Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-06-04
DISENCHANTED.

and uncomfortable seat of the railway
car, with its faded velvet cushions and
its back at exactly the wrong angle for
aught approaching a nap. II say, Cliff
ton, do you think we might smoker
"WeIl, rather imagine not" said l,
with a motion of my head toward the
other passengers. "There appears to be
ladies on board"
Hatfield shrugged his shoulders.
''Such ladies'"
"Well," laughed l, 'they don't appear
to be particularly stylish in manner or
costume, but nevertheless, my dear fell
low, the divinity or their sex hedges
them around like a wall"
Divinity Of their humbugp shortly
interrupted Hatfield. "As if these i'll
dressed dowdies, with babies and band
boxes, could possibly belong to the same
world with Beatrice Hale!'
To this l made no answer. 1t did not
seem to me exactly appropriate to lug
the sacred name of Beatrice Hale into
discussion in place like this. Yet what
could do, except to feel my cheeks flush
and the roots of my hair Jingle? For /
was Enthusiastically in love with Bee Hale,
and so was Clarence Hatfield.
If l were to waste quarts of ink and
reams of paper in trying to describe her
manifold charms and excellencies to the
reader, it wouldn't do any good. Such
things have been tried before, and failed.
Let him imagine the fairest brunette
that sun ever shone on, and he may
come somewhere near the mark. Suffice
it to say that she was as beautiful as
dream, and that Hatfield and I were
both slaves at her feet
Which of us did she like best? All,
that was the question! 1t was some
thing like the children's old game of see
saw, up go, down you come" Some
times fancied had ghost of a chance
sometimes was convinced that Hat
field was altogether the preferred, and
that l had better emigrate to Australia
at once.
'Hello!" cried Hatfield, breaking I'M
tremendously in upon the thread of my
musings, there goes the whistle. We
shall be off directly. Thank goodness
for thatI"
And he put his feet on the opposite
seat and prepared for as comfortable a
four hours ride as possible.
Clarence Hatfield and l, be it under
stood, were employees in the extensive
business of Messrs. Jenkins, Jumperton
& Co., auctioneers. and had been down
to the country putting up" sale Of
swampy lots, cut into streets and squares,
according to the most approved metro
politan methods of doing such things.
1t had been dismal business. No
vember is not an inspiring month at the
best, and three days fog had conspired
against the success of Mount Nora
Park" as Jenkins, Jumperton & Co. had
christened the new speculation. Yet we
had done reasonably well, and were now
thankful enough to get back to New
York.
As the train gave its starting lunge
the door flew open, and in came tall
old lady, in a prodigious black bonnet
and fur cloak, surrounded by perfect
chevaux-de-frise of squirrel cages, leath-
er bags, brown paper parcels and sand
witch boxes. She was followed closely
by younger lady, dressed in black and
closely yelled, and paused hesitatingly
in front Of our seat.
young man, ;" said she, in a low voice,
as gruf as that of a man, sis this seat
engaged"
EYES," said Hatfield sit is"
For your feet?'
mo matter what for" superciiously
replied the head clerk of Jenkins, Jump
erton & Co. "Please to pass on, old
lady. You'll find seats enough beyond"
But this was a stretching of the truth.
There were no seats beyond, as the old
lady could easily perceive, unless she
chose to sit directly opposite a red hot
coal fire or upon one of those corner ar
engagements close to the door, which was
equivalent to no seat at all
The old lady hesitated and changed
her heavy carpet bag from one wearied
arm to tho other. thought Of my own
good Aunt Polly at home, and rose at
once.
"Pray, take this seat, ma'am, said L
And let me put your parcel up in the
rack for you"
''Clifton, what fool you areg" cried
Hatfield, in an impatient soto voce.
"Why couldn't you have sat still and
minded your own business"
sit is my own business l answered
brusquely, ''to see that every lady is
made as comfortable as it is in the nat
ure of things to be. Now the squirrel
cage, ma'am-itn go very comfortably
under the seat, think"
Hatfield uttered contemptuous grunt,
but he never offered to trust his feet off
the opposite cushions, although the
younger woman stood in the aisle, IN
comfortably swaying backward and for
ward with the motion of the train, until
a woman beyond, observing the state of
affairs, drew sleeping child into her
lap and beckoned the other to take the
place thus vacated.
By this time my old lady had estab-
hshed herself to her entire. satisfaction,
and opened her sandwich box.
"Much obliged to you, young man."
said she. Its easy to see that you've
mother of your own at home, and that
you are in the habit of doing reverence
to her gray hairs. As for this person."
with a nod of her poke bonnet in the di-
rect1on OF Mr.. Hatfield, eff he's got a
mother, can't say much for her bring
ing of him up. Perhaps he may be old
himself one day, and stand in need of a
little politeness and consideration from
tho