Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-21

had been q crcl One of the drawers
stood out, with a scattered confusion OF
papers
The Rrcca shutters were open now In
the old wlitc-l Mastered house In West.
chester COUNTY. The doctor went in
ana out every day.
lie shook hi head; he looked at the
old maidscrvant grufly, suspiciously.
There are infallible indications Of n
mental shock"
81 know nothing" was the old wom-
ans cool answer
The doctor, with an impatient click
OF the tongue, went rapidly down the
white tagging and back to his gig at
the gate Hannah, immovable In every
feature as always, went back to her
mistress side.
"Iou told himP" the white lips would
frame.
mo, Mrs skinner. You know
wouldn't" was the only answer.
One day the invalid looked up.
"Hannah."
Hannah crossed the room and stood
10y the bed
"l'vc been thinking, thinking n great
deal" the once strong, percmptory
tones said you know what mcan2r
Hannah nodded.
"l'yo been thinking that perhaps you
knew"
A swift change went over the old
woman's face.
20, Mira skinner, don't ask me-"
81 shall ask you" Strength seemed
to have returned TO the doctors patient.
Forcibly sho raised herself ON one arm.
lmpcriously she stretched out the
still handsome hand In the old firm,
commanding gesture. "Tcll me every
thing you know"
"Then-nonc OF It was true. Miss
Martha never cnred-nevcr, never. IL
was some one else. But she knew You
would not have liked II, ma'am, for
she was poor and not much In the way
Of family, aud since Miss Martha lived
with you she was" the old woman's
voice sank
Afraid to let mc Know2 Sho was
afraid Of me. Go on"
Well yes, ma'nm But Mr., Skinner
he found II out and she told him all,
Miss Martha And he WINS trying to
get Miss Martha's sweetheart into
some business, ma'um And then, when
that was DONE the two Of them would
have told you. Bat they did not dare
before. And it's for that, so help me
God Almighty, Mrs. skinner, MANN,
that they were so much together OF
anything elise"
Again the old woman stopped. This
time n color came into her strong, con-
trollcd, withcred old face. "Thore
never was ON all this earth n wife that
was loved more faithful than you, Mrs.
Skinner, ma'am"
And you never told ne2" The
tones that came from behind tho bed
hangings seemed TO have grown
strangely old.
There would have been no use
ma'am--and you know that" came the
firm answer.
"Ile Mr.. Skinner my husband,
never defended himself, Hannah"
o, how fast the pride, stubbornly up
held through ali these years, was break
ing
mo, ma'am," grimly, mot when you
wouldn't listen 10 him, and turned Miss
Martha out of doors, ma'am lie came
20 me, did Mr. Skinner Hannah said
he, you know this Ia most horrible
untruth'
Yes, sir said l. But she will new
err believe IT,, he said And no was IA
white az the dead Never was n wife
better loved said he, But II her awful
pride and anger are TO wreck my life,
|, too, can have pride. shall not sue
TO her
"And with that he was gone, and 1
said never word, ma'am, for tins IL
the first time In thirty five years that
the masters name had been spoken, az
you know, ma'am."
Softly, noiselessly, Hannah rose from
her chair One thing more she had 10
say;
"lle was like no one else ever was
Mr. Skinner. Never was a kinder hand
somer, SUMMER gentleman. would
have done anything for him"
The yellow letter that had come from
the little drawer In tho old piece OF
furniture, and on which dying hand
had traced the truth that the beautiful,
vindictive woman its owner had once
called wife might learn II at last, lay
on the bed within reach of Mrs Skin
ner's fingers.
The soft June sunlight shone into
the room, and outside the windows the
birds sang And these things seemed
70 mock the woman who lay there, her
life passed, thrown away, all her un-
forgiying bitterness, her vengoiul pride
thrust back upon her with tine despair
Of Il love which neither the illusion OF
outrage nor the oncoming sorrows of
age had been able 10 dim.-Sunday
Mercury.