Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-08-20

and players"
"JimI" said Aladdin grayely, care the
carriages ready?" y
waiting, sir!7 was the response.
"Why, 1 didn't see him rub til" ex-
claimed Sophia.
The lieutenant put up his pack of cards
with a shrug of comic despair. 81 con-
fess can't compete" he said.
The party now drew on their wraps
and coats and, leaving Jim on guard in
the car, crossed the tracks to the hack
stand where, sure enough, two fine car
rage were waiting their pleasure; and,
entering them, the visitors were soon
put down before the theatre, and Joined
the throng who were pressing in.
''Look at those poor common people
crowding and pushing around the box
Office" said Miss Sophia, with tip tilted
nose. ri think you are real generous,
Aladdin, to let these people in at any
price"
"Oh, brilliant audience is part of a
good play, explained Stevens. "Those
are all toy people. I ordered 5000 from
the genie"
"Oh, forgot" observed the abashed
Sophia.
"That is such a perfect imitation of a
doorkeeper on ahead" remarked Mr..
Quire dryly, "that just to keep up the
illusion I'd hand him some tickets"
sob, certainly; if it would please you,
replied Stevens, and after a fantastic in
cantation he produced them. "Here they
are" he exclaimed. "Now-open ses-
amer And in they all went very merrily.
The group were but nicely seated when
the leader Of the orchestra tapped aud
raised his own magic wand, and at the
summons another and a nobler magic
came, the witchcraft of genius, the magic
of the soul shining through expressive
art, binding the soft, fresh hearts, sweet
ly disturbed, in fairy spell.
Don't rub for anything more, please"
exclaimed Miss Sophia when it was over.
1--WE got all 1 can hold; anything more
would only run over and be wasted"
"Well, you might get us home, inter
. IL
little far to walk"
Gas you please" said Aladdin. So,
when they got to the street again, they
found the carriages duly in waiting, and
were driven back in them to the palace
on the siding; and very warm and bright
and snug it was that bleak, black win
ter's night. Jim was on hand, of course,
and to complete their happiness a mid
night banquet on the sideboard awaited
spoliation.
Yes, all were happy, and yet just one
member of the party might have been
happier-the lieutenant, who did not
quite like the sudden popularity of
Stevens with the ladies. AS a depart
ment drudge, reserved and a trife sour
in manner and negative in his virtues,
he was not person to be much consid-
cred, but as Aladdin with a genie at ais
elbow, the case was altered. For some
reason Stevens, he had observed, had
frightened up notably within the past
few days, and now, to the quick eye of
rival, he was pushing a dangerously ag-
gressive campaign for Miss Bassett's IA
vor. He was intimate with her brother
and they might have an understanding.
As to the mother he could not tell; she
treated them both politely and kindly,
and so she did everybody. However"
unused the lieutenant, 81 think the girl
herself likes me best, and that, after all,
is the main thing" Nevertheless he was
vexed to see Stevens taking advantage
Of his opportunities as host in charge to
pay Florence the most open and partial
attentions-particularly as the young
lady seemed pleased and made no effort
to discourage or avoid him.
Thus he was concerned, but he was
not alarmed till they had started for
home and were comfortably settled down
for the ride; that was the trouble, the
part of the group iii which he took such
4 particular interest were entirely too
comfortable.
Ostensibly the party had divided in
halves, Windward and his sister, attend
ID by Stevens, ensconced in a semi-re-
,ired apartment, while Mr.. Quire was in
4 distant corner wedged in by Mrs Bas-
'ett and Miss Sophia; but the lieutenant
noticed that Windward was given to ex-
and finally, to his anxiety,
young Mr.. Bassett left his sister TO an
entirely unprotected tete-a-tete and join
ID the group in the corner. Mr.. Quire
iidn't like it, but he found it difficult to
get out of his corner. Miss Sophia was
n garrulous good spirits and the Bias
'etts, mother and son, were both in their
lappiest mood, and delightful company.
The lieutenant's instincts were not far
wrong, for in the recess Stevens and
Florence Bassett were having a serious
md important conversation.
"Windward tells me-" said Stevens,
that he thinks of going back to New
York"
'Indeed~ replied Floy Il hadn't
heard of that. Why, l shall be very
orrY."
$50 shall l." responded Stevens, be-
inning to feel faint. 81 can't bear to
hink of you all leaving. Life will be
7ery dull"
"Not for Aladdin" said Floy, archly.
THAT was a happy idea of yours" he
eplied. 81 really feel as if 1 was almost
n fairyland." And then in earnest and
graphic phrase he told the story of his
ife-its poverty, struggles, reverses,
lopes and failures, till now, as by verita-
lie magic, path to honor and wealth
ay open. 1t was an interesting tale, and |
had an attentive listener, although he |
poke of neither antres vast or anthro-
'ophagi-
"If my genie only keeps good" said |