Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-24
ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE.


Maple was an old, old woman. But you
will sometimes find tufts of snowy bios
SONS bursting from age hchened apple
trees, and sprays of greenery on the
boughs of century old oak trees; and so
it happened that Minny Maple, the an
Gent crone's great-granddaughter, was
the bud and blossom Of her worn out
life.
Old Mrs. Maple owned house and land
and had money out at interest; but she
was shrewd old lady and liked to keep
her affairs in her own hands. And
pretty Minny, albeit an heiress in pros
pective, taught the district school and
took care of the farm dairy out of hours.
at won't hurt her to work for her liv-
ing if she Is to be rich one of these days,
said Mrs. Maple. 81 worked when was
girl"
And upon this dreary December night
Mrs. Naples swift knitting needles
cleaned like steely lightning in the fire.
light, and Minny sat on low chair be-
side her, mending table cloths, while
ever and anon a big drop would plash
down upon the darned spots like glis-
tening globule of dew.
but, grandmother, why?" burst out
Minny at last, with blue eyes lifted up
like fOrget-me-nots drenched in rain, to
the old ladys parchment like face.
Because say So" said old Mrs. Ma
pie. And the fire cracked, and the snow
clicked softly against the window panes,
and the knitting needles made zigzags Of
light as they flew back and forth.
But you say, yourself, grandmother,
that he's good young man." pleaded
Minny.
Old Mrs. Maple nodded.
Without bad habit in the world!'
And again old Mrs. Maple nodded like
a Chinese mandarin in collection of curl
osities.
"And forehanded with his farm"
For the third time Mrs. Maple nodded.
"Then, grandmother, why won't you
consent to our MARRIAGE" urged the
girl.
Child" said Mrs. Maple, turning her
spectacle glasses full upon Minny's sweet,
flower like face, "rve told you why, half
hundred times! It's because your great
grandfather Maple and his great grand
father were mortal enemies. Because
you grandfather's last words upon his
death bed were: L leave my soul to
heaven, my money to my dear wife, and
my everlasting enmity to Job CroftOnr"
But, grandmother, said Minny, with
a shudder, that was very wicked! And
surely, surely, the shadow of a tombstone
should be IL reconciliation"
Old Mrs. Maple shook her white head.
Your grandfather was n very vindic-
tive man, Minny," said she; II never
disObeyed him living, and never will
disobey him deadr'
But, grandmother" coaxed Minny,
with her fresh cheek against the old
lady's hand, she wouldn't know it. How
could he?'
Child, child, your Grandfather Maple
knew everything" said the old lady,
with sudden superstitious glance over
her left shoulder, as something seemed
to rustic at the easement. And do
believe his ghost would haunt me if
didn't give good heed to his last words.
No, no; Gilbert CrOfton can never be
your husband, and you may as well give
up the idea first as last"
And Minny Maple cried herself to sleep
that night
For l never, never can marry him
without Grandmother Naples consent"
she sobbed. I'll stay single for his sake
until the day of my death; but 1 never
can disObey the kind old soul who has
taken amOther's place to me and brought
me up from a baby"
But the next night there was an apple
bee at Deacon Dangerfeld's, and Minny
Maple was there. Gilbert Crofton did
not make his appearance until late.
Gilbert" said the little fancee, who
sat reproachfully amid a crimson ava
lanche of apples. "what makes you so
late?'
I've been busy" said Gilbert. But
never mind, SO long as / am in time for
the Virginia reel"
And they walked home together
through the snow drifts, talking hap
PLY of what might be if only Grand
mother Naples adamantine heart could
be softened
But, late though it was, with the old
clock on the stroke of 1, there was
light shining redly from the keeping
room windows, and through the incur
tanned easement they could see Grand
mother Maple marching up and down
the room like a sentinel on duty, her
high heeled boots tapping on the floor,
her fingers instinctively wandering
around and around the inside of her
empty snuff box.
Minny hurried into the room.
why, grandmother, cried she, what |
ever is the matter? Here are the logs all |
burned down to white ashes and the
candle wick guttering, and you in such |
a futter as never was! What has hap |
pened, grandmother
Mrs. Maple turned her keen blue eyes /
upon her great-granddaughter with an
like that of a sleep walker.
"Minny, come in" said she; "and
shut that door. Is that you, Gilbert
Crofton, the great grandson of Job?
Come you in also. Children" with her
old hands shaking as if palsy stricken,
"Pve seen ghostr'
Impossible" cried Gilbert Crofton.
Dear grandmother, you must have
been dreaming" soothed Minny, creep
Ing up to her side and drawing her down
into the old armchair beside the hearth.
"DreamingP shrieked the old woman.
II was as wide awake as 1 am at this
had been over to see Mrs.
Muir's sick child, and it was close on 10
o'clock when got back. And the min
ute crossed the threshold I had that
queer feeling of some one being in the
room creep all over me. And there, sure
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