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

look over the papers and try to ind ou
who 1 am. Meantime, for the present, al
least, may ask you to say nothing Of
thisg"
Certainly; CONFIDENTIAL Too much
said alreadyP' he replied.
81 hope you won't worry" continued
Louise. at is no doubt for the best"
''Hope sol Good pluck That's right!T
he said. "GOing? Come again! Always
welcome! Treat you better next timer
"Good day, sirl' she replied, smiling
her thanks and good wishes. "Good-by,
Nancy"
81 don't realize it yet, somehow" she
said to Windward, when they had
reached the street; and, her native hui
NOR breaking through her sadness. she
added: I'm like the old woman in
Mother Goose, who woke up considera-
bly, altered and exclaimed, If am not
I, then who am Z"
She adopted this playful vein all the
way home, assuming to doubt the iden-
tity Of the most familiar objects, such as
the horse cars, the trees and the public
buildings, till she reached the doorstep
of the colonels house. Here she thanked
Windward warmly for his attentions,
and excused herself from asking him in
on the ground that she wanted to make
the acquaintance of her ancestors.
''She has good nerves, thought Wind
ward, as he turned away, "but doctors
say those patients suffer less who cry
and take on than those who shut their
teeth and bear the pain in silence. She's
splendid woman, but she was weak
and homesick today. And 1 verify be-
ieve if l had told her I'd give her my
name for the one 1 was the means of her
losing she'd have taken it-though l
don't suppose any woman likes to wear
secondhand clothes, even if they are not
quite worn out. Confound that pretty
mink! l believe am fool. Well, I'll
go back and settle down to business.
This has been an unlucky winter. I'll
leave claims alone after this; I've had
enough of it for lifetime; got into
trouble myself and all my friends be-
sides. 1t don't pay"
. With this American criticism on his
labors, he changed the course of his
thoughts; for now, looking on ahead to-
ward the boarding house which he was
approaching, he saw the ''Old Man"
coming to meet him.
'Now, he has been to the house to see
Stevens again. wish Peter would not
be so mysterious, but 1 suppose 1 shall
know in time"
He did not have to wait long, how
ever, to have his curiosity satisfied as to
the object of the millionaire's second
visit, for on reaching the house he found
everybody in futter of delight and ex-
element and eager to tell the news.
The magnate, it seemed, had but Just
gone after making an extraordinary pro-
position; and Stevens was again the hero
of the hour.
The 'Old Man" had called at half-past
4 o'clock. He wished, he said, to see
Mr.. Stevens, but he had not forgotten
the ladies by any means. So, while |
awaiting the clerks return from Office he
chatted affably with Mrs. and Miss Bas-
sett and Miss Sophia to their mutual en-
and pleasure. 81 don't see
why he isn't like other peopleF' thought |
Sophia.
You have very pleasant group here,
I'm sure, he said. my young men are
n luck"
my young men," Stevens a million
lire's young man; the ladies made note
If it.
1--WE find them very pleasant" said
Sophia.
"Oh, yes, replied Millions, "Atwood's
| good fellow. Quiet, don't say much,
1ut level headed. Knows a good thing
when he sees it. As for Mr.. Stevens, l
AVE seen only a little of him, but he is
good timber; fine, strong man; some
hing to him; man to tie to. Not like
else, either. And that's the
rouble nowadays. Mrs. Bassett; all the
-oung men are just alike, as if they were
quilt by the mile, like Dutch ships, and
awed off in lengths to suit"
All the ladies laughed at this disparag-
ne remark on the modern young man,
md agreed that it was very true.
Eyes, like to see a youngster like
stevens who isn't commonplace, went on
he magnate as innocently as babbling
,rook; ''a man with some gumption. He
S good looking chap, too, but 1 don't
oppose the young ladies need to be told
hat!'
Possibly it was necessary, and possibly
he cold Man" knew what he was about.
1t any rate, now that he had given
stevens a certificate of beauty as we'll as
haracter, the ladies remembered that
e had good features and fine eyes. 1t is
lot on the other side only of the ocean
cry that royalty sets the fashion of adj
niration."
The object of all this extremely casual
raise now came in from Office looking
ired and anxious, but he frightened up
t once on seeing his employer among
he ladies.
"Ah, Stevens!' exclaimed the magnate
amiliarly. ''Been waiting for you. You
must know, now, ladies, I've got up
title picnic"
ga picnicr' exclaimed all the ladies in
nison, and Miss Sophia added, in the
of her emotion, 'Oh, myF'
eyes, a picnic" said the magnate. 81
han't use my car tomorrow, and if you
ay so I'll send you over to Baltimore in
! tomorrow night to the opera, and
ack after it is over-that is, if Stevens
I'LL look after the party's comfort"
"Why, of course, said Stevens, blush
lg and confused. ''But you are too
oOd."
''Yes," repeated the chorus. of ladies,
you are too good"