Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-16

challenge, she strobe out through the folk,
and 1 after her, with the mirror in my hand;
while the Cheap Jack picked himself out Of
the tub, whining, and the astrologer wiped
his long white beard and soiled robe.
Outside the tErong was a carriage, stopped
for a minute by this tumult, and q servant
at the horses heads. By the look Of it twas
the coach of some person Of quality; and,
glancing at it, saw inside an old gentleman,
with a grave, venerable face, seated. For
the moment it flashed on me had seen him
before somewhere, and cudgeled my wits to
think where it had been But a second and
longer gaze assured me was mistaken, and
Invent on down the street after Joan.
She was walking fast and angry nor, when
l caught her up and tried to soothe, would
she answer me but in the shortest words.
Woman's justice, as 1 had just learned, has
this spall defect-it goes straight enough,
but mainly for the wrong object. Which
now proved in my own case.
"Where are you going, Joanp
"To Fifteen Balls stable, for my horse"
cart not leaving the fair yet, surelyF'
"That I be, though. Have had fairing
enow-wi' a mann
Nor for the great part of the way home
Pound Scawens Ia hamlet close to the road,
with some friends going to the fair, she
stopped for a while to chat with them, whilst
l rode forward; and when she overlook me,
her brow was clear again.
'Am a hot headed fool, Jack, and have
spoiled thy day for thee"
NAY, that you have not, p" said l, heartily
glad to see her humble, for the first time in
| O11r hut hav 20
me that which could not help, you shall
take this that bought for you, in proof
And, pulling out the mirror, leaned over
and handed it to her.
what i the world be this!n she asked,
taking and looking at it doubtfully.
"Why, a mirror
whats thatln
"a glass to see your face in" explained.
"Be this my faceT' She rode forward,
holding up the glass in front of her, "Why,
what handsome looking gal be, to be sdreI
Jack, art certain its my very own facet"
ITO be sure" said l, amazed.
"Wellr' There was silence for full min
ute, save for our horses tread on the high
road. And then:
''Jack, be powerful dirty!"
This was true enough, and it made me
(having no sense of joke then or ever and
bent forward to the glass again.
by the way,n said l, "did you mark a
carriage just outside the crowd, by the Cheap
Jacks booth, with a white haired gentleman
seated insidel'
Joan nodded master Hannibal Ting
comb, steward o. Gleys."
"WhatIn
l jumped in my saddle, and with pull at
the bride brought Molly to a standstilI.
"Of GleysT" l cried Steward of Sir
Deakin Killigrew that wasp
Right, lad, except the last word That
Isl shOuldst rather say.n
Then you are wrong, Joan; for he's dead
and buried these five months. Where is this
house of Gleysl for tomorrow must ride
there
IT'S easy found then; for it stands on
the south coast, yonder, and no house near it;
five mile from anywhere, and sixteen from
Temple, due south. Shall want thee afore
thou startest, Jack Dear, nowI who'd hs'
thought 1 was so dirtyl"
The cottage door stood open as we rode
into the yard, and from it a faint smoke
came curling with a smell of peat. Within
| found the smoldering turves scattered
about as on the day of my first arrival, and
among them Joan's father stretched, fiat on
his face; only this time the cat was eurled
up quietly and lying between the old mans
shoulder blades.
Drunk again, said Joan shortly.
But, looking more narrowly, l marked
purplish stain on the ground by the old mans
mouth and turned him softly over.
JOAN" said l, "hes not drunk-he's
deadf"
She stood above us and looked down, first
at the corpse, then at me, without speaking
for time; at last:
"Then l reckon he may as well be buried.
"Girl," called out, being shocked at this
callousness "'tis your father-and he IS
deadI"
''Why, that's so, lad. An he were alive,
shouldn't trouble thee to bury'n.n
And so, before night, we carried him up to
the bleak torside, and dug his grave there;
the black cat following us to look. Five feet
deep we laid him, having dug down to solid
rock; and, having covered him over, went
silently back to the howell. Joan had not
shed single tear.