crevice in the
wall All is black outside. Just as she is
turning away, however, she thinks she sees
a twinkle of light toward the river. She
looks again. Yes, surely it is there. Can a
traveller be abroad in such a tempest!
Surely not. for the light remains SUI. She
puzzles over it a moment and thena thought
comes to her that makes her tremble.
1t is the lantern which her father has
hung out-why! There can be but one an
5wer-to misguide his rival, who must force !
his way through the storm tonight and !
bring through the mail and stage from the |
Gulch The light will cause him to turn to |
the right and throw stage driver and horses !
over the bank, and send them rolling to a |
death plunge in the ice filed river below.
"In his drunken fury he is not himself" |
she thinks. in excuse of the deed, and deter |
mines to undo the crime which was about |
10 be committed.
Hastily wrapping a cloak around her |
form, she creeps back to the lower |
room. Her father is sitting before the |
suCve, apparently broodIng over his coming |
revenge As noiselessly as possible she |
opens the outer door; and though the man |
turns and sees her slipping through, she has |
vanished into the blacllness of the storm be |
fore he can call to her.
In an instant he recognizes her errand; |
the thought of the slight girlish form bat |
Ting with the fearful tempest, sends the |
blood back from his heart and makes a |
sober man of him in fash.
He rushes to the door and calls. 'Madger' !
with all his strength. 1t is of no use. Moth !
ing but the wind and the roaring Smoky re
ply. Putting on his overcoat. which, ragced |
As it was. would afford some protection, he /
starts TO the rescue. He turns the corner Of |
the house, and as the blast strikes him, he
S almost driven back. But he struggles
IN and reaches the spot where ne thinks he |
eft the lantern-none is there. nor can he
ind I trace of the daughter whose body is
somewhere being drifted under the snowy
covering. Back TO the house, reached with
difficulty, he takes his course, and in agony
alternately upbraided himself and mOurns