Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-02

basket OF fresh laid eggs and mother
compliments, and found the old lad
busily mending away at torn gray coat
L put the basket on the table, forgo
what came for, and remarked that i
was warm day. had on light shaw
and the fire cracked merrily on Mrs
Brownlow's hearth. She looked at ms
over her specks and l looked steadil,
out of the window while l united M
bonnet strings.
CO." she said, when she had looked a
me closely for half minute, you have
been running, see by your red face, 81
of course you are warm"
did not tell her that it had takeI
three-quarters of an hour to run ;
quarter of mile.
After awhile she found she needed {
button that John had told her lay in hi:
room on top of his desk.
Just run up and get it for me, there's
dear! 1t will be right on top, for JohI
never forgets."
80 up l went, slowly, step by step
feeling as though were walking on nv
head. l hated to 60 near his room. and
yet 1 longed to see it. What if he
should come home and find me in it,
The thought lent wings to my feet, and
in moment 1 stood before the desk.
On its smooth, polished top lay the but
ton, and laid my fingers on it. The
desk was open and number of papers
and thick books lay scattered about on
1T, and as my eyes fell downward | came
as near fainting as have ever done in
my life. Percy, Percy, Percy" scrib-
bled all over visiting card and John
entirely scratched out, 1 snatched the
button and few down stairs. did not
hear word dear old Mrs. Brownlow
said after that. All l could think of
was the card that lay on DIR. Johns desk
and OF large sheet of paper that lay at
home in my bureau drawer with DR.
John BrownlOw," and-and sometimes
very feminine substitute for doctor
written all over it in my own irregular
chirOgraphy. There seemed to be pins
and needles in the chair in which l sat,
and l never knew how l got out of the
house. l only came to after | had care
fully torn up and burned, bit by bit, the
paper had treasured for so long.
DR.. John came over the next day, and
we went off together for walk. He
gave me great deal of highly instruct
i've information about some flowers l had
picked, calling them by all sorts of in
Latin names, and ] said
yes and no like an ignorant school girl.
and was evidently expecting - find
something in the road. We were coming
back, and suddenly he stopped talking.
There was a dreadful pause. Like min
ny, l could think of nothing to say, and
at the same moment exactly stopped to
the right side of the road and pulled a
reed, and he stopped to the left side of
the road and pulled reed, and then we
both laughed little and blushed a great
deal and walked on.
Percy" The name sounded very
sweet and my heart beat madly, after
stopping for moment. What is the
use of all this? You know mother told
me she sent you up for that button yes
terday, and you must have seen.
Little girl you saw the card that lay
there?"
He paused for an answer, but we kept
on walking. / could not have stopped
for the world. yes"
Percy, sweetheart, you were not
angry?"
He took my hand in a simple fashion
and tried to see my eyes. turned my
head away. No"
He put his arm around me-his great
strong armand drew me gently to him.
81 love you. Little girl, will you tell
ne that, too?''
L lost my head completely. With a
Wild cry broke from him and rushed |
Town the road, never stopping until |
cached the back stoop of our house. He |
vas not far behind me and | waited un-
ii he came up.
Goodbye, Percy" He only said that |
lfter we had stood side by side for long |
line. His tone was just as always. only |
here was ring of sadness in it that |
vent straight to my heart and sent the |
lot tears to my eyes. l knew he had |
lot understood me at all, and, indeed, |
t would have been difficult matter for |
my one to have done that. / was not |
for any thing l might do to-
lay. l loved him, and he had said Il |
owe you" and was foolishly ashamed |
md gloriously happy. l just threw my |
rms around his neck and looked into |
lis loving eyes and kissed the dear lips,
md then l slammed the door in his face
md few to take refuge with my old |
Dlue-satin friend.
The next evening there was a ball at |
Mayor Wentworth's. Tom Woods was
-oing to take me. He was an old friend |
# mine, the only one of all the many
men with whom l had tried to 'Ae |
liked him heartily, and we had grown
friendly. DR.. John would not
,e able to come until late in the even
ng; but, though he did not dance, / had
a long time ago, to save a
.ance and sit it out with him. At last
le came and smiled in happy and con-
ented way, when l showed him the
fter a galop with Tom Woods. Tom
vas one of those splendid but violent
ancers who always manage to get some
hing about them unhitched or dis
rdered. We had not gone round the
DOM twice, when startled him with
'urst of uncomfortable laughter.
80, Tom, for pity sake, come outside
Tour cravat is skating round on your
ollar, to inspect the back of your head"
20, bother, never mind though, that's
II right. Well just finish this dance,
you please, and then you can fix it for
ne. 1 mean, you must, because my coats
o tight can't raise my arm two inches.
Tanitas vanitatum, ia IA ia, whatever it
5"
The dance was over, and we looked