Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-03
CHAPTER II.

When the widow so abruptly left Mr..
Brentwood's house, he gently closed the
door after her, and with a sigh retired
to his chamber, leaving the ladies free
to discuss the affair, an opportunity
which Miss Ruth availed herself of with
sincere satisfaction She had been
awed for a time by her brothers re-
fractory behavior, but the moment his
back was turned launched into a chap
ter of lamentations on the ingratitude
of men and the wicked folly of women,
not forgetting, however, to congratulate
Grace on the firmness she had exhibited
in refusing to encourage Mrs. Besant's
apprehensions for her sons safety.
Grace heard little of the diatribe, for
her thoughts were with the widow and
her son. Yes, she confessed to herself,
she did really and truly love this young
man, who was causing so much trouble
to the mall, and though he had never de-
clared any peculiar affection for her, she
felt assured that she was dearer to him
than the other young girls in the neigh
borhood. And it was hard-oh, so hard
to lose him; but would she have had
him stay at Meltonburg with the women
and the old men, when his country was
in danger? No, thousand times no,
even though she should never set eyes
on him again.
Her reveries and the elder lady's mono
logue were suddenly broken by three
stealthy taps on the window-pane.
Both started in surprise.
The taps were repeated.
FLUSH, Grace" Ruth Brentwood said
in an excited whisper, there is nothing
to be alarmed about. 1t is only James
Lawson-I saw him hanging round the
church door tonight, when we came
home from meeting"
''Oh, dear" Grace muttered, in dis
tress, ''if my grandfather should hear
him. What shall we do?"
Thank goodness, child, your grand
father is safe in his room for the night -
was the confident reply. "Open the
door softly, and let the poor boy in"
The poor boy" who came into the
room Sinking at the girls heels, had
not an appearance likely to progresses
a stranger. He was young man of ap-
parently two-and-twenty years of age,
with light, hay-whispy hair and a sal
"
clothes were old and shabby, his man
ner detected, and there was a cringing
humility in his bearing which was pain
full to witness.
Il pecped through the window" he
said, glancing furtively into the face of
either lady as though doubtful of the re-
ception he was likely to meet with,
''and saw the old gent go upstairs; so
thought might venture to come in
Though Grace glanced at him coldly
and refused the hand he stretched
towards her, Miss Ruth beamed upon
him her sweetest smile, for this elderly
lady loved the shabby ne'er-do-wen
with the blind affection of a woman
perhaps because she had brought him
up from childhood and showered so many
favors on him.
James Lawson's brief career had been
meteoric and full of trouble. Left as a
baby one night on the doorstep of a
farmers house, he had been saved from
the tender mercies of the poor-house
by the compassionate interposition of
the minister, who had given the waif
and stray home in his household and,
while never legally adopting him, had
brought him up under his care, with as
much consideration for his welfare as
though he had been a blood relation;
which kindness he had returned by de-
veloping in early manhood such reck-
less instinct for vice that Mr.. Brent
wood had been driven to turn him
adrift and refuse to have any thing to
do with him. But James Lawson had
cunningly managed to keep on the
blind side OF Miss Ruth, and that good
lady had never ceased to befriend him,
surTeptitiously supplying him with
means out of her very limited resources.
I've come to wish you goodbye"
the young man said, lugubriously, Civ
ing his hat, which he carried in his
hand, an extra nervous twirl.
"And, why goodbye, James?" Miss
Ruth inquired. Are You going to
leave Meltonburg?"
Yes he replied. 81 am going to
enlist"
"Ah.'
There was keen satisfaction in the
lady's ejaculation, while she glanced at
Grace with a look, which said as plain
as words: what DO you think of that
now?"
''Well, she said, exultingly, that Is
good news, indeed"
Mr. Lawson did not seem to appreci-
ate the manner in which his announce
ment was received He expected femi-
nine sympathy not congratulations.
eyes, indeed, James," Miss Brent
wood gushed, you have now a chance
to cover yourself with glory and show
the folks what a fine young fellow you
are, after all their mean talk about
you"
at isn't glory I'm after" the fine
young fellow frankly acknowledged
Its the bounty and the chance of get
ting living. let alone being away
from the eternal nagging Of the folks
around here, who seem set on driving
a fellow into trouble"
Miss Ruth's face fell little at this
disclosure; but the fact remained that
he was going to the war, and she
solaced herself with this small crumb
of comfort
'And / thought that may be-" her
protege unblushingly continued, you'd
be willing under the circumstances to
give me helping hand to start with"
Money!" Grace asked, sharply.
"Tes, money! was the surly re-
Spouse. ~ must have means to get to
Headquarters and I've few debts
round here, which ought % be paid, OF
they'll say ran away to get rid of
them"