Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-17

| IL was h1GGy DlTGuudy, anu GuST6 was
to be small company at the house thai
evening, the first since Mrs. Childers
illness. She had suggested it herself tt
enliven the young people, and the notics
of a "small and early" she felt sure would
save her from disturbance and lats
hours Mark, from his perch in his OWL
bedroom, where he had contrived kind
of lookout through the shutters, saw all
that was going on in the neighboring
house. Kitty's response to his missive-
the cluster of white roses-was carefully
preserved in water, but the bow of blue
ribbon had taken its place among his
most precious treasures, including an
old white kid glove, two little notes in
faded ink, written in stiff, schoolgirl
ish hand, and a tiny handkerchief
marked with her initial, stolen from one
of Kitty's apron pockets.
Now Mark patiently watched all the
preparations going on for the "small and
early" in the vain hope of getting into
communication with Kitty. Hesaw the
trim little maid in her white cap sweep
ing the drawing room and adjusting the
furniture, and even caught glimpses of
Kitty as she fitted about through the
rooms arranging flowers and putting on
the last artistic touches with her own
hands.
He watched the tubs of ice cream and
the pyramids of cake as they came in
from the confectioner's, and interested
himself in every little detail that was to
celebrate Kitty's birthday. Old Mr.
Childers came home early from town
looking Hurried and warm and out of
sorts. When he had bathed and changed
his clothes he went into his wife's room
in his shirt sleeves, hair brush in each
hand and with his soapy locks standing
straight up above his red and perspiring
face. Mrs. Childers was sitting in her
shaded room in her pure spotless cap
and morning gown, light shawl
thrown over her knees.
81 haven't felt quite well today, So
ply" he began. "Pm afraid there's
something wrong here" and he tapped
his forehead. "Have you noticed any
thing peculiar about me of late, hey?"
mo, nothing, dear, unless it is that
you are a little more forgetfuI about
small matters than you used to be; but
that, suppose, is due to a pressure of
business. Then, you will pardon me for
saying so, have noticed that little things
irritate you more than they once did"
"That's just the point, Sophy. /
thought you might have noticed it, and
/ shall step over to Doctor Sears Office
before dinner and have him examine me-
1 am afraid, Sophy," he added solemnly,
"there are signs of a general break up.
Do you know would have sworn l put
that insulting note thrown over from
Spoford's yesterday into my pocket
book, and when I got to
town, Sophy, and looked for it, in
Grimsby's Office, by Jove, it wasn't
there, and today the house has been
cleaned from cellar to attic, and it has
probably gone into the fire with the
sweepings. had Tom bundle up those
weeds and rubbish that were fired over
the wall this morning and came near
hitting him, and l carried them in to
Grimsby as proof Of malicious persecu-
ton, and when the thing was opened in
the Office he had the COMPOUNDED impu-
dence to laugh in my face. could see
the clerks staggering over their desks. |
Dirty quill drivers, would have liked |
to thrash every one of them. Then l |
looked for that note in my pocketbook,
and when couldn't find it, Sophy, l |
was stunned, actually stunned" and
Mr.. Childers waved both his hairbrushes |
10 express the intensity of his emotions.
And those COMPOUNDED clerks, they only
laughed the more. could see their
backs shaking as they pretended to bend
over their work, and went out of that
office about the maddest man on this
continent"
'T am convinced it isn't good for you
10 have so much law business on your
hands," said Mrs. Childers soothingly.
''H I were you would give it up You
mow, dear, it is such mental strain"
"GiYe it upI" cried Childers, prancing
about the room and waving his hair
brushes more violently than ever. "You
1on't know your own husband, You don't
NOW Benjamin 7. Childers, if you think
viii ever allow myself to be trod on
md browbeat by those people"
'sWeI, dear, don't excite yourself,
beg. You know am not very strong.
nd it gives my nerves a shake
Mr Cnildere. who IN reality r7aa TarQ