Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-21
PHILIP BROWN.

of Hannah.
Last summer a friend of mine, en-
thusiastic and just out of college, went
to Laneville, to rusticate and visit q
bachelor uncle. He. came home in
raptures with Laneville and more par
ticularly in raptures with one Bessie
Blake, a resident of that fortunate
town.
My mother being of an inquiring dis
position, questioned young Gurley in
regard to this particular Bessie. and
learned that she was the daughter of
Moses Blake, and Moses Blake's wife
was a third cousin to my mothers
uncle's wife's brosher-in-law. So we
were quite closely related. My mother
had once known Mrs. Blake, and Moses
was man of wealth. Bessie was his
only daughter.
Here was an opening!
lily mother ought to have been a
president or prime minister, she was
sUch sharp one at planning, and be-
fore many years she had decided that
was out of health and needed country
air. She wrote an affectionate letter
to Mrs. Blake stating the affecting
circumstances, dwelling on her anxiety
for her only son, and asking that early
friend il she would not receive the in
valid into her family for few weeks.
In due time letter arrived saying
that l should be welcome to the domi-
Gle of the Blakes.
ssnaapxr r,,ofr cd
justing her spectacles to get a more
accurate view. lit seems to me that
Betsy Ann Blake has neglected her
spelling dreadfully. Why. scarcely a
single word is correctly spelled. and
Betsy Ann used 10 be a good scho ar. -"
1t was decided on tine spot that l
should go TO Laneville and recuDerate.
My wardrobe was soon put in order,
and set forth for the homo OF Bessie
Blake.
BE very careful, Philip said my
mother, at parting. land keep on the
right side of old Mr.. Blake. He's an
old stick, if l remember, and can't
bear to be crossed. And recollect, my
son, that he is worth fifty thousand.
ana bessie Is all ne got.
Perhaps you were never in Lane
vile? If not, then of course you do
not know that all the houses are as
much alike as the peas in a bushel-bag
full of peas, and the man who could
tell one from another would be a
genius.
The village is surrounded by brick
yards, and the Lanevillites believe in
encouraging home industry, so all the
houses are brick. There is a patent
roofing factory in the place; and so,
for the same reason cited above, all
the houses are patent-roofed. Green
window shades are manufactured here,
and of course all the shades are green.
1t was nearly dark when arrived
at Laneville, and it rained. 1t always
does when anybody goes anywhere.
/ inquired for Mr.. Blake's, and boy
agreed to pilot me thither for ten
cents. How the little wretch man-
aged to single out this house from all
the other houses just like it l do not
know; but seeing the name Blake" in
large letters on the door-plate, l gave
him his hard-earned pittance and rang
the bell.
They were delighted to see me, had
been expecting me for month, old
Blake said, and remembering that he
did not like to be crossed, l refrained
from contradicting him, though l knew
well enough that my mother had writ
ten them only a fortnight before.
was shown into the parlor and the
presence of Bessie.
This is my daughter. said old
Blake, indifferently enough, as if such
angels as Bessie Blake were too COM
mon with him to merit much notice
And felt that if my pantaloons were
not new, and I was sure the carpet
had been swept that day, it would be
happiness to kneel down by her feet
and-and-well, I didn't exactly know
what.
Mrs. Blake was fat old lady. and
she was knitting a gray stocking.
Sweet domestic employment.
l shook hands all round, and sat
down on the sofa, beside Bessie. The
first opportunity / got I squeezed her
hand, and received an enchanting smile
by way of encouragement.
Mr. Blake got out his spectacles.
wiped them, and put them a-stradd'e
Of his nose. Then he Strengthened back
In his chair, and took a good lock At
me.
HUMP said he. .Tolerable tall
and well built Six teet amt ye?1
l assented, knowing that he did no;
like to be crossed, but am only five
feet six"
81 used to be six feet two myself,
said he, that was when was young
A heftS man, TOP. Takes after Il.
fHtheT-eh, Mart ha?'' nodding to h's
wife ''Al that tribe was tall Got
nose Like his grandfather's- let me
see; it's more like his grand-mother's.
There's a good deal in Noses-eh,
MarthaP"
Yes. " said Martha, absently, count
ing her stitches, especially when a
body has cold.
1 noticed that the old gentleman
made a mistake in calling his wife
Martha, when her name was Betsy
Ann, but l didn't cross him. l kept
stlil and made myself more devoted TO
Bessie.
Yes yes, pursu ed he, nose wide