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

hes: she broke up none of his habits;
she sacrificed none of his bachelor
friends; she kept out of his way except
when she could be of use to him, and
then she was always ready. She made
him pay, as the vernacular hath 1t, but
abe let it cost him nothing. In short,
though she and her husband had almost
no tastes or traditions in common, they
were completely in harmony, bad 10
<hildren, and were model of New Iork
domestic virtue, happiness s1d prosper-
II. It is no small thing for husband
% be able 10 affirm tt2s his wife has not
had his study jEE5e| FOR week, nor
Iaunched even an oDI1que criticism at
his African lemur.
Such as they were the Cadwalader
Dinsmores made up their minds to ex-
tend the right hand of hospitality to
Nile. Mariana. Mrs. Cadwalader called
On her in person, and Wallie, as a mat
ter Of course, in the shape of his name
written on piece of pasteboard. The
diva's acceptance having been secured
the other invitations were issued, and
the day arrived.
you will have to put in an appear
ance," said Wallie to Godfrey Belling-
ham during the previous week. you
built the opera house, and decency de-
mAnds it"
1.-THE more reason why not, the archi-
tect replied. Il should have to be intro
duced, and don't care for it."
"You will have to come" the other re-
peated calmly. do you want the wo-
man to be disrespectable?
''It's none of my business"
ut is. A woman is what her asso-
ciates are. If respectable people don't
receive her they are to blame if she
cuts up"
''If she were a novice-but she's no
terious!'
You affect Phariseeism in imitation
of your Puritan ancestors. But this
poor girl is neither witch nor Quaker.
Her nOtoriety comes from her genius;
the rest is mere hearsay, which it's none
of your business &c attend to. intend
that she shall leave New York without
. spot on her reputation, and you must
bear hand. Otherwise you're not the
fellow l took you for" Wallie knew
Bellingham better and had more inhu-
Snce over him than any one else, and
the end Of it was that Bellingham con-
sented to come.
There were less than twenty persons
at the dinner. The dining room walls
were Of a soft Indian red hue, the wood
work being mahogany and maple. The
flowers on the table were yellow and
blue. The room was lighted by tinted
wax candles, each provided with little
colored shade. Everything looked cool,
fresh and sweet. The host and hostess
received their guests in the adjoining
drawing room. By previous arrange
raent Nile. Mariana and Mrs. Bemax
were the first to arrive. The diva was
dressed in something white, of 1.-THE
and feathery effect, giving the impress
sion of a beautiful great bird. Her
heart was up. for this was her first IT.
revocable step in her assumed personal
ity. She was high spirited girl, and
having entered upon her course she had
laid aside fear and irresolution.
Whatever she did she would do with
her might. Such vision of purity and
loveliness as she was did not often en-
Ger a New York drawing room. She
gave her hand first to Mrs. CadwaladeT
and then to Wallie. The latter grasped
it cordially, and seemed about to say
something, but suddenly checked him
self, and looked at her with an odd. per
picked expression, like a man who is
taken by surprise. Doubtless so much
beauty would be a surprise to any one.
After q moments hesitation he said,
'Tm glad to welcome you to this coun-
try, mademoiselle. hope you will learn
20 feel like an American as much as you
already look like one"
THANK you; if it is American to feel
happy then 1 am one, she answered,
and It was observable as she spoke that
this foreign lady's pronunciation was re-
markably accurate. Wallie forbore to
make the observation, however; he only
took his chin between his thumb and
forefnger with quietly smiling look.
Mrs. Cadwalader said: "What deli
Cious lace, Mademoiselle Mariana! 1t is
like frost work on ivory. VIII you take
a cup of tear
Nile. Mariana declined, and presently
the other guests began to arrive.
There was Mr.. Barcliffe, wool mer-
chant, but for social purposes an anna
teur composer. He was a small, slender,
lively man, with gray hair and an i'm
mense gray mustache, like a great bar
across the lower part of his face; he had
the air of always standing on tiptoe to
peep across this bar with a sportive,
twinkling expression. There was Mr..
Bidgood, q rosy, roistering, spherical
parsonage, bald headed and short of
breath; he smiled at you with pene-
trating look, as if there were private
joke between you and himself which il
would not do to mention.
There was Mr.. Grasmere, tail, courtly
and romantic, with a resonant voice and
an occasional CLEAN from beneath his
upper eyelids, as if his sonl were hndling
within him. He had been a lawyer by
profession, but had married well, and
was now the proprietor of an artistic
weekly. There was Mr.. Knight, dis
tinguished politician with fresh COM
ple1on, clear cut features, powerful
black eyes and snow white hair; his
bearing was covertly condescending, as
though he were reluctant to have you
realize how greatly he was your supe-
Nor. There was Mr.. Damon, also white
haired and white bearded, somewhat
unsuccessful publisher, but gifted with
q warm heart, a keen wit and a bitter
tongue. There was a certain unconYen-