Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-03


every word is plainly overheard, or il
we do we are forced to speak in whis-
pers. We have heard Uncle Ben say
odious things about US when our back:
were turned, and some of the warmest
DAYS have closeted myself and nearly
stihed because it was so painful to sit
there and see my old friend Mrs. Chill
ders looking thin and pale and worn.
know it weighs on her, too, poor wOmanl
She has been i'll lately, and it has gone
to nv heart to know she is so poorly
without being able to say kind word.
| Uncle Bens nature seems quite changed.
He tries to irTitate your father in every
way. The pipes broke some weeks ago
and flooded the cellar, and now he has
begun a suit against US for damages.
Something about the connecting drains
don't understand it at all, and dare
not ask your father to explain; it makes
him look so apathetic. 1 sometimes
| think this quarrel will shorten his days.
1 would gladly sell the house and move
away, but your father never will give
in. 1t would look too much as if he
were the under dogin the fight. Why,
it's almost like living in a perpetual state
of siege. You never know when your
enemy will make breach in the wall;
and then to remember that you have
once loved the enemy so dearly, and that
now it is your duty to hate him, distorts
things horribly"
Mark had gone back to his low chair,
and sat with his elbows on his knees,
and his big hands thrust through his
thick chestnut locks. As he raised his
eyes from the carpet his glance passed
through the open window, and there in
plain sight was the wall of Kitty's
home, a brick and gray stone wall over
run with wisteria vine, that clambered
about the drawing room window, screened
by lace curtain, with large bowl of
geraniums which Kitty's hands had ar
ranged.
Mark knew that his own bedroom win
dow was exactly opposite Kitty's, on
the second story, across a pretty piece of
greensward, shaded by clumpo droop-
ing elms. But Kitty's window on that
side was always closed with shutters and
blinds. There were two other windows
opening from her room on the garden,
and the prospect of her ever appearing
on the Spofford side of the house seemed
quite hopeless. However, poor Mark
was not absolutely without some sign of
her existence. At that very moment
the sound of Kitty's piano came stealing
across from the other house. He could
-, co., E1+f,- ci++inor +ba,.a ~,
the stool, lingering the white keys with
her little dimpled hands. the rings of /
golden hair curling like tendrils about /
her forehead, and behind her ear, that !
pretty ear itself pearly and pink like |.
shell, and the gentle, suave turn of her |
neck, and her smile that seemed to flash |
out on him bewilderingly, for no one
ever had so sunny smile as Kitty. 1t !
irradiated her whole face, flooded her /
blue eyes, touched the gracious curve of |
her forehead, dimpled her cheek and /
made her both captivating and arch.
The thought of Kitty's smile maddened
Mark. He got up and prowled about
the room, disarranged the bric-a-brac on
the chimney piece, Overset inkstand,
broke flower vase and turned his moth
er's work basket upside down, and at
last that much enduring lady lost all
patience.
"YoU are worse than bull in a china
shop, Mark. Do go and subdue yourself
by practicing with Indian clubs or swing
ing dumb bells. would suggest ten
mile walk, or the breaking of a wild
Dony-anything to work off your super
iuous strength before you have broken
within doors"
''rIl tell you, nanny dear, I've a
mind to go and knock hole in the gar
len wall"
Better not, Mark. Tom keeps ter
ible Siberian mastiff named Grip that
wen the family are afraid of. He came
lear tearing the butchers boy in pieces
he other day, and if you were to venture
lpon him when he is unclaimed there +
would be nothing left of you but the
buttons"
Mark went out bareheaded into the
,arden and strolled around the paths in
us slippers. He crammed his little
lack students pipe full of tobacco, and
,egan putting away meditatively as he
asst his weather eye up at Kitty's win
low on the garden side. With a great ]
lead and mighty shock of curling au-
urn hair, Mark had a good deal of in
entive genius slowed away in the cham
'ers of his capacious brain. He had
iven himself to the study of electricity
With ardor, and had devised one or two
title improvements that had brought
i'm patent rights and some fame among
he fraternity of electricians. But what
vas the use of being an inventor, with
be thunderbolts of Jove in his posses
ion, if he was walled in the dungeon of
ONE geniis old Castle DolOrous, with l
itty in the extinguisher tower, and he
nable to communicate with her by
7ord or look, by telephone or phonO- &
raph, or any other means under heaven? l
Ie thought of setting himself up with a
arp, like the minstrel under the win :
ows of Richard Coeur de Lion, but it :
Tould necessarily have been a jewsharp, :
be only instrument he knew how to play.
Kitty, he thought, was certainly girl q
estitute of originality, spirit or bold
eSs, else she would have helped little 2
oward making it easy to get into COM :
lunieation. At least she might open
er window just opposite to his own.
Why should she be so ruthless and I'M
ceiling as to deny him even passing :
limpse of her dear face? But he did
ot love Kitty the less for being quite :
and devoid of little arts by ,,
7hich to deceive her father.