Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-21

the subtle, changeful beauty of face
its softening and deepening glow, the
] play of the features, the alteration oil
the eyes. No; science may be able tC
photograph lightning, but not yet the
soul.
The true Florence Bassett, as Stevens
/ for the first time now saw her, was per.
haps trif1e above the average height OF
American women; if S., it was only a
trif1e, and the impression might have
been due to her perfect though slender
proportions. Slender, to be sure, she
was, but only as becomes maidenhood,
and withal graceful and rounded. Her
head was classic in mold and pose. The
contour of the face was that of the Venus
of Milo, but younger and holier. 1t was
the head of the queen of love before she
had loved; Venus at 18-an innocent and
virgin Venus, unconscious of her sover-
eign charms and IMMERSED in their use.
One who met her for the first time
might be struck before all by the change
full beauty of her complexion. Such
rosy cheeks and lips are rarely given to
American women. The expression of
her features was enchanting. There
radiated from them, even when in re-
pose, sOciable pleasure, kindness, and an
innocent delight in life, and when she
smiled it was like daybreak in Eden.
Her figure was girlish and yet wom-
anly. Her neck, shoulders and bust and
the lines of her waist and body melted
into one another and combined as one
symmetrical composition. Her hands
and feet were neither small nor large,
but comely, finely formed and in proper
ton to her figure. In short, her form
was logical and nothing
exaggerated, nothing tiny. She had no
fashionable deformities. Cold water was
her wash and health her rouge She
stood erect, and trod the earth like its
princess.
One item more. 1t is a pretty trick in
drawing to fill sheet with seemingly
random lines, and then by one quick
stroke to create order and complete the
design; and in like manner this sketch
may be finished by speaking of her eyes.
They were blue of their own. Their
expression, moreover, was absolutely
original, and they shone behind their
fringes like planets at evening twilight
while the sky is still blue and the air is
dreamy and bland.
II feel like old friends" said the
beauty, as Peter handed her chair,
''Windward has written so much about
you. And such queer room! I'd like
to go to college, mammal
Peter managed to blurt out that under
those circumstances he should advocate
the co-education of the sexes.
''Im afraid 1 shouldn't study much.
though" observed Florence, thought
fully, her glances wandering around the
walls to notice their decorations.
''Tm sure wouldn't exclaimed Peter
so frankly that they all laughed.
''See that great long oar, mamma"
said the young lady, pointing with her
sunshade to where it hung along the
wall.
eyes, said Windward, ''that did good
service i'll the race l wrote about"
"What makes it so crookedg" asked
Florence.
"Why, it's a spoon oar" said Wind
ward. Don't you know?-you don't, of
course, but we will take you down to the
boathOuse after supper-won't we, Pete?
and show them around"
Eyes, that will be splendid" exclaim-
ed Florence, "unless Mr.. Stevens is
busy"
Mr.. Stevens glanced toward the draw
er, which, like Pandora's box, held all the
dangers of representative institutions,
and then into Florence Bassetts eyes,
where lurked greater dangers still, and
said he had nothing to do and would be
very happy to go.
But first they made the tour of the
room, except what Windward called the
Bluebeard closet-and Floy managed to
get a quick peep into that-and next
round the college green and turn up
avenue and back through the
city green to their hoteb where supper
was ready, and Stevens must sit down
to it with them. Then finally they hur-
ried down to the boat house, where they
saw the long skeleton shells-Floy called
them centipedes-and where the ladies
were treated to short ride in frail out
rigger skiff.
Florence enjoyed this novel experience
and no wonder. Mrs. Bas-
sett possibly thought too much of the
danger, but her daughters eyes sparkled
and her cheeks flushed with excitement,
and she talked all sorts of girlish non
sense. And Stevens, who had hitherto
her for her quiet, modest man.
ners, now perceived she was most charm
ing when animated. Singularly enough,
he had thought she showed to special ad-
vantage in the dormitory; but in the
open carriage, in the great green aisles
of the elms, it was wonderful how the
forest setting became her. At supper he
decided she looked extremely pretty
while eating, and wondered why some
women shrank from, such test; and
now in the boat, framed in the sunset,
she certainly made a most lovely picture.
Her hasty change in attire at supper, too,
seemed to make no difference. In the
brown dress she had been charming, but |
the navy blue was equally becoming. It !
was very curious.
To BE CONTINUED.