Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-24

shop. But he did not propose to sell
him to Higgins. He merely asked Hig
gins to take care of him until the gov
ernor's mood changed. Meantime ht
determined to watch the old man closely
to see if he could detect further signs Of
mental breakup in him.
After breakfast Mr.. Childers called
Kitty into the library, and solemnly shut
and locked the door. He made two OF
three turns through the room, fidgeted
about, moved the books on the table
looked out of the window for a moment
and then came and sat down close to his
daughter, who was all the time eying
him curiously and with shade of anxi-
ETY. in her look. ''Kitty, my child" he
began nervously, taking her hand and
then slipping his arm round her slender
waist, would you be willing to confide
in your old father, to reveal to him the
exact state of your heart? You know,
my dear child, what my wishes have
been; how have hoped you would favor
Mr.. Rigsby's suit. He has a fine fortune
and handsome person, presentable in
any company, however select; uncom-
monty well dressed always. Egad, one
Of the finest matches going, and no
bad habits that l ever heard of. Young
men like R1gsDy are not picKed every
day, but have had reason to think be
is not altogether favorite with you, eh?''
"Ob, papa, like Mr.. Rigsby very well,
but he is not at all the kind of a man l
should choose for husband. If mar
ried him it would be only to please you. "
''Fie, Kitty, you are not that spiritless
sort of a girl as to marry simply to please
your old father" said Childer pettishly.
''But tell me, is there not some one else,
some old friend or playmate?'
81 never had but one," said Kitty,
looking down with pretty blush, 'and
you have forbidden me to think of him.
Look here, Kitty" he wheeled sud
denly around and probed her eyes with
his own, ''do you wish to save your old
father from shame, from humiliation,
from slanderous tongues, perhaps from
something worse? Would you be willing
to sacrifice yourself, child, and marry to
save him from such a sad fate?"
sob, not Mr.. Rigsby," cried Kitty,
clasping her hands and looking the very
picture of despair.
mo, no, my child, a very different
man. Would you be willing to marry
Mark Spofford, the son of my enemy,
may say my intimate enemy, to save
your old father from disgrace?"
Kitty threw herself into his arms,
chung to his neck, kissed him passion
ately, rapturously, and pressed him to
her heart.
''Marry Mark? Oh, father, don't you
know 1 love him dearly, have always
loved him, that we were engaged when
I was five years old?"
"There, there, that will do; but there
is something else you must agree to,
Kitty" and the old man let his voice
sink to a whisper; "you must elope with
himl"
Kitty made great eyes and then burst
into a peal of laughter. "Elope with
Mark, and with your aid and consent!
What dreadful, monstrous, direful thing
have you done, papa, to bring you to this
pass"
Don't speak of it, Kitty" said her
father, with groan. sit was all a mis-
take-a wretched, miserable blunder-
but it can be made to wear damnable
look. 1t might act on a mans life like
a blight, mildew, creeping, insidious
mold. 1t has taught me lesson, Kitty.
am going to give up the club and
games of chance and hot whisky tOddy
at late hours. Ny old haunts will know
me no more. Henceforth shall devote
my evenings to your poor mother. l
shall endeavor to regulate my conduct
on the strictest rule of propriety, ahem!"
"Well, dear papa" said Kitty, little
smile peeping out Of the corner of her
mouth, 81 will endeavor to save your
fair fame by the sacrifice of myself, and
if poor mamma is to lose me she will
certainly need your devotion"
The same day, at dinner, Mr.. Childers,
with severe parental severity, inquired
of Tom if he had disposed of the mastiff,
Tom admitted that he had
placed that peerless canine with Higgins.
''Well, sir, about the pistols"
Tom sulkily asked if he could not
keep the pistols and practice shooting at
a mark off in the wood, good bit away
from the house.
"No, sir, you can't, returned the irate
old gentleman; next thing you will
fancy you hear noises in the house at
moving about down stairs
and you will shoot me or one of the
Bring the pistols here and
will put them under lock and key, at
any rate, while your mother is ailing, !
that she may not lay awake nights and
brighten herself over the possible MUIR
1ers you may commit"
Tom brought the pistols, and saw
them locked in his fathers desk with |
gloomy forebodings and much i'll dis
suised resentment against the head Of
.he house.
For the next few days Mr.. Childers
remained at home most of the time and
attended to some repairs going on about
he place. Kitty's window on the Spot
ord side was now permanently open.
Tom slept in that part of the house, and
le began to complain of strange noises
Ifter midnight. He described them as
ticking, a buzzing, stealthy move
nents, murmurs of conversation, and
cries of gentle raps such as are heard
" the Spiritists. When Tom spoke of
hese things in the morning at the break
asst table his father pooh poohed the
natter and buried himself behind his
newspaper. Kitty mildly suggested that
t might be chimney swallows.
But Tom had theory of his own. 1t