Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-02

from him, hide from him, and neve,
never let him look upon my feature,
Yet how could bear 10 do that? UTo,
could live without his friendship an
his cheering words2 There was a biz
ter struggle in my heart and / was eS
quisitely miserable. knew not wha
20 do, and in any case there was onI,
suffering before me.
was still weeping when I heard
footstep on the stairs. I listened. an,
my heart began TO beat wildly. / knew
that step was not Aunt Mary's, and
could associate II with but one person.
IL was, IL surely was, thought The
step OF VIII Hanley. | would have FLED
from the room, but that was impossible
as he was already at the door. / looked
about for place 20 hide and there was
none, and all could do was 20 sinl,
down by the bedside and bury my face
IN the covers. ! was resolved that he
should not see my sadly altered fea-
lures.
lie came TO the door and knocked. I
heard him distinctly, but made no an
swer. hoped he might go away, and
yet ] did not want him 20 do that. He
knocked again, then entered. / knew
II was VIII Hanley now, because could
feel his presence. For an instant he
stood on the threshold, evidently sur
veying me in silent wonder, and unable
TO comprehend the meaning of the re.
ception | gave him. Finally he spoke:
Agnes" he said, didn't you hear
me ltnock?"
! made no reply, but buried my head
deeper among the bed clothing, lie
was certainly perplexed by the strange
ness OF my behavior. 1t was so differ
ent from what he had always known Of
me. Coming step or two nearer he
spoke again, and there was n trace of
sadness In his voice, am sure.
agnes, have come 10 see Won NJ
last he said. "IIave you no welcome
for me?"
still | did not answer one word I
could not have spoken IL | had tried,
for was choking with grief.
Agnes" he continued, "are You
angry with mop | would have come
sooner but they wouldn't let me. I
came to the house every day and begged
them To let me come to your room, but
they said couldn't | shouldn't be here
now only everybody Is from home OK
cept Aunt Mary, and | plead and
begged till she let me come. I've |
thought Of you every hour, and wanted |
to come because | thought you'd be
glad TO see me-"
lie paused as II expecting me TO say
but ! maintained a strict
silence. He continued:
Agnes, amt you glad came? You
mt angry with me, are your"
He was by my side now, and his tone
vas so pathetic, so pleading, SO sad,
nat II went to my heart like danger.
would have given the world to have
urncd my face TO him and told him how
Had was to- have him there. But |
Jared not. lcould not bear to let him
JolS upon me.
lie waited n moment, then came
lose 10 me and placed his hands on nv
cad TO lift me up. struggled but his
trcngth was so much greater than
linc That he ovcrcumc mo directly,
nd in spite of all my efforts hc raised
ny head and looked fairly in my face.
shall never forget the look that
vcpt over his features at that instant.
he blank establishment, the slight re-
nlsion, and the mingling of pity and
we. For moment he shrank from
c, but pity ovcrcamc every other ,
cling In his heart, and drawing me 10
m he kissed me. Oh, what relief IL ,
as TO have the trying ordeal over, and ,
know that my one friend had not ,
irncd from me with loathing. To
now that, altered as was, his SYM ,
,thy his pity and his love vera still ,
inc.
why, how foolish you are" he said, G
hen ! expressed my emotions to him.
Did You suppose | would think less =
You because you met with this great Y
isfortune?" l.
II thought you must" I replied. "NIy y
ce looked so terrible when saw IL in q
9 mirror that almost loathed IL my s
H." 4
well, don't" he replied, emphatic o
~, "and like You just as well as / d
err did. OF course ! miss your beau II
ul hair, and I'd give everything | [,
err saw II your face wasn't Scared; ii
II don't think any less OF You for
at You're just as good rs you was Z,
FORE aud that's why liked you, and "
N won't look so bad, neither when n
get used TO You as you are" ~
How those words cheered me. After N
airing them my aiiliction seemed to =
de away until almost wondered why ~
iad allowed II to grieve me, and felt \,
at ] could face the world without n .,
udder, The one whose good opinion n,
'e!d supreme had not turned from
;, and what more could | ask? U,
Through weeks, months and years q,
re my scars patiently and chcerfully, b,
ppy in the knowledge that win h,
'nley did not mind them, and little nj