Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-30
MARRIED, NOT MATED.
The Sad Mistake They Made-A
Sketch from Life.

''Guess who called, Florry, while you
were out" queried ten-year-old, wide
awake looking child of her elder sister,
who had just returned from a walk.
<'Guess who called"
81 do not know" was the indifferent
reply, as the girl turned to the window,
and commenced drumming idly upon the
pane
You 90 not know, and you mean you
do not care" said the other, archly.
"'But know better"
'.Who called, Lily?" asked Florence,
suddenly turning from the window and
her idle employment. "Who called"
80, you know; now don't shake your
head and pretend you do not, cause you
do, and ma says"
Mother says what?" asked Florence,
abruptly.
go, nothing" added the little chatter
box, having received a warning look
from another sister who had been aroused
from her book.
Mother says whai?' repeated Flor
-ence, imperatively. Now tell me,
Lily" she continued, in coaXing tone.
called, and what ma said"
'You know very well, said the other,
in an injured voice. But you want me
TO say his namo. Well" she continued,
in lower tone, coming close to Flor
ence, and CHANGING nervously around at
at the other sister, who was again abb
sorbed in her book. 1T was Mr.. Weston.
He called to say goodbye, and seemed
so sorry when he heard you were out;
he said perhaps he might see you before
he left, and that was to give you these
for him." and, throwing her arms sud
denly around Florence's neck, she kissed
her twice warmly upon the cheek.
go, he didn't, Lily" said Florence,
blushing deeply, as she disengaged her
self. and seeming almost as much en-
barrassed as if the gentleman himself
had performed the act. You mistook
him"
mo did not, said the child, stoutly.
ssHe shook hands with ma, and all the
Others, and then came to me, but he
didn't shake hands with me; he took me
in his arms and kissed me twice, and
then whispered, that ma and the others
might not hear: Give those to your sis
ter Florence. and say goodbye to her
from me- and then he kissed me again,
and that was for myself, you know"
"And what did ma say?" asked Flor.
ence, quietly.
80, she did not hear him; that was the
beauty of it," said the precocious young
lady. but as he went out of the door,
L, NJ
sibly, will call again for a few mo-
mentS; it may be tomorrow. / would
like 10 see Miss Florence once more be-
fore l leave this country, perhaps for
ever And ma said: Very well, and
smiled: and then he shut the door and
went away"
And is that all?'' asked Florence
with weary, far-away look her dark
eyes. did mother say nothing when
he had gomez"
"Yes; she said" continued the other
slowly, but she did not mean me tC
tell. Aunt Mary"
Never mind Mary" said Florence
quietly. ''And, Lily, mother wouldn't
say any thing before you all she dad moi
wish me to hear; so what was it?"
''Well," said Lily, desperately, climb
ing upon FlOrence's knee and putting
her face close to hers to whisper: ''She
said, if he was not engaged, and you as
good as married, he should never SEE
you again"
''Hemi" was all Florence rejoined, a:
she leaned her head against the brigh
-curls of her little pet sister, and looked
vacantly and sbsently from the window
'Florry, isn't he nice?" queried the
little voice again. $50 much nicer thar
that Mr.. Bent you are to marry. 1 jus
hate Aim"
''Hush!" said Florence, laying . re
proving band upon the busy lips. "Yol
must not talk that way, darling"
''But must. And you know you hat
him, too; it is really mean"
'sHush! HushF" said Florence, ex
citedly, AMI putting the child from he
lap as she rose. Lily, you must neYe
say that again. No, am not angry
darling, she continued, STOPPING to kis