Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-10-05

ing popularity.
! IL Is not, indeed, the universal priv
ilege TO learn this fact by personal ex-
| perience; but Allan North was fatcd 20
make the agreeable discovery. lie
awakened the next morning TO the
| knowledge that he was, ut least for the
present time, the most popular man In
, K; and no was forced 10 submit
smiling 10 the enthusiastic hero-wor-
ship that the Hcltle public Is always
40 ready 10 lavish upon It's favorites.
Had his mind been free from any per-
sonal anxieties and cares he might have
found this an interesting experience;
but there were many matters vitality af-
fecting himself, whose Importance so
far ovcrshadowcd the political issue
with which he had become temporarily
identified, that its intrusion upon his
thoughts and attention seemed like an
impcrtincnce, only to be endured as phil
osophically as possible for policy sake.
The unexpected demand upon him
for n formal public address and the
necessity of meeting this emergency
had for the time driven his own affairs
from his mind; but no sooner was the
crisis safely passed than his thoughts
turned more eagerly than ever 10 the
possibilities and hopes and fears which
the last two days had developed. That
one moment, when he stood before the
steps Of the Clement house and caught
the necting vision of one who, II she
were not In very truth the proud and
beautiful Myra who had once reigncd
royalty In his heart and who now lived
In his bittercst memory, was so strange
ly like her that the sight of her face had
thrilled him with sudden passion-thnt
one moment, full of keen pain, of cagcr,
mad hope, he had lived over and over
again, solacing himself thus until the
moment should come when he could
change this suspense TO certainty.
In the meantime, speculation was
rife. II IL were really she, his Myra,
by what strange fatality did they meet
here in u? And why should she be
with Mrs. Maynard? by what curious
freak Of foy@1ne were these two women,
whose interests had become so closely
interviewer with his own, though he
had never before suspected their mutual
connection thus thrown together?
OF course his reflections on this point
We're mere fruitless conjecture; never
thelcss they possessed great fascina-
ton for him, and even his satisfaction
at having solved the mystery so long
envcloping Annie Dupont was quite
eclipscd by this far deeper personal
feeling.
lie did not, however, lose sight of the
necessity for caution; and for the pres
ent he realized that his professional In.
terests must be paramount The flower
success, which ic hoped to pluck, was
still just q little beyond his reach and
surrounded by the ncttle uncertain
ty; until this prize was secured he must
close his eyes TO all other ulluremcnts
even though his only chance, or hope
of happiness lay within them.
II was therefore solely in pursuance
Of his professional dutics-or so he AS
surcd himself with great emphasis
that he went on the morning following
his signal success Mt the opera house IN
call on Mrs Maynard, before proceed.
ing 10 Evansburg on his second and
probably decisive visit, and give her
some hint Of the turns that affairs were
taking
His walk thither was enlivened by O
curious incident, which, however, he
might soon have forgotten but for It;
speedy and embarrassing sequel
lie had just entered upon the quiet
vista of Delaplaine street, absorbed il
his own interesting reflections, wher
his attention was idly directed towart
u gentleman In an invulid's chail
which an attentive valet was slowly
pushing along the pavement TIT
thin, shrunlScn figure In its rich attire
sparkling with diamonds and resplen
dent In fine linen, attracted perhap
rather more than u casual attention
from North, whose mind was impresse,
by the painful contrast between tn
abject wretchedness of the invalid
face and the pomp and splendor of hi
outward circumstances. Helpless an,
suffering, he was evidently not on
whom the severe discipline of physica
nfiliction had softened and refned /
was but too obvious that here was
mind as warped and diseased as IL
frail tenement. The expression of hi
face betrayed harsh, selfish natur
exaggerated almost TO a grotesque d,
gree 10y years of self-indulgence. IL
appeared TO be constantly ON the alcr
10 discover something that he NIGH
construo into a grievance. Tn
qucrulous glance OF his restless eyes
the sneering curl of his thin lips unde
fierce iron-gray mustache, forestalle
/. all words, and were sufficient war;
, ing 10 persons OF acute penetration nc
10 give him the provocation for whic
he was evidently watching TO give wa
To violent and aggressive wrath.
, North was passing this gentlema
with the speculative but courteou
glance of u perfect stranger, when
his utter amazement he was accosted
, the most percmptory manner.
The wheel chair was brought 10
, sudden halt, while petulant voiC
= uttered the startling challenge;
: North, you jackanapesl What d
You mean, sir? Do you intend to insu
me?"
North was electrified. What had /
!, done? Who was this interesting II
: vulid2
"Some one evidently, whom ! ougl
- TO know he thought, "and whom
j, win be awkward and unfortunate
I offend. What can l do TO paciiy him
!, Then, lifting his hat as he turnC
: back 10 the gentleman, North said, wit
an apologize air;
a "My dear sir, beg your pardon.
was preoccupied, and did not recogni
YOU ut ALL"
= This statement, although offered vii
charming frankness and suavity, WI