Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-30


Windward and Stevens had a memoir
able talk that evening Immediately after
dinner. The meal had been sighted by
them, for each purposed that night to
open his heart to the other, and yet each
shrank from the ordeal. They both felt
that a crisis was at hand, and hesitated
as one who holds unopened with trem-
bling hands letter he has impatisntly
expected, eagerly snatched, and yet
dares not read. But this anxious period
was of short duration, and Windward
was the first to break the seal.
"Peter," he said family, 81 am afraid
have made great mistake"
why? How sO?' asked Stevens, sur
prised and all attention. He had come
prepared to give confidence and ask
great favors, but had not thought to be
loaded with the sorrows of others.
Eyes, 1 fear I've made a mistake, re-
peated Windward. "Last night Miss
Willis refused mel'
"Is it possible!" exclaimed Stevens.
"Why, 1 didn't suppose it had gone so
far as that"
"Nor either" said Windward hum
bly,. ut came at last all of a sudden
and couldn't help it."
"Wen, Windward," said Stevens, Il
am truly sorry. l wish it were other
wise. But one thing want to say right
here and now, and if 1 do you must not
think me lacking in sympathy; and that
is, that as between the two, you are to
be congratulated on being refused. l
never knew just how deeply you felt
toward Miss Willis"-there was here
possibly a touch of friendly rebuke in
the tone-"but I don't think, and Inever
thought, her the kind of a woman to
make good wife"
Windward was silent moment, and
not altogether pleased. 1t seemed to be
the unanimous opinion of his friends, so
far as he had sought their consultations,
that he was a fool and had only escaped
the penalty of his folly by the interven-
ton of kindly perverse fate.
well" he exclaimed, fretfully, 81
don't see for my part what you all find
so uncommonly bad in Clara Willis. l
maintain that she is a charming, happy
hearted, lovely little lady, even if she
did tilt me. One would think had just
escaped from railroad accident, or
come home from the wars, by the way
am congratulated"
EXCUSE me, Windward, said Stevens,
'1 would not have you misunderstood
me. / am very sorry; regret it. 1 ap-
preciate how terribly you must feel-ap-
preciate more deeply perhaps than you
imagine. I can't think of anything more
painful or more dreadful than to fail in
love. sympathize with you absolutely.
At the same time say, and say sincere
ly, that l don't think Miss Willis is
worthy of you"
"Well, I haven't so high an opinion Of
myself" said Windward, somewhat mol
lifted, yet disposed to be testy; ''in fact,
l don't know anything better calculated
to take the conceit out of. a man than to
get the mitten."
''That is So" replied Stevens very
seriously. 81 have thought that matter
over a great deal. If true man truly
loves and then fails, don't believe he
ever gets quite over it. Ship builders
say that if ship isn't built right to
start with it can never be made over
and fixed up so as to be as good as new.
And shouldn't wonder if it was 50 with
hearts. A broken heart may bemended,
very likely; but, after all, that is going
! to sea with 3 patched boiler suppOss