Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-27
1 can chow YOU ner last lrtcrl.

He drew out very sentimental cpis-
tie. Forrest glanced over IL with be-
wildered eyes, and then, biting his
white lip until the blood started, took
from his own pocketbook a prettily
worded note from Ella, which he had
received that morning.
THE handwriting is precisely SINH
lar. Ralph, we are the dupes of an art
full, unprincipled woman. This same
Ella Wardlaw, while she Is correspond
ing with you in this impassioned strain,
Is doing her best TO ldre me on 10 pro-
posall''
at cannot be-" gasped Ralph, feeling
As II he were in dream.
But know It TO be sol Heavensl
what narrow escape have hadl And
you, also, Thornby, should rejoice at
your escape from the wiles OF a false
hearted coquetter'
Still Ralph Thornby repeated, be-
tween his clenched teeth;
81 will not believe it-Ella Is truth
itself"
"Shall We put IL 10 the test2" asked
Forrest, rather Indignantly.
do what you please. I will stake
my life on her single mindednessl"
Thornby took out pencil and dashed
of hurried proposal in form.
"There--I will send this tomorrow
morning, with a request for an immedi.
ate answer When that answer comes,
will you believe its testimony"
Thornby nodded; but the hand which
lay upon Charles Forests was cold az
marble.
Good night, then, my poor fellow,
said Forrest, as he rose TO take leave.
81 am sorry for you from the very bot.
tom of my heart, for you feel this more
deeply than / can dor
But Thornby did not snsw sr-he was
gazing absently into the fire.
Head and heart both ached sadly
that night; but the WEAKNESS of travel
was nothing to the sick sensation Of
distrust and apprehension that had
taken possession of his mind. There.
fore, II happened that he was still
| lounging over his almost untasted
breakfast when Charles Forrest was an
nounced by a waiter.
"Well," was his greeting. Forrest
replied: ~ have dispatched my missiv,
and here is the answer. See, the sea-
is yet unbroken-we will peruse 1t to
gether."
II was skillfully written note Of
glad acceptance. Ella wrote that "shC
had long loved Mr.. Forrest-that hei
greatest happiness through life woult
be to secure his contentment," with Q
variety of charming little addenda
such as, yesterday, would have filled
Charles Forests heart with rapture
Now, they were false, idle rhapsodies
Are you convinced2" was Forrest''
simple question. as the letter dropped
from his companions trembling hand
Il am. II has been pleasant dream
but ! am effectually aroused at last
Charley, have been fool-a duper'
And so have |, Ralph; just give me
that enthusiastic love letter you showed
me last night"
what fore"
Charles made no reply; but he tool
the letter from Thornby's unresistinl
hand, and folding 1t with the note Of
acceptance he had just received, wrote
one pencil line on the margin: "Th'
compliments of Messrs. Thornby anc
Forrest" and inclosed both in one en-
velope, directed TO Miss Wardlaw.
Ella Wardlaw was practicing diff
cult Italian sonata as the evcntful not,
was handed her. She tore II hurriedly
open, and gazcd with wide-open, be
wildcring eyes upon the Enclosures
The next instant they fell from hel
ncrveless fingers.
Years have passed since then. Ralpl
Thornby is married; Charles Forres
has blooming wife, and two rosy LITTLE
girls; but Ella Wardlaw is hopeless
old maid, with not the faintest chanc,
of husband.-N. Y. News.