Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-08-13


Then darkness bIotted out the tCorld.
Yes. Reading 'em over. BrusAin
EN- up. Never say der
Louise smiled her approval of sucl
good pluck. sit must be tedious, sh
said.
'No, miss" the agent replied. "Ver.
interesting. Queer people, claimants
Hopeful. Fretful. Can't spell!' and HI
handed her one or two of the neatly tieC
packages to examine. She, however
was more interested in the man than il
the documents.
"You are comfortable, 1 hope" she
said, seating herself by the side of the
lounge where-after an excuse for his
infrmity-the agent was now again re
Ginning, holding the flowers in his serv.
iceable hand.
Her tone of sympathy and ministra-
ton suggested to Windward that posi-.
bly, she might prefer to speak a few
words of help and kindness without an
audience; hence he excused himself foI
a moment and passed through the opened
folding doors to the rear office, where
the assistant was busting the pigeon
holes and rearranging the papers.
''He is going through them systematic
cally," remarked the assistant. HE
has got to c. It's tedious, though.
Look at this package-one claim. There
are twenty or thirty letters in that
single bundle"
81 know" said Windward, GIVE done
a little searching myself" Then he
picked up a package at random and
turned over its letters while the assist
ant brushed and slapped aud sorted the
dusty files.
Meanwhile conversation of great
consequence had begun in the front
room.
'AIiss Sheffield Sheffield? McArdle's
niece?" said the agent. "That's familiar
somehow. I've heard-read something"
"You know my uncle, believe" she
replied; land I've no doubt you remem-
Der dear old Tom Bassett."
'Oh, yes, yes" exclaimed the agent,
frightening up and looking at his visitor
with much interest. you're the girl
lady, should say. All grow! Yes! yesl
You the little claimant! Quite romantic!
Adopted Very interestingly
''Sir" exclaimed Louise, puzzled and
doubtful if she had understood Alright
his muffied and broken phrases.
"Ah, can't talkT' exclaimed the in
valid sadly. adopted! Shefields-
kind peopler'
By a supreme effort she depressed her
surprise and alarm. What was the mis-
understanding? What could he mean?
Windward's stumbling reference and
awkward explanation flashed back upon
her mind. She claimant? THE Shelf
fields-kind people" Adopted" These
were strange, startling words. Was it
possible? OF course not; but she would,
she must, ascertain what this strange
man meant. And she would be calm.
Any exhibition of wonder, ignorance,
or agitation might seal his lips.
Fortunately for her purpose, the in
valid, though he noticed her confusion,
attributed it to embarrassment springing
from an inability to understand him.
"Ah, can't talkr' he repeated regret
fully. Excuse me; I'll WRITE" saying
which he laid down the bouquet and
reached for his tablet. Then propping
himself up on the lounge, he scrubbed
rapidly a moment, while Louise, sick
and weak with mysterious fears, took
the bouquet hastily and buried her face
in the flowers to gain support from their
pungent odors.
With smile of interest and curiosity
he now paused and handed her the tab
let. He had written upon it the follow
ing:
suppose you are Mrs. Sheffield's adopted
daughter. I've just been reading about it in
Tom Bassett's correspondence with Mr.. Caus-
ten, my predecessor. Very interestingl
She gave little smothered cry, her
cheeks faded, her breath came quick and
unsteadily, she grew dizzy, the walls
spun around, she heard the invalid shout
for help; then darkness blotted out the
world. When she awoke she found
Windward at her side, the agent bend
ing over her and the assistant bringing
water and spirits from the sideboard.
Excuse me-" she gasped, her pride re-
viving with her life. ga sudden faint"
and she tried to smile, but she saw the
tablet was in Windward's hand. He was
looking at it very kindly, but very sober
ly; and in his large, pathetic eyes-the
soft, blue eyes of old Tom Bassett-she
read the truth of her life. Her flushed
cheeks paled again, and she grew weak
and dizzy.
"Whisky" cried the invalid, pressing
a glass TO her lips. "Sorry, very sorryi
Awkward Never mind! All the samel
Up stairs? Rest awhile? Nancyl Up
stairs. Too badl Fooli FoolF" and he
turned his face TO the wall with groan,
while Louise let herself be raised and
assisted to bedroom and stretched on a
sofa.