Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-26
ARCHIE.
The Sad "reminiscences Of Fond
and Sorrowing Sister.

Without 1t was night. The soft
white snow clung to the gables ant
sills. The house was dark, except for ;
faint glimmer from a side window-tht
glimmer of flames on the pane from {
fireplace within. The snow was still
falling - lazily sailing down in grea
white flakes, brushing the cheek of the
passer-by, with touch as gentle as thai
of a summer zephyr. The clear, sweet
tones of a violin hoated out upon the
air. Above, all was dark. Not a stal
was visible. Within, an open CRATE with
cherry fire; the room lighted only by
its flames. A pale figure is reclining in
large armchair, supported by pillows
and muffied in gay afghan. A boy Of
perhaps fifteen summers stands upon
the rug before the fire, with the bow
poised lightly over the strings and his
eyes fixed dreamily on the fire. With
a slow graceful movement the bow
glides over the strings. Oh, the sweet
zephyrs! The fragrant odors borne on
the summer breeze! The babblings OF
the merry brook yonder; the golden
sunbeams dancing down; the gay; free
song of the robin swinging on the leafy
hough; the long grasses waving and
bending over the mirroring pool; the
fragrance of the dewy rose! All
abrupt minor dispels the illusion,
checking the tender memories stealing
over the heart.
All is changed. We seem to hear the
wind sweeping the rain in fitful gusts
against the pane; hear The drip, drip
from the eavesl We see the robin
covering meath the sheltering leaves;
the swollen brook, rushing on with a
sullen gurglei the fragrant petals of the
rose lying scattered by the capricious
wind. Oh, tits dreary wailing strain!
But with a graceful sweep the music
changes again. Into slow easy move
ment with an undercurrent of sadness.
All! what painful picture it brings
before the mind of the pale figure on
the opposite side of the hearth. A low
green mound in distant church-yard.
The white roses that nod over it, and
the velvety turf that covers it The
setting suns last lingering rays fall
across it, flooding the plain white stone
with the one word Archie" cut in
its glistening surface. Fainter, fainter,
sweeter, slower, the music died away.
For moment there was silence. Then,
with weary sigh, the figure in the
armchair spoke:
Enid, your music has aroused bitter
sweet memories. Bring your hassock
and sit by my knee while l tell you of
the sad fate .Of my only brother,
Archie"
The boy Obeyed, and the gentle voice
went on:
MY only brother-the gayest, hand
soonest boy that ever frightened a
household by his pranks. When he was
but fourteen and l but sixteen, our
dear mother sickened and died. How
we missed her! Our father shut him
self up in his room and refused to see
any one, ordering his food brought to
him. He had idolized our mother, and
the blow we'll nigh crazed him. Our
old nurse, Twickham-the dearest old
soul that ever lived-was established as
from infancy, and loved us with a
mothers love.
Archie was the light of the house
hold. Our constant joy and vexation.
AS time somewhat dulled the keen
edge of his sorrow, father plunged into
business again. We resided in the sub
urbs, and he rode to his Office in the
city every morning, and home at night.
when 1 had finished my course at
school, and graduated with honors, at
the age of eighteen, returned home to
find Archie about to enter a college.
which was conveniently situated
within two miles of our home. He was
to return home every night, so father
purchased beautiful little pony for
him to ride.
''Soon after this father began TO re-
main in the city two or three days with
out returning home-he found the ride
so wearisome-and sometimes two
weeks elapsed before he would make his
appearance at home. Every night L
listened for the chatter of hoofs and
the boyish shout as Archie dashed up
the drive. We had many a gay romp in |
the old orchards during the early win
ter evenings.
''Archie speedily became a great IA
vorite with both professors and stu
dents, and he was constantly regalin g |
me with al long winded description of |
their games. OF course he had his par
ticular chums. They were Jolly good |
fellows and regular bricks in his es-
timation at least was very happy in
his success, and encouraged him to
study hard. How little l dreamed of /
the blow that soon was to fall on us like
a thunder clap from clear summer sky.
He began to grow restless as the winter
wore on toward spring.
Zone evening after his lessons were
for the next day. shall
never forget that evening though live
" be q hundred years old-BeFnaEdO ]