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

my daughter" said he, here is the
key to the riddle"
'What key, papa?" said Gladys
"What riddle?"
| Don't you remember" said he, 1.-THE
mysterious manuscript"
Fanny jumped up and clapped her
hands.
''What!' cried she, ''the stray leaves
about Sir Alexis and the beautiful Ger
aldine Aubrey that we found scattered
about in the orchard that day after the
gale?"
Exactly" said the member of con-
gress- "And this handwriting is erGctly
the same"
"Oh, papa" cried Gladys, may
congratulate her on being able to
imagine so beautiful story-to turn it
into such exquisite language?"
NO" said Col Ayrault Say moth
ing at all Don't you see how it might
embarrass her?"
''But she really must be a genius,
papa" was the opinion of Gladys, prone
to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS worship.
"Ahar' laughed Fan. ''How about
my rdra arts now? Isn't she really and
truly white swan? Whittier than any
lny?"
After this, Alice Saville was the
chosen companion and favorite of the
member of congress two daughters,
rather to the surprise and critical re-
marks of the other boarders
81 amt bit surprised" said Uncle
Brom. "She was brung up to be lady,
and lady she'll be to the end of the
chapter, no matter if she was scrubbin'
floors or scourin' tins"
But one day Gladys forgot her IA
theirs words of caution and unguartled-
ly revealed to Alice Savillc how she
and Fan had found the missing pages
all blown about the orchard To her
surprise Alice burst into tears, and
Gladys, in her panic and uncertainty,
ran into the other room where Col.
Ayrault was writing, as usual.
''Papa!'' she cried, papa, do come in
here and see if you can comfort Alice"
The girls tears were dried in an in
slant. But Col Ayrault rallied her a
little after q playful fashion and
showed her the very rain-stained sheets
that he had found.
you have no cause to blush for
them, Miss Saville," said he. 'The
fancies are exquisite and clothed in
most appropriate words. Had writ.
ten this sketch should be proud of it "
And then, eheered by his words of
encouragement, she sold him all her
hopes and fears, the dreaming aspira.
lions and the blighting fulfllment.
A week afterwarl Gladys Ayrault
came to her father with flushed checks
and tear-sparkling eyes.
as it true, papa?" said she. "Are we
to have a-step-mother?''
The member of congress looked calm
~ up from the piles of manuals and
records.
''Ah!' said he. ''Who has been talk
ing to You on this subjectP"
Everybody is talking" said Gladys.
Gwen Alice Saville knows about it,
and she is sorry for me-, know she is,
for she began to cry and hurried away
when l told her about my troubles.
Oh, papa, papa. Fan says, and I think
so, too, if you wanted to marry any
body, why couldn't you have married
Alice?"
g There was a mischievous twinkle I'M
der the grave eyelashes of the member
Of congress as he answered:
'Give me little more time, and I'll |
see if 1 can't oblige you"
Papa" gasped Gladys, sis it real
ly-"
'It is really Alice, " said Col. Ayrault.
''Wherc is the child? Go and capture
her and bring her here TO hear her
sentence of stepmOthcrdom pro
Gladys clappcd her hands. Fanny, |
who was solemnly listening close BY, |
Frightened into radiant happiness: and
IN another moment Alice Savillc was
brought into the presence of the ma
.ional law-giver and forced to plead
guilty to the soft impeachment.
After that the secret was a secret no
onger Everybody in Jacksonville
knew that the wealthy widower, Col
Ayrault, was about to contract sec
md marriage, and that his young
daughters were delighted at the idea
Alice was very, very happy. The MEM
per of congress, in his grave, quiet way
vas not less satisfied; and Mrs. Saville
aid, contentedly:
''It's Just as it orter be. We always
,rung my dartcr up to be lady, and
ady she's goin' to be."-Amy Ran
Iolph, in n. Y. Ledger.