Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-06
! reeard 70 nc much-1Iscusscd ClrIs

He came UNEXPECTEDLY, and met her Just
outside of Caryion gates, leading her horse,
Hautboy, who had gonelam ali of a sudden.
She was rather a strange figure, tan and
slight, and with as few curves as growing
lad. Her habit, which. IN those days OF
galloon and gathers, was really noticeable
for its lack of voluLninoCsness, was gath
cred up almost to her knees, disclosing
russet-leather boots, stained crimson for
half their length b. the scarlet soil. Her
billy-cock hat was pushed back on her
brown crest, ard q sparkle Of mud orua-
mented her left check Ike fantastic patch.
Boughton did not III the least recognize
her. He had not seen her sznce the days OF
white frocks and blse shoes and socks,
when her hair had been pretty tan color,
and one of her front teeth missing.
He hesitated q moment, and then refined
I'D and asked if he was or was not mis-
taken in thinking the gate to the left the
one which led into the Carylon farm. She
nodded and said that it was. Then ne saw
that her horse was lame, and, jumping
down. asked if he could not assist her. She
thanked him, and said no, that she thought
he could not; and then yielding-after the
manner have mentioned-to one OF the
inclinations, said suddenly:
"Are you really gong to Carylon! What
is your name!"
"Boughton," he had answered, grayely
''Philip Boughton."
Then it was thatSthis culpably unccn-
yentional young woman made use of an ex-
preston which amused Boughton beyond
bounds, until he found out who she was.
cad % cried she, mot my cousin Phll?"
He replied, with bow, that if her cousin
Phil also reJoiced in the surname of Bough-
ton, their identity must be established, at
the same time inquiring her own name.
"Why, I'm Judlthr' she announced,
reaching out both hands to him with Haut-
boys bridle-rein yet over her arm. Ppm
Judith Page, Cousin Phil. You don't look
bit as you used to-"
"No7" said Cousin Phil smiling a good
deal, perhaps not unconscious OF a hand
some mustache clipped close, soldier fash
ion, across his fine upper lip, and of gen.
eral impressiveness of appearance which
he had lacked when they last parted.
"No, no-not Bit" said Judith, bending
allttle away from him, while still keeping
friendly grasp on his hands, and cycling
him from the crown of his smart Partisan
hat there were Anglo-maniacs in those
days, but they were the exception and not
the rule) to the toes of his patent-leather
boots.
'sNot a Bit" she repeated, earnestly.
''Why, in what way?" said Boughton.
"You're-you're- well, you're such a
dandy" replied candid Judith. "However
can you wiggle your toes in such boots?
Cad 1t makes mine ache to look at 'em."
This made twice that she had used that
somewhat extraordinary form of express
sion. Besides, Philip did not exactly enjoy
being called dandy.
''You have changed, too" he remarked.
"Me!" said Judith. "Ohl do tell me!
How?"
''Wen, for one thing" said Boughton,
slowly, 'yOu-er-didn't swear when last
saw you"
1t is impossible to imagine the effect that
her placid reception of this scathing remark
had upon him.
Didn't Il' she said, serenely, still hold
ing his hands. Il must have been very
Young. Yes, was-I remember all about
it now. You used to make me dolls out of
radishes, and cut turnips into flowers for
me. Oh, yes, and you taught me to fish
with a crooked pin"
"You have become a fisher of men by
now, suppose" said Boughton, with an at
tempt at wit, which, however, left his cousin
as unruf1ed as ever.
''Oh, dear, no,' she assured him. "T7ey
fish for mel And mostly with crooked pins,
l must admitr' she added, with a laugh.
Chow tall and straight you are, cousin. l
do believe l could walk under your arm.
Let's try
Philip held out his arm obediently, and
she made the attempt, but her eyes were
blinded against his coat sleeve.
81 know ever so much better way touse
my arm than that" said Boughton, sudden
ly possessed of devil, and he let his arm
drop to her shoulders, held her so, and
kissed her.
She did not burst into tears, and raise her
riding whip, and give him a smart blow
across the lips, or rail at him like the little
shrew he believed her to be. When she
saw what was about to happen, she merely
drew in her pretty lips to a hard white line
over her teeth, and on that hard white line
fell Mr.. Philip Boughton' S kiss. 1t was GER
tainly nothing at all like what he had sup
posed it would be. Neither was her con-
duct. She stood quietly, looking at him
squarely in the eyes, and drawing on little
further her dog-skin gauntlets.
"Er-you have mistaken your way after
all, }" she remarked, finally.
"Howl" he asked. feeling somewhat curl
Gus and extremely uncomfortable.
She still looked quietly at him, while set
Ting her cuffs and pulling forward the
billy-cock hat.
'Er-you have behaved like beast when
you should have behaved like a gentleman"
she replied, almost sulkily. ''Good after
noon" And she turned about in the other
direction and walked off with her lame
horse.
IL hol hui al 70 Fo,
all this, but that did not in the least m1ti-
gate his violent indignation. To be called
first dandy" and then "beast, !" in
less than twenty minutes, by very pretty
young woman. is not calculated to add to
| ones enjoyment even of an Albermarle
scene in the flush of a November sunset
And, by Georgel if one wasn't to kiss ones
cousin, who was one to kissa
| Boughton was actually more furious
| than he remembered to nave been in the
whole course of his life.
As for Judith-well, l really do not know
how to write concerning Judith's state of
mind. 1t may perhaps be most concisely
| expressed by saying that, had she been in
| the place of her Jewish namesake, and
Boughton in the sandals of Holofernes, she
would have secured his head with decided
feeling of satisfaction.
Judith had never been kissed, and had
had charming and romantic fancy that
the man who married her should be the
only man to kiss her. Now Boughton had
dashed this pretty ideal to bits,
and broken the charm, and polluted
yes, polluted, Miss Page told herself
with violence, her Sc long cherished lips.
His nustache had scratched her nose, and
whether one turns ones lips in over ones
teeth or not, a kiss is kiss, and she would
be quits with him.
Judith's face was decidedly wicked as she
made this last announcement, and there was