Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-22

donna, " H8I1e continued. Oh KNOW
kaE, ct Course, Mr.. Randolph"
''B-aA-I haTe-that is, Slightly.
have hard keE sing; l may hare met
ker socially: SRe neot5 S. many people
4 ie diEicult to say"
he colored whIIe he spoke and seemed
a-Eooi deal confused.
'-Shes a very pretty woman, and
seems to bs as virtuous as she is pretty,
grange 10 say" the other went on.
There's discrepancy between her con-
auct and her history
Nj. Randolph colored still more.
'T-Fm an old fashioned man. sir" he
said, whislzing q silk handkerchief out
Of his coat tail pocket and passing it over
his forehead. I'm my day we've took
the virtue Of lady for granted; and I
must say I-of course, have no right to
be thoohampioH of this lady, sir, but -
He stopped, and Bellingham said:
ANY man has right to respect a
woman he believes honest, and to make
SS4eTs do SO in his presence. If that's
old fashioned, Mr. Randolph, count me
irF
4lltbalA gOAy lNNdAAACA blAN oAAAtAs
He rOss and put back his handkerchief
in his pocket.
Il must take leave of you, Mr.. Dins-
more no added. ga man like myself
has q great many afrairs on hand. We
shah look for you on the 18th, then.
Good morning: good morning, Mr.-ah
-Bcllingham.
81 am moro puzzled than ever" said
WaIhe, when Randolph was gone.
What now?"
''h the FIRST place he couldn't quite
make up his mind whether he'd met her
or not; then he got Hurried because 1
suggested there had been stories about
her; and, finally, he took to flight rather
than discuss her any more. Now if he
doesn't know her. why should he fate
Wy 50 Rf,Uut hera anl If he does know her,
why docs he pretend he DOESN'T"
Hes an old Acknowledged Geof-
frey.
That's CANNON" interrupted Wallie,
and you know it! The fall of man is
an Older fashion than Mr.. Randolph.
Sid any sane man, yOung or old, ever get
into Etate Of mind because the correct
Htss Of an opeEn singer he didn't know
WIS callesl m question! 1 can't make it
ORt-uEiess he means TO marry herr
This speculation was received by Geof-
frey in dead silence, and for a consider
abls time neither of the men said any
thing At last the question of the cottage
at Newport was brought up once more
and canvsssed until they parted.
BeIliEgilam walked slowly toward
Hn1isOn square, With Mr. Randolph,
among other thing on his mind. Still
mc,litating he turned up Fifth avenue,
anl before long found himself opposite
Nile. Marana's hotel 1t occurred to
bin that he had never yet called on her
in her own apartments, and he resolved
10 repair that neglect. Accordingly he
went to the Office and inquired if she
were in. The CLERK glanced at the key
board and said Yes abstractedly. Bell
ingham got into the elevator and
went up.
The paSSagewsy, after the bright sun
light Of the street, seemed rather dark.
Not knowing which way the numbers
ran, he remained for a moment where
tho elevator left hin. Just then door
was opened ON the right, gentleman
oame out, and advanced along the pas
sage toward him. When about ten PAGES
distant, he stopped, turned back, and de-
parted hastily in the opposite direction.
But Bellingham had recognized him; it
was Mr. Randolph.
The incident made little impression on
him, however. He turned to the left,
looking for the number, but finding he
WIS going the wrong way he retraced
his steps, and presently found himself
standing before the door from which
Mr.. Randolph had just issued. 1t bore
Mile. Marana's number. He knocked,
and Mime. Bemax opened to him. On
his inquirinS whether the prima donna
were engaged, the lady said she would
see. So he walked in, and stood by the
window, and in a few minutes Mile.
Mariana appeared. She greeted him
With such evidently spontaneous pleas
ure that any slight misgiving he may
have felt was Immediately dissipated.
II began to think you were never go
ing to come" she said.
I'm so much out of the way of max
ing calls that I'm surprised to find my
self here. You have great many call
ersg'
''Well, good many come, but 1 see
very tew-Only old friends. And of
course" she added, las I never was in
New York before, that is the same as
saying see hardly any one"
II met man lately who knows you, 1
think-Mr. Randolph"
''Mr. Randolph She pronounced the
name in a changed tone and blushed.
Alexander Randolph" he repeated,
hooking at her.
She dropped her eyes. "I-believe-I
have heard his name" she said.
BeIlingham said no more; he felt dis
mayed and bewildered. Undoubtedly
therewas some unpleasant mystery about
this fellow Randolph. Heard his name,
indeed! Had not the man been in her
company five minutes ago?
81 saw you at the opera last night, re-
marked the prima donna, recovering her
self. Bellingham merely nodded. Were
you Disappointed" she asked falteringly.
mo, was like the rest of the audi
ence," he replied in a dry tone.
fYOu are not like the rest of the au-
dience TO me, she said, ''ever since the
frst night Ihave sung to you. I wouldn't
tel you, ONLY thought you knew it!g
u know nothing about you, !" returned
Bellingham roughly.
You speak as if you didn't care to
lrnovv aDrfhinrr - sho said hold;nc, -,