Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-07
SHIRLEY'S VACATION.
A Sacrifice That Brought It's Own
Reward.

"what amuses you, Shirley" asked |
the head bookkeeper, as he looked up
from his big ledger and saw a smile on |
the boys face opposite
IL Just landed flve-pound bass"
said Shirley, laughing and blushing a
little.
"Um--ahl Did 1t pull very hard7"
Fearful" said Shirley.
All through the year Shirley Holmes
had been saving the money for his trip.
He was assistant boolskeeper for Brown
Bros. g. Bridges wholesale house on
West Pearl street, where he had been
since graduating from the commercial
college, two years before.
Shirley was an orphan. The small
means left him by his parents had been
exhausted before his education had
been completed, 30 that his first years
savings had been used TO repay money
advanced him by an uncle to complete
his course.
His savings, this year, he was invest.
ing in building stock, with the excep.
ton Of one dollar weekly, which he put
aside for no other purpose than a trip
to the bass streams Of the Alleghanies.
lie was very fond OF fishing, and had
been reckoned an expert as boy. He
had not taken day off since he left
school, and he felt that holiday was
his due.
All through the dark winte days, as
he pondered over the long rows of fig.
ures, he paused now and then to muse
for moment of green mount aims,
blue skies, clear, rushing W alter, and TO
feel in Imagination the tug and swish
Of the trout line and the rapid click
of the running reel. Then his eyes
would sparkle for n moment and he
was no longer in the dim and dusty lit
tie Office.
But only for a moment, for the long
columns Of figures were waiting, and
Shirley had feeling Of friendliness for
them, knowing that II was through their
mute assistance that his dream would
be realized
All through the spring and early sum
mer he pondered over the big books
and thought of the cool mountains. lie
had asked for his vacation In August,
and his request had been granted. lie
had calculated that the fifty-two dol
lars would pay his expenses. lie had
| figured 1t out over and over, and he
knew the items by heart.
| There were excursion rates TO the
mountains, and his round-trip ticket
would cost him twelve dollars. Then
there was his board at n farmhouse,
which he calculated at twenty dollars,
He could get good rod, reel and line
III .s.l l..
allowed as much more.
II think that will cover everything"
he said to himself. ~ shall begin TO get
my things together tomorrow, and in a
week | will be ON the way"
That night as they closed the books,
the head booltkeeper said TO him:
"Shirley, have you been TO see Ever
EFT Harris latcly?"
NO" said Shirley, guiltily. But I
will go tonight. How is hep"
mot very we'll, poor fellow! lie
doesn't improve much, I'm afraid. The
city now Is so hot, you know; and the
doctor says the dust and smoke are bad
for him. lie coughs good deal, and
you know what that leads to-"
YES" said Shirley, feeling as II a
| pressure NtIb bh mn pNh
should think So"
Everett Harris had been their ship
ping.clerk. lie was a tender-hearted,
good-natured fellow, whom Shirley had
always liked for his out-spoken, friend
ly way lie was not very strong, how
ever, and one day during the winter had
contracted severe cold, terminating in
pneumonia. This attack he had over.
coIae, but II had left him very weak
and with disagreeable cough.
Hh mother, widow with small
pension, had found II hard matter "a
live without her sons assistance, al
though Everett's employer had gener'
ously assumed his drug and doctor bills
while employees, from time TO time
sent or carried such books and delica'
cies as he could enjoy.
Shirley had visited Everett very regu'
larly until the last few weeks, during
which time the prospects and prepare
lions for his outing had occupied his
evenings almost TO the exclusion OF
everything else, and what with reading
up on the different streams and fishing
apparatus, he had forgotten poor Ever
oft almost entirely. Yes, he would
10 10 see him tonight without fail
After supper, Shirley went 70 The
market and filled basket with fresh
ripe fruit; then he hurried of 10 atom
, for his neglect
! poor Everett" no thought, "sicl
and cooped up in the city, while an
0 going of for month in the mountains
D and here forgot all about him. How
? selfish people are, anyway
BY and by, he climbed three flights o
o stairs TO close little fat where Mrs
5 Harris and her son lived. Yes, II ,oo
bad there for a sick man, shirle
; thought--bad enough for a we'll on
thia bat weather. there WaA no doubt 9