Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-06-11
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Farmer Stebbins' Experience at
Preventing an Elopement-

MIN, the WluO play ing VIII pTduAS Will
her great slit sunbonnet and the stray
wisps of reddish hair that blew from
beneath it. Just behind them the fat
old plow horse stood harneSsed to Farm
er Stebbins' high water buggy pa
tiently waiting to make the tri-weekly
trip to town
"Waal, Reuben" Mrs. Stebbins broke
the silence with her harsh, high pitched
voice, dew make up your mind; either.
go or don't go, one or the tother."
"Be there any great rush, Cynthia?"
Farmer Stebbins drawled.' 'It's all
night till mornin', amt ftp"
But Mrs. Cynthia was watching an
approaching phaeton too intently to re-
ply. The warm June sun blinded her,
and she shaded her eyes with her long
hand that she might see better. Her
husband, whose attention had also been
attracted, did the same, and so they
stood gazing until a great black horse
drawing a comfortable little phaetOn
and driven by a rather pretty young
woman, came suddenly to a halt in
front of their very gate. The girl bent
forward and begged to inquire if she
were on the right road to Bewleyville.
Her manner was impatient, her voice
anxious, and a look of relief came over
her face when Farmer Stebbins assured
. her she was right.
"And how far are we away?" she
asked in her clear, pleasant voice.
"But two miles, and them short ones,
miss"
'Oh, goodr' she exclaimed. Then
looking at a very tiny watch: I'VE
shall make the down train from Chica-
go, shall we not? / have driven my
poor horse too hard, fear"
''Oh, you needn't hurry none now;
you'll make it right enough, Mrs. Stub
bins said, with a queer look in her
keen, sharp face.
"Come, then, Chester, we must be go
ing. Thank you for your information.
am so glad to know we are all right
Good morning" and with a smile and
nod of her pretty head she was gone
Reuben" Mrs. Stebbins jerked,
''somethin's up; sure as you Hive there
is"
'By Jove, Cynthia Ann, believe you
air right. That's Doc Leland's girl or l
miss my guess, and cayent be fooled
on his black horse Chester, and I've
heard tell that his girl is wantin' to
marry some chap she met when they all
was in Europe last summer, and 1 bet
you, Cynthia, she's runnin' off to meet
him now. Like es not they'll take the
Chicago express, Cynthia Ann"
The light of a growing conviction
shone on the mans thin face
Eyes, an If you could stop 'em,
Reub," his wife gasped, like es not
ones doctorin'ed never cost us another
penny; it's worth Tyorllin' for, sides the
glory; git in and make Billy fly; that's
a man; and law, Reub Stebbins, won't
folks like to hear you tell about it"
This settled it with Farmer Steb-
bins. He clambered into his old buggy,
his wife opened the gate, and down the
road they went as fast as Billy, whose
natural gait was not flying, could take
them. The little phaeton looked like a
speck on the long, white road ahead of
them, but Billy and Farmer Stebbins
came into Bewlevville in time to see it
disappear in the red front livery
barn" Billy was tied to post near
by, and his master, seeing the fair
driver appear and hurry up the narrow
street, rushed into the barn, and, con-
fronting the jovial and rotund little
keeper, asked:
What did she say?'
"Say," the astonished man replied,
'twho say?"
'Why she-the girl that just drove in.
What did she say?"
Are you daft, EStebbins?" Stevenson
drawled.
mo, man." Farmer Stebbins fairly
yelled; then taking the little man by
the arm he forced him out on the street
and, hurrying him along, poured in his
ear as they went his wonderful discov-
cry, made him repeat every word the
girl had said to him, and then took him
as partner in the scheme to thwart the
runaways.
Down the street the girl went with
her long, swinging steps, and down the
street behind her went Farmer Steb-
bins and Liveryman Stevenson. Atthe
rickety little railway station the girl
stopped, looked around, then went into
the telegraph Office; her followers
backed up against an open window, out
of sight but within hearing, and lis
tened to all she had to say to the oper-
ator, a bashful youth, very susceptible
to female charms.
Have you a message here for NJ. ID.
Greyson?"
Farmer Stebbins nudged Liveryman
Stevenson and whispered:
Assumed name, see?"
eyes, main Are you that-hem-
individual, ma'm?" Jarter inquired
Yes" the girl answered, in quick,
eager voice. please give 1t to ma"
Receiving it, together with q bewil-
oerinp smile from young Jarter, sne
hurried out on the little platform, tore
open the envelope with a quick hand,
and gave little, low cry Of pleasure
as she read. A glad light came into
her dark eyes and her lips took on 2
half smile they did not lose as she paced
back and forth waiting for the train
Farmer Stebbins loft his friend on
| guard while he went in to see II any IN
1 formation could be gotten from young
Jarter. Coming out in few minutes ne
found that little man trying 70 hug
himself, and fairly whirling round anc
round on his short, little legs n-2XeEl