Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-25

dlStlnRulSneu looking man bnhkluB
hands with the Besants2 Just come by
train shouldn't wonder, breaking the
Sabbath; but he's fine, handsome man
for all that Hurry, up, Grace, and wen
get introduced"
But az the stranger joined the Besant
part Frank and his cousin fell back 10
tho Miss Brcntwoods, leaving Mrs.
Besant TO proceed 10 Walnut House with
their new companion.
"Who is your friend in the silk hat,
Frank2" Miss Ruth asked, in her abrupt
way, when they had shaken hands.
Colonel Hopkins, Of Ours, Miss
Brentwood"
ooh! what do you mean by 'ours2'"
"Why, Of our regiment. II is way
we have Of speaking"
care there two Colonies TO a regi-
ment2"
mo; only one"
"Thcn, you are not n Colonel after
ALP"
Eyes | am. He resigned in my favor
Just before we were mustered OUT
"Ohl he resigned, did hep What made
him so eager 20 sacrifice himself for
your interests?'
81 am sure do no not know" Frank
laughed, "unless IL was 20 encourage
! merit"
but do, young man; II he is the
person I take him 10 be, and I'm not
quite sure, for haven't seen him for
more than twenty years; but II he Is, |
know quite well why he dropped that
pretty plum into your mouth"
would II be indiscrcet 10 ask why,
since you are so well informed2'
"Ohl ask your ma. P'r'aps she'll tell
you and p'r'aps she won't"
And with that parting shot Miss
Ruth started up path that led by
near cut 10 the parsonage and left the
young people TO themselves.
~ am sorry aunt was NO rude 10 you,
Frank" Grace began, In lame apology.
"Pshaw! my dear don't let that
worry you. We all know and make al
lowances for Miss Ruth's ecccntricities;
but do wish she wouldn't be so con-
foundcdly cnigmutical.'
Then Kate Lester intcrposed.
'If you will accept me rs the reader
OF the riddle" she said with laugh,
that showed two rows Of teeth like
pearls, ~ should say that Miss Brent
wood means TO insinuatc that you found
favor in Colonel Hopkins eyes because
you were your mothers son"
And why not? They were friends OF
long ago"
"Ah, why not?" and the young lady's
eyes cleaned with mischief.
Meanwhile the Colonel and the widow
were vending their way towards Wal
nut House. side by side, utterly uncon-
scious Of the remarks they had excited.
81 could not wait for your answer 10
my letter, Mary" he was saying, when
they were quite out Of car-shot Of the
party, $50 | came on from Chicago by
the express last night TO learn my fate"
She never helped him by n word, but
he saw that SHE was much agitated.
81 am plain, blunt man, unslsillcd
in the art Of eloqucncc n plead my suit,
but loved you before we married, and
| love you now I know that am ask
ing a great sacrifice Of you-you with
all the bcauty Of youv youth retained,
and |, so old aud bnttcrcdb but would
make Won happy 80 my wife. My love
for Frank, too, should plead with you
in my favor"
"Anl. yet, il Is for FranlSs sake,
Jack, that | must say no 10 your re-
quest Nay, do not thinl, mo hard and
migrate ful for o. honor you have done
me, You do not know how much tho
refusal costs me-"
Jack! She called him y, She used 10 do,
by the old familiar name lie was too
good u soldier Ia retire before such an
ill-dcfcnded position as this.
"Thcn " the oaly obstacle to my suit
is your sons possible objection, may
/"
She interrupted him, with the same
look ON her face that he had seen there
nearly tivc-and.twcnty years ago, when
he had asked the same question
"No, once aud for all, dear friend, It
can not he, Believe me have not
made up my mind To refuse the love of
n man Of your worth and true nobility
of character, without hours Of painful
thought You must take my answer MS
final"
Then, goodbye, Mary!" he said, for
they had now reached the garden-gatc,
and without another word he left her.
Half an hour later, Frank came in.
els dinner rcady2 Where Is Colonel
Hopkins, mothcr?" were his first qucs-
tions.
Now, though the pretty widow had
bathcd her eyes aud used all the little
arts of the toilet, with which women
are so adept In concealing the traces Of
their emotions, there yet fingered In
Mrs, Bcsants face tell-tale sign OF
sorrow that caught her sons attention
In n moment.
Mother" he said, putting his arm
around her waist, "there Is something
wrong. Where has the Colonel gomez"
~ am afraid he has left us-perhaps
he is at the hotcl--there is no train
North till this evening"" was the in
coherent answer, while the lady's
checks blushcd furiously,
"Gone TO the hotell Have you and he
been quarreling?"
mo"
mot quarreling but not agreeing,
perhaps? Now, darling mam"--vcry
coaxingly-'you and are little more
than mother and son, for we have been
boon companions ever since | can re-
member, then is 1t not little late in
the day for one OF us TO have a secret
which the other can not sharc?"
A fond pressure OF the hand was his
reply.
"llave you no secret, then?"
mot one you ought TO know"
Nor one | ought not 20 know, am
sure, Forgive me II seem abrupt,
DARLING rnothar lint hos Calopa1 Hon.