Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-11
.oeYsleH1 lsSi By AftktllOss utwsnns Co
CHAPTER XIV.
MEET NY LOVER. Bur ALAS. ALAsi


was upstairs the day Mrs. Law.
toms guest arrived and did not know
anyone was In the house until walked
into the parlor and suddenly found my.
self in the presence Of the gentleman.
The room was rather dark and the Wis.
itor's face was turned from me, else
should certainly have recognized him nj
once. As II was how great was tho
shock ! sustained when Mrs. Lawtou
arose and introduced her nephew, say
ing.
"NIiss Owens, this is my nephew, Mr.
Hanley."
came near sinking TO the floor, and
] am sure my heart came into my throat
NJ a bound To have met win llnnlcy
az all, in any place and under any cir
cumstauccs, would have ovcrpowercd
me, but 10 meet him there so uncxpect
cdly shocked me beyond description. ]
suppose acknowledged the introduc
tion In some way, though am not Ger.
tain of II, by any means, and in fact !
am not sure of anything that trans
pircd Mt that time.
| dropped into "a seat that was neat
and for n time my brain seemed To bc IN
a whirl. For moment | was uncon
Ecious, | think. Fortunately neither
Mr.. Ilanlcy nor Mrs Lnwton took any
notice Of me and my discomposurc cs.
capped detection. When | rcgaincd per
feet consciousness Mr. llnnlcy and Mrs.
Lnwton were talking quietly, She nsl,
ing questions regarding himself aud he
answering them. | listened and dis
covered after awhile that letter ~
two had passed between them Of late
"Then," | thought, "hc knew I wn,
here, and perhaps he came to see me. "
had very little Ia base such thought
or hope ON, I confess. for he had not ap
pcarcd any more pleased to meet me
than he had when saw him last
but loved him yet. and ! was anxious
10 believe he loved me was fundling
the hope that IL was Tor my sake he had
come, aud had almost deceived myself
into believing II, when hc gave me an
other shock that thought must surely
kill me.
And now, Aunt Lawton," he said
81 have Il little surprise for you am
almost afraid to tell you shat il is foi
fear you will never forgive me for not
informing you through my letter
What is il, Wii'' Mrs lawton
asked
win blushcd and for an instant was
silent flushed burning hot from
head to foot and trcmblcd like Il leaf
Am right?'' | thought, "and II Il
true that lac has come on my account?
What else can he have In mind. except
20 inform his aunt that he knows me
and that IL Is he has come to scc?"
wait brcnthlcssly for him to an.
swcr, and do not wait long.
aunt" he said, II did not like 10
write TO you Of n certain little mnttcr,
because never told You that was In
love, and that had some thought Of
getting married"
was rigid with expectancy. Mrs,
Lawton looked over her spcctaclcs ut
Mr.. llaulcy but said nothing.
YES" lac continued directly, "such Is
the case, and realize now that ought
TO have told you. liut better late than
never, so will tell you now. II was
out at Aunt Browns that met the dear
girl love. Her parents live there and
we were children together. Her father
Is Daniel Owens, Aunt Browns nearest
neighbour"
gaspcd for breath. My heart WINS
In my throat, choking me till | could
not breathe. II was mo no had como
10 sce-mc he loved lie had said as
much. llo and were children together
and Daniel Owens was my father
N 1 La
latter all. lie viii be mine and shall
be his"
The happiness Of that moment IL be-
yond the bounds Of language. There
nre no words that will portray II. II
was heavenly. listened with rapture,
my heart all in tumult, for his next
words. lie was coming TO the climax
and In his next sentence he must speak
my hume. Ills lips moved and sat
brenthlcss.
"Yes," he continued, ~ loved Miss
Owens, and she was good enough To
love me; and now-shc Is my wife. We
were married only. three days since,
and she is at tho village hotel waiting
for you TO welcome her"
Render, | tainted. I wonder did mot
die. had suffered untold miserics and
lienrtnchcs in my time, hut never any
thing like what experienced then. 10
be wrought up to the very apex Of joy,
= then like n flash plunged down the
steep abyss into the darkest despair Is
TOO terrible for pen to picture With
one sweep my hopes were all gone.
WIN llunlcy was lost TO me forever. lie
Ia. Ina Of IL
When | returned to consciousness
Mrs. Lawtou was bathing my face and
chatting my hands. She appeared docp-
~ anxious, evidently at loss to nc-
count for my condition. she had nqvor
known me to faint before. pcrplcNcd
her stiN more, when ! glanced quickly
about the room, and in hoarae
whisper asked:
as he goncT'
"Who? WIN ITanlcy?" she replied,
ayes, he's gone. But what OF ~"
''Nothing," | answered. as he COM
ing baclsP"
ayes, directly"
"And-ahc--is She cominp?'
Ellis wife? Certainly. He's gone TO
fetch her now"
Mrs. Lawton,' said after pause,
"can you help mo to my room? am
too weak 10 walk alone"
"You had better remain here u little
while, Agnes" she replied. "You will
get stronger directly"
mo, want TO go to my room"
Mrs. Lawton extended her hand and
I arose. ] could scarcely stand, but by
ieaning on her arm I managed To get
t,ont of the room and up the stoirs, where