Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-08-28

UL.H
van hight at the rear OF the massive
building, was seated at his desk and bus
Ey occupied with Il book of memoranda
snd figures IL. glIjhed back his chair
and came forH ! at once at sight OF
Lane. and motIuncd to the clerk to re-
tire. The cavalryinan's heart was beat
ing harder thea he had any recollection
Of it's ever doing before, except in her
presence, and he felt that his knees were
rembling. But tine old gentleman's
gresting gaTe him instant hope:
III am glad you have oone. my dear
"a; I am glad to know q man who ves
taught Is I We taught Young people
nowsdays seem 20 yush into natrtmony
without tho fAtnteSt reference to their
parents, and your letter yves surprise
10 me-a surprtse, that b, IN the fact
xAst you should have sought my permits
don ct all
Take this chair, captain" he contin-
oed. - he rstuEisd % his desk IL have
much 70 say to you" be sddeds With
hgh. Let me say at once that from
what know and have heard Of you there
b no man Of my acquaintance to whom
l could intrust my daughters future
With moro implicit confidence. It Is
true thst both her mother and had at
one time other hopes, and views for her,
and that we wish your profession was
bot that Of arms. And now beg you to
Be patient with me, and TO pardon my
abiding to matters which you yourself
breach in this-this most manful letter.
You tell me that you are not dependent
ON your pay alone, but that from invest
nents IN real estate inigrowing cities in
She west and in mines in New Mexico
your present income, is some five thou
sand dollars AS understand you, the
property is steadily increasing IN valueY'
1T has steadily increased thus far,
cir, and l think it viii continue to do so
for several years TO come-in real estate
investments at least"
81 am glad Of this. on your account as
well rs hers, for Mabel has been reared
In comparative luxury. She has never
known what it was to want anything
very much or very long. She has been
educated on the supposition that her
whole life would be equally free from
care or stint; and if rwere to die to-
morrow. sir. she wouldibe beggar."
And here, in great agitation, the old
gentleman rose from his chair and began
nervously pacing up and down the little
room. wringinS his white, tremulous
hands and turning his face away from
the silent soldier that he might not see
the tears that hung to the lashes or the
piteous quivcring of the sensitive lips
For a moment or two nothing more was
said. Then, as though in surprise, Mr.
Vincent stopped short.
did you understand me, Capt Lane?
! do not exaggerate the situation in the
least. do not know how soon the ak will
fall We are safe for today, but know
not what the morrow may bring forth.
mny be met en- route by kilograms saying
that the journey is useless-that we are
ruined-and the money hope to get In
New York 10 tide us over would come
only toe late. Next month at this time
the house in which Mabel was born and
reared may be sold over her head, with
every scrap and atom of its furniture,
and we be driven into exile. Do you rea-
Hze this sir? Do you understand that
II you win her affection and she becomes
your wife | have not penny with which
20 bless herr
''Mr. Vincent" answered Lane, -
would hold myself richer than any man
IN this world IL could know that your
daughter cared for me and would be my
wife. Do not think that fail to sympa-
thi1e and feel for you and al who are
dear 30 Jon In your distress and anxiety
but am almost glad to hear that she il
not the beiress people said she was. It
Is Mabel want, and here his voice
trembaed almost as much as the old |
mans, and Ids honest gray eyes filed up
with tears he could not down-'and with |
her for my own could ask nothing of |
any man. l have your consent tosee her,
then, at once If need be? You know |
an relieved from duty here and must re-
join my regiment within ten days"
Ny full consent, and my best wishes, |
captain, said Mr.. Vincent, grasping the
outstretched hand in both his own.
you have not spoken 10 her at all?"
Not word, Mr.. Vincent; and can |
form no idea what her answer will be. |
Pardon me, sir, but has she or has Mrs. |
Vincent any knowledge of your business
troublesT
my wife knows, Of course, that every |
thing is going wrong and that I am des- |
perately harassed; Mabel, too, knows |
that / have lost much money-very |
much-in the last two years; but neither |
OF them knows the real truth-that even |
my life insurance Is gone. A year ago l |
Strove to obtain additional amounts in
the three companies In which had taken |
out policies years ago. OF course q rigid |
examination had 10 be made by the med
tcal advisers, and the result was the to-
tai rejection Of my applications, and IN
two cases an offer to return with inter |
est all the premiums hitherto paid. The
physicians had all discovered serious
trouble with my heart. Last winter our
business was at 1t lowest ebb. had
been fortunate in some speculations on
change in the past, and strove to re-
store our falling fortunes in that way.
Ny margins were swept away Ike chat,
snd have been vainly striving to regain
them for the last three months, until /
now the last cent that / could raise is
waiting the result of this weeks deal.
Every man in all the great markets
east and west knew three weeks ago that
. powerful and wealthy syndicate had
'cornered,' as we say, all the wheat to be
had, and was forcing the price up day
by dRy; and had started in on the
wrong side. Even if the corner were to
break tomorrow could not recover half
nay losses. The offer the insurance COM