Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-07

"No, pray, Mrs. 1Icsant, don't disturb
her. really must be going-Flossie
will be thinking have tainted by the
wayside," and the young man hurried
away, eager TO escape the spinster
from Chicago, who was mot at all good
looking and rather passe."
Imagine his chagrin then, when, as
he turned 10 fasten the Rarden-gate, he
saw Mrs Besant, who had followed him
out on tho veranda, standing with her
arm embracing the waist Of the prct-
test girl Mark Henderson had ever seen
In his life-such n vision OF youthful
loveliness that he stood for the moment
translxed-and 10 think that, II he had
only known, he might have escorted
these two pretty women to his sisters
house Well he'd pay Flossic out for
the Joke she had played him, anyhow,
and make up for lost time in the even
ing.
On his return 10 his sisters, he found
that the parsonage people had already
arrived and that DIR. Burrows had
brought an addition 10 the party In the
shape OF young Methodist minister, a
recent arrival In the place.
~ wanted TO be civil 20 the fellow
Harry whispered In Marks ear, but
I'm afraid you'll find him an awful
bore"
Rev. Lubin Ferry came up at that
moment for an introduction 10 the hero
Of the evening lie was u gentle, over
grown young man, who wore Rlnsscs
and dropped perpetually sanctimonious
phrases from his lips; little scraps Of
devotional expressions that were never
intended 10 pass as colloquial currency
In common conversational different n
man from the big-hcartcd, brond-prin-
ciplcd, scholarly Josiah Brentwood rs
IL was possible 10 conceive. Moreover,
he was the only son Of widow, who
had tied him 10 her apron-string from
the time he was little lad, following
him TO college, and never letting him
out Of her sight for more than a few
hours in his whole life, and the young
man had become 50 imbucd with this
maternal solicitudc that he dragged his
mothers sentiments into every thought
he uttered, To Mark lIcndcrson's in.
tense disgust, especially when he
learned afterwards that the mamma
was n selfish, vulgar old body, who
took every cent Of her sons earnings
and made him wait on her hand and
foot.
"Im 50 glad to meet you, Captain
Henderson," the young minister gushed,
taking Marks brawny hand In both his
chubby white ones and nursing II nf-
| fcctionatcly. "Thc rcposc Of this quiet
spot must be very soothing after the
| turmoil Of battle wounded, too, they
tell me you've been. Wen, as ma says,
we've much to he thankful for in this
vale of tears"
"Yct don't feel particularly CRATE
ful for n bullet In my shouldcr-bladc,"
Mark said, abruptly, disengnging his
hand from the minister's grasp.
"Ah, no. bless me, no. | didn't
mean that at all; but do let me intro
duce you 10 my sweet young friend
Grace brentwood" and with an air Of
proprictorship he tool, the soldier across
the room and made him known 10 Miss
| brentwood, with as much sangfroid as
| though he had been familiar with that
| young person from girlhood. A few
| hours later Mark heard him talking Of
Mrs. Besant's niece as my dear young
friend Kate Lester and wondered
what there was in the clerical profess
sion that permitted such breaches Of
social etiquette, or, as he called II, am
sorry TO say, UNLIMITED gall
Grace and the Captain became fast
friends, and when he told her delicious
little anecd, ties OF Franks bravery and
general hcroism, you may be sure he