Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-12


graph"
Clothed in my right mind, and, what
is better still, soon to see the dear ones
at home. 1t is pretty hard for man to
lose five of his best years-to feel that
there is blank there which can never
be filed in-but it is something to have
made such friends as you have been"
The speaker was Jack Kinsey. You
would scarcely have recognized in him
the Ansil berner who was accused Of
the murder of Mime. Armand, though
you might have recognized him as the
Jason Brigham of the Memphis Ava
lanche staff. A couple of weeks had
done wonders for him. Through the
active efforts of our friend the judge, to-
gether with the intercession of Dr.. De
Costa, it hsd been a matter of small
trouble to secure full exoneration for
him. We were going north together,
and had chosen that most delightful of
all the luxurious methods of travel
steamer on the Mississippi
The wires had told the story of his
long absence to the old folks at home,
and had brought Jack the glad news
that there were no vacant places in the
home he had left. Better than that,
they had brought him plenty of money,
for Jacks father was retired Philadel-
phia merchant So we journeyed north
ward If it had been wholly left to
Jack we would have gone up by rail,
but had reason of my own for urging
the river route, and as yet | had not
taken the object of my solicitude into
my confidence. We were sitting on the
cabin deck smoking our cigars when
Jack-whom Jones would persist in call
ing Brigham, because he said this thing
of man having so many names per-
picked him - uttered the words with
which this chapter opens
1--WE have only done what you would
have done in like circumstances, | re-
piled. "But it does seem hard to lose
those years."
"You cannot imagine how grotesque
it all seems" said Jack. "Why, it ap-
pears to me as though it was only last
week that l left home a mere STRIPPING.
1t seems as though it was only yesterday
that the colonel handed me my commits
sion as lieutenant. cannot realize that
the war has closed, that the armies have
left the field, and that the country is
now at peace All this is a grotesque
fancy to me. And then to think what
have done all this intervening time
that not a memory survives of any of
those apparently lucid periods. But |
suppose the doctor was right, and that
each time the pressure upon my brain
grew too great it was like the sudden
letting down of the curtain upon an act
in play. 1t blottei out from memory
all that had preceded"
ave had very excellent evidence of
that" replied Jones, "when our friendly
advances were coolly repealed. But !
am off to interview the pilot, and you
fellows can sit here and philosophize or
ruminate all you want to"
When our companion had gone l
turned to Kinsey and said, There was
one thing have not yet spoken to you
about, and it is high time you knew it. "
Don't look so serious, old fellow" he
replied. sit was not very bad, was it,"
"That depends on how you look at it,
| retorted. 1.-The fact is you were guilty
Of a very grave breach of faith at Mem
phis, and l want you to make repara-
ton"
"If l wronged any man will do him
ample justice"
"But it was worse than that.
"WorseY
Eyes; you stole woman's heart-the
heart of a very sweet and amiable wom-
an too. In fact, you made love to her
desperately, won her affections, secured
her pledge to marry you, and then disap-
peared on the very night on which yol
declared your affection"
"You are not serious?"
II was never more so in my life."
"But this is really too much. can't
marry a woman whose acquaintance I
would have to make all over again"
'Not so fast, not SO fast! Who knows
that she will want to marry your Wom-
en- are tickle creatures. To make sure of
them you must keep them in
the humor. One cannot raise the siege
an instant This woman, as have said,
is sweet and amiable But, mark you,
she has plenty of spirit, is as high met
tied as Kentucky colt. She has suitors
by the score, and though she appeared
heartbroken at your mysterious disap-
she may be wearing some other
gallant's heart upon her sleeve ere now"
"Well, tell me whether she was fair or
plain. I'd like to know what kind of
taste displayed during the time when
my brain was playing such tricks with
me-"
'I'll do better and show you her pho
responded, taking it from
the case in which carried it and extend
ing it toward him Judge for your
self"
He looked at it a long time, admiration
growing upon his face ashe studied each
lineament Then he said:
''Pd marry that woman tomorrow if /
could"
Believe me, you are not the only one
who would make the sacrifice" / said
somewhat cynically. "She would make
any man happy"
But tell me about her. Quick, am
Impatient to know. Tell me all about
her and my association with her. Why,
what fool must have beenl Her
presence would be enough to restore the
balance Of ones reason"
''Or unseat it, / INTERCEPTED.
"My boy" and here the major looked
upon me appealingly, ''there isr't much
aft 70 tall Pr,f ,-nrrr-ofR i H..