Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-23
pinned Enthusiastically in her hair.

chccl her honv iugcrs trcmblcd with
excitement els she LAID down her spec
tacles.
Can you press over my leghorn hat,
Miss Scaman?' asked the beauty.
ooh, my dear, I'm afraid mott" said
the little woman, with historical
laugh. "iavcn't you heard? I'm
to Ic married very soonl Capt Ed
ward Gleas'n-you may perhaps have
heard Of him--hc used to be resident
of Milltowu--hc has made q fortune, II
seems, In New York, and he is coming
back almost directly toto claim au
old promise made him twenty years
ago. My DEAR he has loved me
twenty years." Her eyes shone, her
voice fultcrcd with tho ecstasy OF her
soul. And tomorrow he is coming
back to me Oh, Miss lslay, II seems
almogt like drcaml"
She laughed again, but her eyes were
full of tears. Isabel moved unensily;
she was almost frightened at what she
had done. The joke did not seem half
so jocose rs " had nj first, since poor
Miss Geuevievc accepted IL in such dead
earnest.
She took advantage Of the entrance
OF n customer to slip out Of the little
| shop.
"Girls," said she to her conspirators,
1--WE must tell her that II is only
joke"
"Tcl herl" echoed Lucy FELTON,.
what for? She'll find IL out soon
enough She needn't have been such a
silly, anyhow"
ut will kill herw pleaded Isabel.
No IL won't People don't die so
easily" laughed Lucy.
Heard the news about Miss Genny
Seaman" said Mrs Webb ut the
boarding-house breakfast table the
next morning rs she poured the coffee
and helped the eggs and bacon around
Isabel looked guilty up,
mo" said she. what is it2"
"Fouud dead In her cheer" said Mrs,
Webb "a smilin as happy as child
Some heart trouble, the doctor says.
Isabel drew n long breath. So she
had died and never knew how cruelty
she had been deceived. She drew
Mary Crane and Miss FELTON, aside
Girls" said she, 'you must never
breathe a syllable OF this to any body.
Let the secret die with this poor little
woman"
But she died happy at last" said
Mary, with the tears running down her
checks, "bclicving that her old sweet
heart was coming back to her"
"Yes, but that doesn't justify our
cruelty" whispered Isabel. And then
and there the three girls entered into u
compact OF sc erecy
Miss Gencvieve was buried In n shady
corner OF the village cemetery, aud on
the very day of the funeral Isabel 1slay
met tall, bearded stranger walking
along the street, scanning the houses
with keen, troubled eyes.
. Can you tell me- said he, where
Miss Seaman lives-Miss Geneyicve
ScHmnn2'
Isabel started.
Miss Seaman was buried this morn
ing" said she. "Oh, I'm 80 sorry Was
she friend Of yours?"
They had stopped opposite the littl,
gate where the wheel tracks Of thu
hearsc were yet visible. The sigi
. "Milliner and Dressmulter" yet crealSe'
IN the wind, the red sun wns sinking
behind the low caves, and Miss Genny'
- cat rubbed itself against the door sill u
II begging to be let in.
! IA friend !" repeated the stranger a
be drew an old-fashioued miniatI ar
. from his pocket. See, here is he
4 pictured I've waited all these years I
y make home for her and now-she
. deadl'
Isabel looked at the picture. Goo
hcavensl had Gcneviove Seaman locke
as fair and dimplcd and smiling as that
And the thought flashed across he
mind that II was we'll that Capt. Glea
son had not been undeoeivcd. "Yes,
she repeated softly, "she Is dead"
"And were you her friend9"
Yes, was her friend-at least n
much as anyone here" falteringl
owned Isabel, feeling like an impostor
Then perhaps you can tell me some
thing Of her. ! wanted to surprise he
, and now"
Ills voice was choked, he turned hi
r face away.
Isabel told him. In a low, sweet voice
/ all that she could-all that WAS goo
u and cheering and hopeful-and Capt
% Gleason went back to the village hote
walking with his hands behind hi
! back aud his head dropping on hi
r breast
F., For the time he truly mourned tn
sweetheart of his youth, but no on
3. can grieve forever. Moss grows owe
b the fallen tree; violets bloom over IN
y new made grave. Poor Miss Geneviev
~ was dead and buried, and when th
next summer blossomed over the Ian
- Capt. Gleason was married 10 Isab'
lslay
"lf death was really so near her II
i. glad | wrote the letter that made he
q happy" thought Isabel "And Edwar
will always think of her as young an
beautiful But never, never Will plu
another practical joke HELEN Hurs
\ in Kansas City Times