Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-29

about one evening Dehlnd the scenes,
while the opera was in progress. car
penter, who was tinkering a defective
Joint in the scenery up somewhere in the
wings, let fall chisel, which struck
Jocelyn on the head. inficting a super
fetal but alar ming looking wound along
the right side of his forehead He stag
gered and fell, and blood streamed down
his face. A surgeon was sent for, and
meanwhile Jocelyn was removed into
the prima donna's dressing room. Just
then the prima donna, warm and palpi-
tating from her scene, came in with
glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes, the
thunder of applause still sounding in her
ears.
Jocelyn's CHASTITY aspect filed her with
compassion and tenderness. She knelt
down beside him where he lay upon the
sofa, dipped her handkerchief in water,
and with soft murmurs of sympathy and
ruth washed the blood away from his
wound. He recognized his good luck
and lay still for a time, apparently in the
dead faint that precedes dissolution.
But watching his opportunity when they
were left alone for a few minutes he fall
tered out an entreaty to be lifted to
sitting position, and when she clasped
her strong young arms about him to &C
complish his desire she found herself I'M
awares entangled in his embrace, and
before she could extricate herself she
felt his lips on her cheek.
She placed him in the attitude he
wished, and then got slowly and YEARLY
to her feet, her face pale and her eyes
dark.
$50" she said, with perceptible in
tonation of contempt, 81 was not mis-
taken!"
Forgive me, Beatrix," he sighed out,
still affecting to be overcome by weak
ness. II could not help it. Darling
girl, love you so! 1 can fight against it
no longer"
81 might have known that you were
like the others-or worse" said she, "but
1 could not believe it till now. shall
never be mistaken again"
''Oh, Beatrixl have you no pity-no
consideration for-for my condition?
Heaven knows how 1 have struggled!
1dhC Oll lLlo DduudSCs LC COullhuCu
querulously, snatching away the hand
kerchief from his forehead. "Let me
bleed to death-I will not live without
your
1T will take you a long time to bleed
to death, Mr.. Jocelyn," returned she
quietly. 81 shall not be able to wait for
you. Perhaps Madame Bemax will.
Shall call her?'
you shall not speak to me in that
toner exclaimed Jocelyn, raising him
self on his couch in real or feigned pas
sion. 81 have not deserved it, Have 1
not done everything for you? Have you
forgotten what you owe me?'
''You cannot have forgotten that l
long since told you could never marry
you, so how could you expect that
would pay you what 1 owe with my
self"
II am not man to make cold bloOded
calculationsp' said he, getting ilpul-
sively on his legs. "If you had any
heart you would understand, Beatrix,"
he went on, suddenly changing his tone
and attempting to seize her hands; II
do not ask an irrevocable compact do
not hope that you can love me always.
You will go on, 1 know, and leave me
behind. But, OIL my dearest one, would
you regret in the future that is before
you, and which my poor aid will have
helped you to enjoy-will you regret,
then, having made man who loves you
insanely-having made him, for little
while only, the happiest of human
beings? You may be loved by younger
men than 1, and handsomer and richer,
but never
Mr.. Jocelyn," she interposed, with a
manner that indicated lamentable
hardening of her once sweet and gra-
cious nature, eff you would look at
yourself in the glass you would under
stand why l appear so unsympathetic.
Even prima donna, who holds herself
at the beck and call of every good look
ing fellow who happens to- take fancy
to her-even cannot listen to you until
you have washed your face. Perhaps
you had better not use my washstand-
people are so censorious. and YOUR sensi-
bilities are so delicate; but if you will
go to your own place and get yourself in
presentable condition then you may
come tomorrow and we will talk over
your proposal as quietly as your passion
will admit. will ask my father and
Gen. lingo to be present as witnesses
and to offer suggestions; for you are so
young and impulsive that perhaps 1
might otherwise get the better of you. 1
think hear some one coming" she add
ed, laying her hand upon the door latch;
perhaps it would be pleasanter for you
to go out of your own accord, instead Of
waiting to be-assistedr'
Jocelyn departed, feeling sore outside
and in. But he fancied he knew a way
to make the prima donna regret his dis
missal.
no BE CONTINUED.