Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-10

Matte, give me my scissors" And be-
fore he could realize what she was go
ing to do, she had ripped the seam Of
his coat sleeve and barred the bruised
but sinewy limb.
Aunt Matte had shrewdly guessed
what was about to follow, and already
stood with q bottle Of lotion at her
young lady's elbow.
docs It hurt you much?" the girl
asked in tone Of exquisite sympathy
as she poured the creamlike liquid over
the infamed muscles.
It seemed like Heaven to him-the de-
hcious GOODNESS of that magical appli-
cation-the tender touch of that we'll
shaped hand on his burning flesh.
Then she bound his wounded arm care
fully with lint bandages, and, taking a
silk scarf from her own neck, hastily
fashioned it into sling.
There" she said, merrly, that will
do for the present-almost as well as
grandma could have fixed it. Now let
us go to pleasanter quarters"
As soon as they reached the parlor,
Frank managed to express somewhat
lamely his thGGlls for the services she
had rendered him; but she was in a
merry mood now, and would not let
him linger on the theme of his obliga>
tions. Presently, but as it seemed to
Frank quite naturally, considering the
interest the girl had manifested in him,
the current of conversation turned on
the military movements.
After asking many questions, which
Frank was unable to answer, she casu-
ally remarked, as though it was a mat
ter of no Importance:
81 suppose you are on your way to
help Lyon redeem General Sigels de-
feat at Carthage?"
Really, do not know. The COM
manders of the expedition have not dis
covered sufficient merit in me to let me
share their confidence. A private sol
der, young lady, is the mere cog of a
wheel in the machinery of war, and
knows about as much Of the why's and
wherefores of things as that senseless
piece of mechanism does of the reason
of its rotation"
Yes, know all that, but even a man
in the ranks need not be quite fool. I"
There was such a flash of insolence
in her manner that Frank started In
panied surprise.
II am really very sorry to seem so
stupid" he said, coloring crimson, but
think you are little hard on me-"
so do l." she said, with light
laugh, for her moods were as change
able as an April sky, land very rude
and unladylike also. Pray, forgive me. I"
Nay" he declared, heartily; ~
have so much to thank you for that
forgiveness is out of the question. Now,
to turn to pleasanter subject, may
ask the name of the fair Samaritan who
has done so much to-day for sweet char
ity's sake?"
Meaning me? Of course you may.
Perhaps you would like my whole
autobiography? 1t would not fill an
encyclopaedia, so you need not look
alarmed" Then she continued, with q
pretty serio-comic earnestness that fas-
cinated her listener: MY name Is
Mary Lascelles. was born Of rich
but respectable parents on plantation
in the southern part Of Kentucky,
where have spent the greater portion
of my brief but brilliant life. Our fam
lily, which is rather old, migrated into
the Blue-Grass State from Virginia-a
little previously, believe, with Will
lam the Conqueror from Normandy into
England-some time previously, again,
with Noah to Mount Ararat. Beyond
that / am told that the family records
are a trife obscure, but we have every
reason to suppose that the roots of our
genealogical tree run right down to
Adam and Eve, the original founders of
our race"
Then you have not always lived in
ST. Louis?'' Frank asked, much enter
tanned by her badinage.
mot l, indeed. We are simply on a
visit here-grandma and taking care
OF my brothers house in his absence on
business"
She did not explain to him that the
business which called her brother away
from home was the command of a regi-
ment of irregular Confederate cavalry,
at that moment doing dashing service
with Price in Missouri
"And, may ask" the young soldier
queried, blushing and stammering like
a schoolbOy. ''how, with such surround
ings, you have retained your loyalty to
the Union? thought that"
ITO BE CONTINUED
First published in tie ABILENE WEEKLY
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