Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-06-25

must make many friends, but few noisy
ones. Congress hates to be scolded,
even with eloquence. Certain cross in
terests must be placated. You must
learn to yield, like steamship forging
on through a head wind and sea. Its
progress is due to succession OF judi
cious compromises. Infenbihty would
be fatal to it"
The colonel proceeded in this strain,
but going mere into detail, till they
reached his residence, where Louise re-
ceived them in her most winning man.
ner.
81 saw Miss Willis today, and told
her." she said merrily to Windward.
"And so your fortune is made in that
quarter"
"Oh, did you? hope SOL" exclaimed
Windward with nonchalance not
wholly natural. He might have added
more, but at that moment an embodied
laugh danced out of the library and
greeted both the gentlemen with girlisa
frankness.
"Ah, good-day, Miss Willis" said
Windward simply, taken of his guard
and feeling the color come into his
cheeks.
Happy to see you, Miss Willis, said
the colonel grsvely and kindly. "You
came to see Louise Just at the right
time. She was saying to me this morn
ing that her flowers needed. more sun
shine"
"Oh, colonel, you are too sweet"
laughed the beauty.
"Why can't l say such things"
thought Windward, not aware that of
the two compliments she valued the
blush more highly than the graceful
phrases.
Soon lunch was announced, not the
sandwich and apple ration of Mrs. EI,
and yet delightfully."- simple and infor-
NAL. The colonel laid aside his business
severity and talked amusingly, though
with deep learning, of salads, voodoo-
ism and curious patents. Louise was
again tho perfect housewife, thoughtful,
companionable and inspiring. More than
once the coloners quiet eyes rested on
her in silent appreciation and love. 1t
was easy for any one to see how fond he
was of her, how entirely he trusted and
relied upon her, how integral a part OF
hfs happiness she had grown to be.
The blithe Miss Willis came as near
fearing the colonel as her temperament
admitted, and in his presence came as
near behaving herself as anywhere.
Hence, under such circumstances, she APP
peared at her best, for she only needed
good manners to be very charming.
Windward certainly found her so that
noon; but having resolved that that day
laughing eyes and curl. were to have the
go-by, he resolutely shook off their spell,
therefore, and turned his steps TO the
agency to meet his appointment there.
81 am little early" he said to the in
valid, as the latter rose on his lounge to
receive him.
"Gladr' burst out the sufferer, I'm
always in
At this moment gentleman who was
busting some piles of letters in the back
parlor came forward and was introduced
as the attorneys assistant. He apollo
gizedSa they shook hands, for his be-
grimed state by saying with a laugh that
he.was removing the dust of ages and
freshening up the claims for new cam
paign.
The invalid nodded vigorously, and
Windward praised their constancy, and
said he was to be counted on for what
help he could bring, and only wanted to
be told whaG to do. Such prOffers from
a new recruit, thus jealous and so we'll
equipped for work, were received, as
might be supposed, with an eager well
come, and it was not long before a
scheme of procedure was sketched out.
The readiness with which the two men
plotted the attack struck Windward, in
deed, as remarkable, and he expressed
his admiration.
Used to itr' exploded the invalid.
"Old storyT'
Having now his instructions the young
man entered at once on the practical
business set before him. That evening
he and Stevens devoted to writing let
tiers to certain of the more active and
indefatigsble claimants, informing them
that another effort was to be made, and
bnClA W bAADe W ONtAA OAA NA4SAA
representatives IN congress whatever in
fiuence they controlled. The next day
he spent over a circular, in the nature
of q legal brief, stating the argument
for the claimants and reviewing the his
tory of the case. This pamphlet was to
do service among congressman, report
ers, and whom else it might concern.
The young lawyer toiled very hard over
the document, and was inclined to con-
graduate himself on the result. Stevens
liked it, too, though he suggested few
notifications, and the gentlemen at the
agency expressed their satisfaction also.
But Col. McArdle snuffed out the young
advocates pride without mercy.
at is too long," he said. "Cut il
down two-thirds, and leave out all the
sarcasm and abuse" Then noticing
Windward's look of chagrin and dis.
enlargement, he went on to say 81
know am giving hard counsel. 1t Ii
easier to be diffuse than concise. Anews-
paper friend once told me, 1 can write
column in an hour, but to write half a
column takes two But as good short
dispatches are enough better than bad
long ones to pay for the extra time, so 6
short, crisp appeal is preferable to on'
nobody will read"
81 wish had your brevity!" exclaimed
Windward, not quite so artlessly, per
haps, as appeared ON the surface. "HoV
did you acquire it, may I askT'
The colonel was touched on a veal
| Enot s'Thus he replied. very gracious