Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-26

For a moment she turned her fac
away, her bosom heaving, her it'll
hands clasping nervously, the picture o
wronged and sorrowing wOmanhood
| His blunt, ragged honesty was some
thing she had never yet had to deal with
This indeed was game worth tn
candle" but something of higher orde
than the threadbare firtations she haC
found so palatable heretofore. She haC
expected him to be revealed by this time
as the admirer who had only been play
ing part in his apparent acceptance o.
the situation of the last two days; sh,
expected to be accused of coquettinl
with Dana, of neglect, GOODNESS, insul
tow ards himself; and this she would
have welcomed; it would have shown
him still victim in her tolls, nous,
she might toy and play with indefinitely
before bestowing the final coup de grace
But instead of it, or anything like it
here stood the tall, handsome young fel
low, utterly ignoring the possibility o.
her having wronged him. and only beg
ging to be told how he had affronted her
that he might make immediate amends
1t was simply exasperating. She turned
suddenly upon him, hiding her face il
her hands, almost sobbing:
"And | thought we were such-suct
friends
Even that suggestive tentative did not
lay him PROSTATE. Fancy the utter in
adequacy of his responses:
"Why, so did II This was too much
Down came the hands, and were laid in
frantic appeal upon his breast. He did
not bar the way; she could have slipped
from the corner without difficulty, but
| the other method was more dramatic.
Let me go, Mr.. Perry" she pleaded.
IL might have known; 1 might have
known" The accents were stifietl, heart
rending.
Don't go yet, Mrs. Belknap; don't &C
without telling me what-what I've
DONE And poor Ned imploringly seized
the little hands in both his and held them
tight. please tell me-" he pleaded.
NO, not You would not understand;
you do not see what have to bear. Let
me go, beg, please; l cannot stay. -
And her great dark eyes, swimming in
tears, were raised to his face, while with
faint-very faint-struggles she strove
to pull her hands away, relenting in her
purpose to so the moment she felt that
he was relaxing the hold in which they
were clasped, but suddenly 'w-renching
them from his breast and darting from
his sile, leaving Perry in much bewil-
derment to face about and confront the
doctor.
y little opening had been left il the
raj ng 1T the south end of the vcrauda-
the same through which the post surgeon
had passed the night Mrs. Lawrence had
shown to Perry the answering signal
light; it was the doctors "short cut" be-
tween the coloners quarters and his own
side door, and soft, undertaking turf lay
there between. Absorbed In her melo-
drama, Mrs. Belknap had failed to note
the coming of the intruder; absorbed in
his own stupefaction and his fair part
ner's apparent depth of woe, Ned Perry
heard nothing but her soft words and
softer signs, until deep voice at his
shoulder-a voice whose accent betrayed
no apology-gave utterance to this I'M
compromising sentiment:
Mrs. BeIknap, this is the thirtieth-
not the first-of April"
"And what has that to do with your
sudden appearance, DR.. Quinn" an
swered the lady, with smiling lips but
flashing eyes. She rallied from the shock
of sudden volley like the veteran she
was, and took the brunt of the fight on
her own white, cleaning shoulders,
needing no aid from the young fellow
who stood there, flushed, annoyed, yet
too perturbed to say a word even had
there been chance to get in one edge
wise. Blunt as he was, he could not but
realize the awkwardness of the situation.
And to he SO misjudged by such man as
DR.. Quin! All this was flashing through
his mind as the doctor answered:
Nothing with my appearance, Mrs.
Belknap; it was yours l remarked upon.
You seemed to think it All Fools day."
Ear from it, doctor, when thought
you miles away"
"Well, well, Mrs. Belknap," said Quin.
Struggling his broad shoulders and laugh
ing at her undaunted pluck, give known
you fifteen years, and never have found
you at loss for sharp retort."
"In all the years you have known me,
doctor, as child, as maid, as woman,
you are the only man in the army who
ever put me on the defensive. I see
clearly that you would taunt me because
of this interview with Mr.. Perry. Honi
soft qui NAL y pense, DR.. Quin! You are
the last man in this garrison-cavalry
and all-who can afford to throw
stones"
"Whew-w-w!' whistled the doctor.
'What little spitfire you always were,
to be sureI Mr.. Perry" said he, turning
suddenly on the young officer, ''let me
at once apologize for a very misleading
observation. When l spoke of having
known Mrs. Belknap fifteen years she
instantly thought meant to make her
out very much older than she is; and
hence these determinations. She always
objected to me because used to tease
her when she was in her first long
dresses-the prettiest girl at Fort Leav-
enworth-and she's never gotten over it.
But her father and were good friends,
and 1 should like to be an honest one to
his daughter. Good night to you both.
zone moment, DIR. Quin," said Perry,
springing forward. "You have seen fit
to make comments and insinuations that
have annoyed Mrs. Belknap at time
when she was under my escort
"Oh, Mr.. Perry, no! nor exclaimed
Mrs. Belknap, laying her hand on his
arm. mot word of that kind, i'm
plorel Hushl here comes my husband"
IL eos1 La l1ok1~