Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-18

Capt. Lane? Was he not his legal and de-
voted friend? The captains letters came
every day, and he seemed pleased to
know that Noel had such pleasant things
to say of him, and was so attentive-or
rather kind, because it wasn't really on
her account that he came so frequently.
To be sure, Capt. Lane did not say much
about the matter one way or the other;
and if he saw no harm, if he expressed
no dissatisfaction, who else had any right
to find fault?
Her mother, was the answer that con-
science pricked into her heart quicker
even than she could think. For days
past the good lady's manner to Noel had
been gaining in distance and GOODNESS.
''She is i'll at ease-worried about papa"
was Mabel's attempt at self satisfying
plea; but conscience again warned her
that she knew better-far better. Her
father, engrossed in business cares that
seemed only to increase with every day,
had no eyes or ears for affairs domestic;
and so it resulted that when Noel came
sauntering in at evening with his jaunty,
debonnaire, joyous manner, there was no
one to receive him but Mabel, and he
wanted no one more.
"Does Capt. Lane know of this and
approve it?' was the grave question her
mother had at last propounded.
81 have written to him with the ut
most frankneSs, mother" was Miss Vim
cents reply, while wave of color swept
over her face and a rebellious light
cleaned in her eyes, "and he has never
limited at such thing as disapproval.
He has more confidence in me than you
have. If he had not" -
But the rest was left unSaid.
Poor Mrs. Vincent! She turned away,
well knowing that argument or OppO-
sition in such matters was mistaken
policy. The words that sprung to her
lips were, "Alas! he does not know you
as dor but she shut those lips firmly,
vigorously denying herself the feminine
luxury of the last word and the launch
ing of Parthain arrow that would have
made, indeed, telling shot. If heaven
is what it is painted, there can be no
more Joy over the sinner that repenteth
San over the woman who tramples
down her fercest temptation and
''bridleth her tongue" Mrs. Vincent
deserved to be canoniZed.
And meantime, how went the world
with Lane? Faithful, honest, simple
hearted man that he was, holding him
self in such modest estimate, marveling
as he often did over the fact that he
could have really won the love of a be-
ing so radiant, so exquisite as Mabel,
he lived in dream that was all bliss
and beauty, except for the incessant and
all pervading longing to see her-to be
near her. He loved her with an intensity
that he had no means of expressing.
Not waking instant was she absent
from his thoughts, and in his dreams
she appeared to him, crowned with a
halo such as never angel knew. Ee
used to lie awake at times in the dead
hours of the night, wondering if the very
newsbOys and wcrkmen realized their
blessed privilege, that they could step
upon the fagstones that her little foot
had pressed, that they could see her
face, perhaps hear her voice, as she
strolled in the cool of evening along the
graveled pathway of the little park
that adjdiaed her home. Loving her as
he did, his heart went out to any one
who knew her, or was even familiar
with the city where she dwelt. He had
felt for years a contempt for Gordon
Noel that, at times, he had difficulty in
Disgusting. Now he was tempted to
write to him, to shut out the past, to
open confidential relations and have him
write long letters that should tell of
her.
TTO RE CONTINUED