Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-17


melodies ringing In their ears But
when his head rested on its pillow at
home and the doings Of the day passed
In review before his mental inspection,
the vivid impression formed Of Miss
Matilda intruded itself before all else.
Sarah, he knew, stood in awe almost
dread, Of her; in conversation never
mentioned her name; in her presence
was ubashcd, constrained. Her dark,
bc-spectacled face seemed to peer
through the gloom into his, aud actual
~ frightened him. why" he asked
himself, are such people placed ON
carth?"
Invitations were issued for an even
ing party at the Bennett home. Frank
Johnstonc read the address on his en-
vclopc and instinctivcly inferred whence
IL came.
OF course he went to the party. II
was happy gathering Of young pco-
pie; they had cards and dancing and
ices and made grand time Of IL alto
gcthcr.
But somehow Frank could not enjoy
his evening. His lady love was there,
radiant and full OF life. but that dark
cloud, casting gloom about her whcr-
ever she moved, was there also, and she
more than offset her sisters brightness.
Like a furbidding spcctcr she sat apart,
with folded arms Now and then the
close observer could detect thu curl OF
| her lips and feel the glance Of con-
tempt Frank was IN an Obscrvant
mood, and he saw IT.; he knew his was
| the better nature, but he felt he was
| in some respects her inferior; he hated
| to acknowledge IL, and his glances to-
ward her were defiant but not unmlxcd
with fear lie was glad at It's ending.
! lle vowed he would never again mt
| In the presence of that unnatural young
woman.
Two nights later lac called at the
Bennett home, and was met at the door
| by Matilda. lie had walked on air thus
far, his mind full Of the plca,autcst an
ticipations, his face the picture Of good
humured happiness The sardonic and
the human met, and the human was
vanquishcd; the smile was swept away.
Not u word from her; with n disdan-
full toss Of her head she motioncd him
81 a scat In u side room. There lac sat
for u full half hour in darkness. He
was nonplusscd. Surely Sarah must he
absent, lac thought, and while he looked
into space and raclScl his brains the
door opened softly and the mothcrly
voice Of Mrs Bennett broke the still
ness
"Sninh is very sick. The doctor Is
with her" was all she said
Frank tremblcd with an indeiinable
dread The pcrspirution sprang in
great beads to his forehead aud he felt
weak
Cannot be Of some aGsistancc?' he
asked. IN voice husky with emotion.
Not now. In few moments we
will know what II Is. But | can sec
from the doctors manner il Is serious. VI
And she left him in mire of doubt
and despair
soon he heard voices In low COW e.
sation in the adjoining room. lie crept
10 the door and listened. A masculine
voice was speaking now. 1t was the
doctors.
ut is diphtheria. There is hope, bu'
she is delirious, and the case is grave
one" he said
with dread cry he burst from thu
room and ran toward the sick bed, but
quick ns he was, there was one quicker
stand baol" she commanded, ant
Frank, more the inferior now thar
ever, unconsciously covered before tina
imperious will lie knew II was use
less 10 oppose her, and his very hesi
fancy brought him 10 a realization o
his wild foolishness.
lie slept in the Bennett house tina
night. In tho morning he was as
founded 10 learn that Matilda ha
spent the night at the side Of her sicI
sister. The doctor had warned her q
danger, but she smiled and said sh
knew not fear When she left th
room IL was only 10 perform some 81
rand ofmercy, and she returned imm'
diately. The physician saw hers wa
no ordinary mind, and, calling he
aside, ho gave minute, explicit dire'
tions for the use Of the medicine, tn
general care OF the patient and 70
emergency For week she continue
thus faithful as the Angel Of Mercy
, Intelligent us the physician himsel
! She was slccplcss, apparently, fc
night and day, whether her eyes wcr
e closed or open, she missed not I'll
= slightest move OF the patient
= Al save the physician were subord
= nate TO her. These two now thorough
= ly understood each other, and the
= combined efforts saved the life OF II
sufferer. In "a week the crisis ha
c passed and DIR. Thurston for the fir