Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-30
S0PHY WAS TRUE.
Mr.. Mortimore viii Now Attend
to His Own Business.


met her2 Oh, yes; 1t was under the
ancient arches Of the old bridge, boat
ing by moonlight, the sound Of a aute
played softly afar off, and all Of q
sudden the keel OF my boat coming
sharply in contact with somebody's
oars.
Hello, you'll" cried out a clear. in
cisive young voice. where are you
goingP Why don't you look which way
you are steeriug2"
Charley Dresdenr cried out !, little
needing the torrents Of obloquy he was
beginning TO heap upon me.
'Old Mortimorer' he responded Joy
ously. "Why, who on earth would
have thought of finding you dreaming
on the Thames3 Herel Come into my
boat Hitch on your old craft behind;
and let me introduce you to Miss Sophy
Adrinnce."
looked as sharply at Miss Sophy as
the moonlight and my own modesty
would let me, for knew that she was
the especial admiration of my friend,
Charley Dresden. / had heard her blue
eyes and peach-blossom cheeks raved
about until even my much-enduring
patience had failed.
She was pretty, slight, round aud
rosy, with china-bluc eyes, a dimple in
either check and golden brown hair
worn in long, loose curls, with none of
the fashionable denominations OF
crimps, frizzes and artificial braids
about her.
Hardened old bachelor though was.
felt as II could have fallen in love
with her on tho spot II hadn't known
50 well that Charley had the first inn
ing
We rowed home together, or Mt least
as far on our way home as the Thames
would take us. Sophy sung little boat
ballads Charley roared out tenor
barcarolles. even essayed a German
student song, which learned at
lleidelburg nobody knows how long
ago, and we parted the best Of friends.
A week afterward Dresden and
met face TO face in St james street.
"llallo, MortimorcI said Charley,
his honest visage lighting up. "What
do you think of her?"
81 think she is a pearl-a jewel-a
princess among womenr' ! answered
with perfect sincerity.
| Congratulate me, thenl" cried Char
ley, beaming all over, "for am en-
gagged to her. Only last night Look
here" opening mysterious silver
case which he took from his inner vest
pocket. "What do you think of that
for an engagement ring?"
"A fine diamond" said !, critically
| IN
hnciiully set"
We're to be married in October
said Charley, lowering his voice to the
most confidential tones. at might
have been sooner II ! hadn't under
taken that business in France for our
firm. But shall be sure TO be back by
October"
So we parted with reciprocating
squeeze of the hand, and Charley's
bright face haunted me all day with II
sort of remiuisccnce of what might
have happened to me II | hadn't been
iive.and-forty, with n bald spot on the
back of my head.
spent an evening with her after.
ward at the West end house, where she
and her mother--a nice, bright-eyed
little woman, the full-blowu rose &c
correspond with Sophy's budding love
lincss--dwelt in the cosiest of apart
ments, furnished in dark blue reps
and with canaries and geraniums in the
windows
at is so kind of you to come" sale
Sophy, with Il gentle pressure Of Tho
hand, when | went away. I'm so glaC
to welcome Charley's friends"
And thought that could sit through
another evening Of commonplace chi
chat and photograph albums for such |
reward Us that
Well, Charley Dresden went away
and, as he didn't particularly leave
Sophy Adriance in my charge, didn'
feel called upon to present myself n
the lodging house where the blue rep
figured and the canaries sang in tn,
south windows
] supposed, naturally enough, tina
all was going right, until one day re
ceivcd u note from my old friend Bull
lion, the banker, u man of sixty, win
wears a wig and spectacles, and count
his income upon the double figures.
Bullion wrote from brighton, wher
! ht kbho oNNhhoN NV uAAh hhpN
what else to do with himself in tn
dull season. lie asked me to be hi
best man. Bullion was going to b
married.
'Of course you'll think 1t FOOLS
thing for me to do" wrote Bullion
even at sixty a man has not entirel
outlived the age of sentiment; an
when once you see Sophy Adriance 20
viii forgive any seeming inconsistenc
on my part
"Sophy Adriancew Was this the wa
poor Charley's fiancee was serving hiI
while he was across the channel, try
ing TO earn little money for her sake
a My heart rebelled against the fickl'
ness of woman.
went straight to the pretty Yves
end house, II was possible that migl
be misled by n similarity OF name, q
though even that was unlikely.
1 rs Miss Adrlance at homer" l asks
of the servant who answered the bel
h mo, sir, Miss Adriance Is spendir
faw weeks with 4 friend At Hrigh
on" she answered. promptly.
! That was enough. went home NJ
inclosed Bulllon's letter In another G
velops, directing Il TO poor Charl'
preslen's address, post restanto, Pari
adding few lines Of nay own, where
n y 4 n 4