Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-09

rying that was able to deposit them
in the post Office before the mail closed.
did not wish to wait an instant
longer tnan necessary, and the sequel
convinced me t;,at the fates were il
league with Ely actions
Though ! did net know it at the tiIne,
two intcr1 ting scenes transpired TWEEN
ty-four hours later. One was in my
friend and cCllaborator' Phil Hough's,
law Office, and the other in the boudoir
of Miss Ollivettc Berne, Cincinnati,
Ohio.
The first showed my esteemed part
ner handling a bulky mass of Ms. At
last he takes out few leaves, slips he
tween two of them third distracted
from IN envelope, and reads:
"Gustave threw himself at the feet
Of Beatrice, and exclaimed: Darling,
you have in Your possession n maya
zine which l loaned you three months
ago. 1t contains 4 poem by the late
DR.. Reed, and my brother has written
me for it. Could you not manage to
send it to me by mail tomorrow?
am very sorry to trouble you, but you
see l am under an obligation to do so.
"'What is my answer"
'But Beatrice had'fed like frighted
fawn through the shrubbery."
Puzzled and annoyed by the nom
sense, the lawyer throws the manu-
script on the floor and emits not very
complimentary remark concerning my
self.
The other scene is less disturbing.
Ollie holdsa letter postmarked Elmo"
in her hand, and with shake of the
envelope opens it. She recognizes the
name of her former admirer, and with
eager eyes scans the first page:
ELMO. Aug 81
"DEAR FRIEND.OLLIE:-You viii no doubt be
surprised 10 hear from me, for it has been
some time since you left us for the pleasures OF
life in a great city. But have good excuse
for writing since"
The leaf is slipped behind, and the
flush that has tinged her face deepens
as she reads the next:
my heart is in your keeping. Since the day
we first met have loved you, devotedly, pas
sionately, tenderly. Eternal and unchanged as
the everlasting rocks is my love, and 1 believe
that you return it. Do you notI Give me a syl-
liable Of hope. Tell me that you will be my wife,
and that soon II you do not, my life will be
one sad waste of dreariness."
Another leaf is transposed, and she
reads on:
There is little in the way Of news here. am
devoting my leisure to literary work. VIII get
down to see you some day.
Yours sincerely,
FRANK RAILWAY"
I was sitting in my office the second
day thereafter, when postman threw
on my table the mail. In the package
was dainty envelope. 1 recognized
Ollie's handwriting in the address, and
tore it open the first of all. 1t as
founded me; l could make nothing of it
either the girl was insane or was.
The more l studied it the more l was
mystifed, and the result was a tele-
gram sent to Phil, saying:
'Come up on the noon train; very i'm
portant."
lie obeyed and stalled into my Office
at nightfall.
well" were his first words, whats
up now?"
Everything, " was my reply, Look
at that letter and tell me what it says,
what it means, and whether am crazy
Dr. not"
He took 1t and read:
CINCINNATI, Sept. l.
my DEAR FRANK:-I was exceedingly
pleased to receive your tender letter. had
lot forgotten you, and your loving words
aroused the responsive chord in my heart that
las so long been yearning for the true must
,iau's touch.
II was surprised to receive so sudden q decla-
alton of love from you, however. was not
prepared for it.
1T seems to me that ought not to give you
IN answer until you have seen my father, a,
which will not delay it long hope.
Come down and see US, Frank.
Yours sincerely, OLLIE"
A prolonged whistle from PhiPs lips
woke the echoes of the law Office.
well, what do you think of it?" l
.sked.
Think of it?" was Pills enthusi-
site reply. ''Why 1 think you the
uclziest dog on earth. How in the
vord did you develop the nerve to do
do it? l didn't do it. wrote her
he most commonplace kind of letter,
skiing for the return of a magazine,
nd She"
Say" interrupted Phil, did it con-
ain poem by the late DR.. Reed? and |
ad your brother written for it?"
Eyes, but how do you know of it?"
For reply, Phil took from his pock-
t the sheet had sent him for the Ms.
Does that belong to our great Amer
,an novel?'' he queried.
No" replied, more tangled than
yer, 1T belongs to the letter wrote
lille Berne."
"You may have intended it for her,
ut you sent it to me. And the love
eclaration which was to climax our
tory has gone to the young lady, and
cen accepted in good faith by her."
''What shall do?"
Go ahead" Phil advised. "She
ives you. Go down to Cincinnati, and
ct as though you meant it."
After thinking it all over, 1 took
hills counsel and the result proved
nat he was eminently level-headed,
II Ollie and I were married at the
Olidays.
The great American novel was never
nishcd, and somehow lost interest
it.
My wife asked me about it the other
~, and my explanation was: 'Oh,
II manuscripts did not match :"
had not the heart to tell her pro-
osed to her by occident- am pro-
undly convinced that I am not calcu-
ted to shine in literature. NJ.
arger, in Yankee Blade.
E,v,-a RanL E.ramJnars hooded