Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-16

DuE very expressive comment on Uml
rueful speech. And then for the first
time he smiled, and his tone grew gentle
as he said: "What sort of a woman i:
she anyway"
Just here there came tap at the dool
and the servant entered, bearing a sena.
tors card.
Tell him Ill be diseEgaged in a few
minutes" said the magnate, and then
turning to the young loan, when they
were alone once more, he said with q
strange tenderness: Come, tell me about
your girl!'
"Oh, she is a beautiful young woman,
and all that's good. I've thought of her
for years and now she is here, visiting
her brother, my best friend, but she is
not for me, see that"
"Why?" demanded the king.
"Well, I'm such a commonplace indi-
vidual, 1 suppose, for one reason" re-
piled Stevens, in tone of self contempt.
Commonplace retorted the million
aire. "Gad, don't think so, and I'll
back my judgment of men against a
woman's."
"Wen, then" continued Stevens sulk-
| lily, 81 think she loves, or at least favors,
another, man she has met here, lieu
tenant in the navy"
"Oh, hol" exclaimed the magnate.
''Smitten with brass buttons, is she? I
guess" he added dryly," sit is she, not
you, that is commonplace. All, how old
is she:"
about %, 1 believe"
"Humph!" muttered the king. his
harsh manner returning. ''Old enough
to know better. You might expect such
tricks in eighteen. Are you sure she isn't
a fool-a silly, shallow woman, with all
her stock in the front window, like a
French shop"
"Oh, no, indeed" exclaimed Stevens
''She is a true, fine woman"
Eyes, l suppose so, replied the king,
snappishly, and yet with smile. "Well,
then, go for her. Tell her you love her
There is no love potion like declara-
ton; that generally does the business,
after one or two refusals anyhow. And
don't be bluffed. Keep at her. The wom-
en- have saying among themselves that
perseyering man is the enemy Of the
SEX" Here he rose to indicate, after the
manner of monarchs, that the interview
had terminated, and stretching out his
hand to the young man, said:
'I'n expect you in themorning. Iwish
you well with the girl; don't be afraid OF
her, or of that tupenny lieutenant either.
Let us see, have I your address,"
81 live where Mr.. Atwood does-at
Mrs. Ex's," said Stevens.
"Ah, yes, replied the magnate. "your
lady Iives"-
There also," said Stevens. Miss
Bassett is her name; and the lieutenant's
name is Quire, and he boards with US
too. There, think you have it all row"
He smiled as he spoke, in spite Of him
self.
The king bowed gravely. 81 believe l
understand the situation. I bid you
good evening, sir"
Stevens walked briskly home, excited
and exhilarated by the interview. Some
how, he could not tell why, he believed
the tide had changed, and was now on
the flood. Without definite cause for
exultation he felt triumphant; perhaps i
was the simple magnetism of the great
man he had just left, who always sue
ceeded. Be the reason what it might,
the spirit of victory was in his heart,
and it shone in his features as he entered
the chamber where Windward was i'm
patiently awaiting his return.
"Yeu didn't tell him, l fancy" he
said, smiling.
mo, but sometime I'll tell you an in
teresting tale" replied Stevens mysteri-
ously.
And that was all Windward was able
to get out of him; so, finally, in despair
he changed the subject.
You missed some good stories, Peter,
by being away" he said; "Lieut Quire
was in cur rooms for while, and told a
lot of yarns about jelly fish that curled
like apple parings, and the games sailors
have aboard ship and how he climbed a
volcano. Say, Stevens, what do you
think about Quire, anyway
ooh, 1 don't know" airily replied
Stevens, the confidant of millionaires
Hes a good enough sort of fellow,
handsome and all that; a Jolly young
sea doggy the way, 1 suppose a young
sea dog is a sea puppy? Oh, like him. >"
Hes very entertaining" ventured
Windward in rather a subdued manner.
Evidently" thought he, something is
up" And secretly he thought his friend
might be little more communicative.
"Oh. yes, entertaining" replied Stew
ems with the severity of a judge, "but
he is not an upright man, nor a man Of
much character. He is good enough
company for an idle hour"
"Well, well, this is a new vein fol-
Stevens!' mdsed Windward. Yes, come.
thing was up.
Indeed there was, and nothing less
than the spirit and will of young America.