Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-11

| right 10 love.
When descended 10 the dining-room
| found that Mrs. Lawton and the Wis
| itors had already breakfastcd, so sat
down alone and ate very little. Leav-
ing the table ! went out for n wal';,
| hoping that the fresh morning air
would revive me. | took the same
course ! had taken the night before,
but just rs emerged into the lane
found myself face TO face with lIanley
and my sister. For moment we were
| all embarrassed and silent, but | soon
recovered myself little, and, extend
ing my hand to my sister, said;
MARY, ! am glad to see you"
My words did not seem Ia express
much, and the tone in which uttered
them was quite devoid Of sentiment,
but only spoke rs ! felt. | regretted
that | had not been more dcmonstra.
tive, after the words were spoken, but
I did not regret long Marys dcport-
mcnt was such MS 10 freeze mp in my
heart any tender affection might have
cherished She took no notice Of nv
extended hand, but with stiff bow re-
Piled:
81 am glad to see you, Agnes, in this
home, and hope for your own sake, as
well as ours, you will remain here and
by good conduct try to atone for the
past"
What do you mean?" | demanded,
with rising anger, sure that under
stood the purport Of her language.
~ only mean" she rcplicl, that I
hope you will not bring further disgrace
Ia our family by repeating your be-
havior Of two years ago with that man
BERNARD You know what refer TO, of
course
\ flash Of hot resentment swept over
me, and came near giving vent to
some wrnthful expressions; but
curhcd my temper in time, and when
spoke IL was moro IN sorrow than
anger.
"lcs," said, ~ know Ia what You
refer. have suffered enough from
that mans prosecutions not to forget
them soon. have experienced enough
misery rs result OF his ISLANDERS to inn
press them indclibly ON my mind. hut,
Mary, have done nothing to disgrace
myself or anyone else, SO you can rest
easy ON that point
She mndc no reply, but stood looking
ilScdly ut the ground. ! waited II mo-
mcnt, then went on.
"Mary," ! asked, "do you believe
those reports against my charactcr?"
81 don't know, I'm sure" she replied,
with freezing coldncss. 1T may not
have been 50 bad as we heard IL was,
hut you remember the old saying about
where there is So much smoke there
must be some fire There was evident
ly some basis for those rumors,"
"rhirc was, Mary" | answered.
There was basis Of malicious false
hood"
II should be- glad 10 think 81, Agnes"
"'rhcn you do not think SOP
81 am afraid do not. You sec your
mothers cousin, Mrs. bernard, wrote
to papa about II, and she was quite pos
tive in her statements relative to an
undue intimacy existing between you
and her husband. II worried papa un-
Ill he was sicl,, and he said for his sake
you ought to lead u respectable life, il
you cared nothing for yourself"
For his sake?" ! repeated. "Why
for his sake, | wonder? What has he
ever done tn make his sake n consider
alton with me? What has he ever
done" continued, growing more We
hcmcnt as memories crowded mp, "to
make me respectable? Has no trained
me up in kindness and love? Has he
sheltered me from the cold world and
protected me, as n father should,
from the wicked deceit of such men as
bernard? No. lie denied me his love
and drove me out into the world among
strangers, ignorant and pcnnilcss. II
is not to him | owe any thanks for be-
ing what | am, and he can take no
credit to himself for the fact that | am
pure and stainless. lie gave me every
chance to go Ia wreck, and II had he
would have no cause 10 feel surprised"
II do not care to hear papa abused"
she said with an injured air.
"Nor do not care to abuse him."
replied, sometimes, though, 1t is hard
to suffer In silence. and then the truth
will out. hut enough Of that. Let the
past sleep. You believe those rumors
that We're reported against my char
ncter?'
81 dislike to, but do not see how !
am to help it,"
"rhen. Mary, we cannot he friends.
! can forgive deep wrongs, but that is
one cannot forgive"
Without another word | turned and
walked away. Ilnnlcy had not spoken
once during our short interview, md
had no idea what his thoughts were,
a.