Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-09-14

| II could not have been many m1ntha
after Hamilton was only twcnty-onc
when his father died"
"And after this sad event Mrs. Dun
l,ir, and Hamilton were the only sur.
viving members Of the family.
DO You mean by this their immediate
family, their fathers family, or, In
broader sense. that there were no col
lateral branches. no cousins Of any de-
greer
II used the expression as Mrs. Dun
kirk herself did. In It's broader sense.
She frequently spoke Of the fact that
her family was so nearly extinct. She
nad not n relative in the world, rho
said, Of whose existence she had any
knowledge"
"Shc was n widow, was she not, fer
many years2'
"Shc was Dr. Dunlsirk was lost NJ
sea on his way 30 Europe, few years
after their marriage OF course, though,
Mr. North you know all this She add
ed, checking herself with a weary little
smile
North also smiled.
"Wcll," he said, "my one question
has grown 10 several. beg your par
don for this long interruption. VIII
you please proceed Mrs Maynarl2'
where was !? Indeed, ! have for
gotten"
"You spoke last" observed North, re-
fcrring by a glance 10 his notes, "of
Hamilton Dupont's reckless course,
which resulted in his being disinhcritcd;
and my first question elected the fact
that within n comparatively short time
after this event his father died.
"Oh, TO be surel Now don't expect "a
detailed history, Mr.. North. for my IN
formation Is extremely frigmgatary;
but II is certain that there had ulwa. IS
existed between Mrs. Dunldrli and hoe
young brother barrier of cold reserve,
which time aud his maynard conduct
only increased. Mr.. Duultrls was not u
woman possessed Of warm affections.
Her regard for people was purely mat
ter OF intellectual esteem. II her stern
judgment approved them, that was suf-
iicicnt; II not, there was no tender voice
In her heart to plead their cause
There was little in llamilton's Maynard
life Of which she could approve; hence
her total arrangement from him.
After the death of their father, how
ever. she seemed 20 feel the loneliness
Of her position, and for the first time
she turned 10 her brother Hamilton for
sympathy and compauiou'hip. lie was
in trouble Of every sort, drifting about
in the world without aim or purpose,
friends or prospects. She offered hin
everything - home, wealth, social Gd-
vantagcs, asking only that hc rcnuurec
his youthful folli'H and strive for the
future % devote his talents and cncr-
gics 10 SOME useful and honorable pm-
suit. She finally induced him tpa1ocpt
this offer; and having established hun
beneath her roof. she made every effort,
faithfully, II not always wisely, 10 r.
claim him from the error Of hi5 ways.
Ills education was fair, although he
had never completed any regular c1uran
Of study, having been three times cS-
PEELED from college. Mr,. Duul,ir.,
urged him 10 enter one Of the learned
professions, and, though he had no Ia.
clinntiun for such u career, he finally
yielded To her opportunities, choosing
the study Of medicine; and whilchc was
pursuing the course at the universally,
she settled upon him handsome nj
lownncc for his own personal cspensca
"IIc was not long In attracting u
large and brilliant circle of ncquuin-
tanccs, for his da5hing manner and
reckless style Of expenditure made him
universally popular. All this, however,
interfcred with more important mat
tcrs; he could not respond 10 the con-
slant demands Of society and at the
same time attend faithfully 10 his du-
ties nj the university, and the consc-
qucnce was that his studies were
neglected, his absence from lectures and
| clinics became the occasion of frequent
rcproofs from tho faculty, and in time
the report Of his dclinquencies reached
Mrs. Dunl,irls's ears.
"Of course she demonstrated with
Hamilton, and he generally answered
her rcproachcs with angry defiance.
These scenes, however, always ended in
n reconciliation, with promises OF flu
turc good behavior on his part, and q
| resolution on hers 10 give him one more
trial. Thus affairs ran on until at last,
without any warning, the catastrophe
came.
Mrs DunlsirlS had ut the very be-
ginning of her compact with Hamilton
cxactcd from him solemn promise
that he would not marry until he had
obtained his diploma and established
himself in practice, Unfortunately foi
this promise, chance threw him int,
the society Of young lady who wa
neither wealthy nor highly connected
hut whose wonderful beauty, combine,
with her sweetness and intelligence
tool, his heart by storm.
1--WE shall be obliged to imagine al
the details of this little romance, sine
only the mercst outlines of II are OF
record, Ills wooing prospered, an,
within few months the lady becam
his bride. lie contrived TO conceal tn
fact Of his marriage from his sister ~
several weeks, continuing TO rcsid
under her roof and dcvoting himself Z
the university with zeal that he hnl
never before exhibited; and Mrs Dun
kirk, delighted mt what she considere
the first real evidence OF reformation
looked on with kind approval and en-
couragemont. IL was In the full tide q
her satisfaction with his course tina
some one brought her the astoundin
Intelligence of his marriage.
You can perhaps Imagine the Sc
qucl. think she might In time hav
pardoned him II he had not deceive
her so unslrupulously; but that was II
oifonse beyond all forgiveness After
stormy scene, with biting reproach,
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