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

SIC pinned his fo1pcrs upon her bosom.
''What lucky' said Stevens, as he was
brushing the. dust of Office from his
clothes after the days work.
T. Windward. IN reply. briefly explained
"You are to take Miss Willis to the
theatre tonight, l believer said Peter,
glancing at a nosegay Windward was
arranging, not very skillfully.
That's the programme" was the re-
ply.
''She is good company. You will have
q nice time" said his friend.
81 think So" Windward answered, and |
he thought so still more when two or
three hours later she bounced into the |
parlor at her coy little house on Thfr-
tenth street, where her mother and /
Uncle Pollok were entertaining !Sn
while she fingered toperfect her toilet.
Very charming and bright and pleased |
she looked as she stood in the doorway |
fastening her long gloves and scolding |
herself for hardness. How her eyes |
sparkled! The moths might hEve flown
into them, installing them for lights. |
Mrs. Willis gazed on her daughter
fondly, admOnished her this and that, |
which Miss Clara vetoed with pretty |
waywardness, while the young man
stood by, pretending to be listening to
the end of POlloks account of the Pih-she- |
Tab pagoda at Soochow, but in reality |
absorbed in watching the mods and becks |
and wreathed smiles of the plump little |
beauty, as with nimble and expert fingers |
she pinned his flowers upon her bosom.
Then away they went as easy and as
affable rs old friends.
Miss Clara was in high spirits. She
loved the theatre, and her light feet |
spurned the ground in their eagerness to |
bring her once more TO its blaze and |
stir and competitive dressing. Tonight |
she would see 500 hats, and see and be
seen by score of acquaintance, all of
whom would say: There is that lovely |
Miss Willis. Who can it be with herr
And incidentally the play would be in
teresting-haply Mr., Bassett also. Both
Col. McArdle and Miss Sheffield had
spoken of him highly, though for that
matter Miss Willis made up her own in
dependent judgment of her gentlemen
friends. So she ratified on as they
walked briskly down town, as happy
and as frolicsome rs a flag in breeze,
and Windward listened as well as she
talked-no small praise, for the former
is quite as hard to do as the latter, and
Is as necessary, if one wishes to be found
agreeable. We are always interesting
when we are interested, and he who has
mastered the difficult art of saying "AhT'
"Indeedr' and Glow very surprisingly
properly at the proper time may justly
be ranked as a fine converser.
Quick steps soon brought them to the
theatre; and such a delicious tumulti
What fun TO march down the middle
aisle to the best seats little late, the
orchestra playing dance music, a rustic
Of dresses and fans on all sides, every
body looking, the ushers slapping down
the seats with flourish, people getting
up and crushing, a great fuss with wraps,
overcoats, hats, glasses, fans and what
not; then the mods to friends and swift
searching preliminary survey of the 500
hats!
Soon the curtain rose and the actors
began their tasks-the inferior actors,
that is, who are hired to amuse by their
nonsense and sustain the better actors
who sit on the other side of the foot
lights and play their difficult parts on
the larger stage of the world. 1t was
the acting Of these finer comedians that
Miss Willis liked most. Some of them
she knew personally, many others by
reputation, and all were fair objects of
study.
Windward, meanwhile, simple male,
was enjoying the stage fun and buster,
for neither age, nor law, nor city life
had withertd in him that freshness of
nature which, sneered at by the stale, is
the most precious heritage of the heart.
In other words, though now nearly
thirty, he still had imagination, and,
therefore, was still young.
Yes, with one radical difference, he
could yet enjoy life as perfectly as a
boy; that radical difference was that
now, as q man, hecould no longer enjoy
enjoyment alone. Sohath kindly nature
ordained. Even the stars are sociable,
and live in groups. Windward, also,
wished to be "set in families" for God
had not been so stingy in making him
that he could find the company of book
or cigar, or brute or a cane, sufficient
And thus, rs the playactors made their
points, he would turn to his fair neigh
Dor 10 catch her smile; nor would he
miss it, and such sweet, merry smilel
Its candor, affinity and good fellowship
melted his heart.
Amid such scenes and feelings the
evening passed swiftly away. cit was
splendid!7 c-ied Miss Clara, as Wind
ward folded her wraps about her. 81
enjoyed every minute" And so she had
the play, the house, the company had
been charming. Mr.. Bassett she found
very agreeable and entertaining; he on
his part was bewitched. They ehatted
incessantly all the way home, she talk
ing and he listening, TO their mutual ad-
miration and delight It was glorious
night, semi-tropical, mellow, silent
Clara was thrilled with nervous exaita
ton. They were sorry TO reach hone
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