Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-20

and somehow InlS peIHCA-o young woman
| wished that it had been ether one of the
other three, rather than whaH 1t was. She
found spirit enough at her COMMAND, how
eyer, to answer sauclly'
"Weu, Sir OrGcle'
He still held her hands, anG looked dom
at her.
'.You haven't changed the L %st, he said
presently. GER that is-have Tou!'
''No," she said, with all her o. curtnes'
this time, resenting the still vel.V decided
mischief in his tone.
Il don't know that I'm soyry," he sai ID
gravely, and then the Colonel called to hin.
and he turned away to answer.
They saw him very often during the next
fortnight He Was always riding down at
unexpected moments. and stopping III &c
dinner Or Gca. A. Is true that hls conversa-
tiou was chiefly with The Colonel concern
ing war matters, and what had been, and
what was to gone, etc.
Dick had Just joined Boughton's regi-
ment, and the Colonel was as anxious to
know all about him as though he had been
in several engagements, whereas he had
not been in any. He came jingling down
with Boughton one day, in all the pride of
his new trappings, flushed and really look
ing quite gallant Judith had still the ad-
vantage of that half inch, but the boy was
sturdier than at seventeen, and carried
himself very well.
They arrived about shutdown, and the
Colonel, being confined to his room by
very sharp attack of govt, they had some
chocolate in Judith's 'Tea Caddy." The
hard times of eet-potato coffee and
blackberry-leaf tea had not yet changed,
and Judith's chocolate was above praise.
Boughton cast rather curious look about
the room as he sat down, and Judith hand
ed him one of the wide, shallow cups that
he remembered. 1t was all just the same,
all except the kitten in the Toby-collar, who
was now sedate matron with two chill
dren, who had each inherited Toby-collar,
as much like their parents as possible.
Boughton took one upon his knee, and
Dick captured the other, while Judith min
istered to their mamma with bits of cake
soaked in the chocolate.
81 say" remarked Dick, suddenly, Shy
-! if it isn't only week from Christmas.
Do you remember the way you trotted off
and left US on Christmas Eve three years
ago, Cousin Phil! You do, don't you,
Judyl"
Judith said: ''Oh, yes" that she remem-
bered, of course.
Boughton, who was smoking one of the
Colonefs old Cabanas, lazily stroked the
paw of the kitten on his knee with the unoc-
cupied fingers of his cigar hand. Judith
thought she detected smile-the wrath of
a smile behind the smoke haze. She drew
herself up, and very naughty look came
over her fair, firelit features.
"Assuredly / remember it," said Bough-
ton, all of a sudden, when Dick, who was
busily engaged in tOrmenting his kitten by
pulling Its Toby-collar half over it's ears,
had forgotten that he had put the question.
81 should think did, - he wenton. 1.-THE
thermometer was only fifteen above zero,
and the wagon got stalled in a snow drift
before we were half way to the station"
Judith again waxed perceptibly taller.
She would have added two or three cubits
to her stature If she could have done so.
She told herself that she hated her cousin
Philip Boughton very much indeed.
"Wel, Jude certainly made a lovely
present out of you, anyway" laughed Dick.
land, 1 must say, she appreciated it. l
don't believe It's been of of her arm for the
last three years"
Boughton could not repress a quick look
in Judith's direction She was making fire.
screen out of one of her long hands, and he
could not see her expression for the shad-
ows from her fingers. But, by and by,
when Dick went out for something or other,
he pitched his cigar into the fire and went
over beside her.
Have you really worn that trinket all
this timel' he said, with more of curiosity
than any other emotion apparent il his
voice.
Certainly" said Judith, stif1y "You
were very good in sending it to me, and
was very rude to you"
She got suddenly to her feet and stood in
front of him.
"Cousin PHIL she said, in q quick, vi
brating tone that he hal never before
heard her use, AZ began three letters to you
about that, but 1 was ashamed to send
them. l was afraid you would not read
them. l was sorry-I-I an sorry" she
ended, under her breath
There was a pause, but before he could
speak, she had turned back the sleeve of
her gray gown from her pretty, blue
veined arm, and had unfastened the dull
gold links, with their sapphire settings.
Here" she SAID, holding it out TO him;
I'll ought not TO have kept it. I-always
meant-to return it to you"
ibid your said Boughton, in somewhat
curious voice.
He allowed her to put the bracelet in his
hands, stood turning it about in the glow
from the fire which made daylight in the
big, blue stones.
"Of course you don't expect me to keen