Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-04
KINGSBORO'S PUZZLE.
A Very Satisfactory and Roman
tic Solution.


Nobody at Kingsboro knew what to
make of IT. Deacon Turner, the oldest
inhabitant, said that during his earth
ly pilgrimage he hal sojourned at
numerous towns, but in no one Of
them had any young man who dressed
nicely and did no work turned out
well. Capt. Brown, who worked hard
but managed so badly that he was
never out of debt, glarcd savagely
whenever he saw handsome Joe Malli.
son with his hands in the pockets OF
his neatly fitting coat, and took ac-
casion to remark to the first person he
met that he wished the old days in
which people who had no visible
means OF support were prosecuted
would return again.
Squire Ripson, who kept the post
Office, admitted 10 certain astute ques-
TONERS that 10 Madison never received
letters, so 1t was impossible that any.
one was sending him money with
which TO support himself in idlcncss.
Suspicion even ran so high that Bill
Brdgcr, who was the only apothcc airy
and candy seller at Kingsboro, and
who had 10 Madison for quite steady
| customer, made IL rule To examine
very carefully every huulSnote that 10
offered in payment, lest haply the
handsome do-nothng might be cireu-
latiug countcrfcits. rhe married wom-
en- at Kingsboro who had to work as
hard as women almost always do in
new towns in young states, carefully
pointed out 10 to their sons as an ex-
I ample TO be Stunned, except so far as
personal neatncss was concerned.
But the Kingsboro girls differed from
the rest Of the community in their es-
timation of 10. lie might be indolent
in fact, they knew he was, for he
might almost always be seen on the
main street of the yillagc, sauntcring
along, while other men were at work
but he was handsome and he dressed
with real taste, and his breath never
smelled of liquor or tobacco, and he
was always polite, and lie never was
awkward or i'll at ease or presuining
when in the society of ladies, and he
seemed TO understand all his fair com
panions so well. In all these respects
he was quite different from most of tho
Kingsboro boys, so that when good
mothers warned their daughters
against young men who could only give
fine words in proof OF affection the
damsels experienced strong misgivings
rs to what they would say II 10 Malli-
son were to propose
But 10 saved them the necessity OF
deciding any such question. lie pro
| a., nIyrs l,n 90 IA.
body; he seemed to have no special
favorites among the girls Of Kings
lie never even ilirtcd. lie seemed to
heartily enjoy himself when with la
dies and to express his gratitude SO
deftly as to leave no one word upon
which to base a suspicion Of any
stronger sentiments. And he did not
stop with conqucring the hearts Of all
the Kingsboro girls, Without any
seeming intention TO do so, he won tho
hearts OF a few of the elderly women
in the town. They did not mean To
give countenance to a snowy ldler, but
somehow, when 10 would coax some
bad or fretful child TO take walk
with him and then send the child homo
with head full of Bible stories and u
mouthful of pretty songs, the mother
OF the child would reluctantly admit
that the handsome young do-nothing
did have a real good heart
There was not at Kingsboro any
club, that institution so industriously
hated by all good women, but there
was gathering place which fulfilled
all the requirements Of club, aud that
was the post Office. Tho mail stage
was nominally due at seven in the ev.
ening, so that half the male inhabitants
congrcgatcd in Bill Burth's saddle
shop which formed the autc-room OF
the post office, Immediately after sup
per, and they usually enjoyed two
hour season Of conversation before the
arrival and distribution Of the mail
gave thom hint TO go home,
Subjects for conversation were not
very numerous ut Kingsboro, and as
the few native characters with any
salient points had been thoroughly dis.
cussed during the many sessions Of the
men who waited for the mail, the ar
rival Of 10 Madison was a perfect god
send. II Is hardly necessary to say
that 10 found but few companions
4
men hated him Tor estranging theii
sweethearts, aud each of the older mer
was afraid that 10 might marry his
daughter and come under the paterna
roof for support.
One cool night, several weeks after
JOS appearance at Kingsboro, the
opposing theorists M TO JOS character
1dulged In n many-cornered and very
lively duel II vts during sensoi
when Sudden atmospheric change
made most Of the Eingshoro peopl
bilious; Dthcrw isc the bitterness yitl
which the conversation finally came T.
be characterize d would have been in
explicablc Squire Ripson so forgot hi
years and dignity Of character as t.
call Bill Burth. his temporary host.
fool for holding tnat 10 could be moth
ing worse than well.to-do young ma
enjoying himself, while Bill, notwitf
standing the kndlincss Of spirit whiel
was proper 10 n man who was MethC
. dist class leader. called tho suuira