Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-28
THE OTHER WOMAN.
The Unpleasant Consequence of
Clarences Carelessness.

tts red rear lamps disappeared into tho
night, leaving behind the merry party
81 wedding guests who stood watching
'he recedng train.
The handsome young couple who n
moment before stood In the doorway Of
the sleeping car, laughing back at tho
coteric of friends who were shouting
many parting injunctions after them,
now dropped side by side upon the vel
vet cushioned seat of n rear compart-
mcnt. The flushed and fiuttered little
bride was dainty and sweet in n becom-
ing thing of gray, which had replaced
her lovely bridal gown Of purest white.
She sank YEARLY upon the sofa seat
beside her manly companion, glad of
the first moment of respite she had en-
ioyed in hours; glad that they we're at
last Off on their wedding journey
Their senses had been kept In con-
slant whirl by the strain and excite
incnt of the day, and so fast had events
lccn unfolding themselves that they
could scarcely realize what was hap
pcning. The whole thing had the
vagucncss of an intoxicating dream.
II they had suddenly found themselves
neither would have experienced great
or surprise than is felt by the man who
is rudcly wakcncd from delicious
fancy of sleep. The prospect of II
quiet respite from the constant, an
poying, but well-tneaning attentions
Of friends, and of being alone together,
thrilled each with a sensation of de-
light.
delicate glow from a pinls-shaded
lamp suffused itself through the little
compartment where n half minute ago
its modest light was drowned in the
powerful briliiancy of the depot cleo
trio candles, which shone through the
windows. A passenger was growing
ut porter in the corridor. Another
whitc-cappei porter was moving up
and down between the buffet and
smoliing-room, carrying suspicious
looking packages. At the end of the
car the conductor was explaining to Il
passenger where he could make con-
nection. In u neighboring compart-
neut mother was trying to quiet n
fretful child. A young lady, not yet
ready to retire, although it was near
midnight, had seated herself upon one
Of the folding seats in the narrow corri-
dor and was eagerly perusing new
novel In the smOkinE-room, two or
three men were smoliiug and talking
rs men will talk until the end Of the
world.
TO all these pc lplc it seemed very
commonplace bit of travel; to the
young couple IN the pinll-lightcd COM
partmcnt, it was the journey of their
lives
The train was proceeding tentative
~; now squirting of as II determined
to do or die, and now bringing to with
Il sud den jerk, stopping beside hiss
ing engine which was dumping u long
line of cars together At such stop sthe
talk of the lantcrn-bearing yardmcn
could he heard beside the sleeper win
dow.
In the first moment of their blissful
quiet, the young couple caught each
others hands "a trick that lovers have)
and their eyes, filled with the light of
love, met. Even now the days even Is
had the semblance of dream. The
carriage, the crush at the church, the
flowers, the whitc-robed bridesmaids,
the minister, the ceremony, the torrent
of congratulations, the reception, the
hurrying to the train-it was too unlike
the rest of their lives to be anything
but dream. And yet 1t was truel The
ponderous sleeper was rocking over the
track.
To the lives of all men there comes
an hour, day, perhaps, of sweetest,
complctest bliss. To the young man
with the bride, this hour had come.
Ills senses were thrilling with n de-
liciou feeling of man who has just
married the woman he loves. 1t was
the first time he had been alone with
her for days; the preparations for the
wedding had kept them apart, but now
she was his-hisl Not for day, nor a
wcch-for lifetime! II seemed very
long time, and just now it appeared in
all the roscatc hucs in which happy
youth sees the future, Now that she
was his she was different, but not less
dear in his eyes, lie was deep and
an earnest man, and this was the first
great happiness he had ever felt
Her soft hands were clasped in his.
"Oh, Clarence" she cried, al am SO
glad it's Overt"
81 am SO glad you are minel" he said,
warmly.
at was so trying" she said, turning
her glad eyes upon him, 81 do hope IL
all went OFF we'll; was so badly ex,
cited that could not tell. must have
looked awfully frightened"
you looked like an angel" he said.
II wanted TO squeeze you all the time. n
You big boyl" she said, "You are
married now and mustn't be foolish Ii
you think looked well, / don't care
for the others But" sac added, "ho'y
could you tell-you were frightened
Clarence"
40 you think so, dearest9"
Were Youp"
at was like dream" he answered
II half doubted its reality, | wal
thinking of what n lucky fellow wa
TO get you, my angel"
Clarence kissed her. Some poe
speaks of the rushing together Of tw,
souls TO lovers lips and meeting Their,
in kiss. This7 bard has received fiat
tering Endorsement from n thousan'
pairs of young lovers How the kIs
of love thrills the blood of youth How
it condenses all the sweetness OF life
time into one ecstatic momentl othe
hours may well afford TO be dull sine
THAR nAntRr Is eomnressod- into the Low