Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-22

by the way, will you tell Tom that
the new mule france will he In early
tomorrow, and that the earlier he can
get at them the bettcr?'
III will II see him, answered Mary,
not meeting the others eyes.
won't he be In, then, tonight"
~ don't know" she said, with n lit
tie hesitation. III it's important you'd
better leave word at his cottage"
"Ohl" was all the reply that Reuben
Gorringc made; but Mary seemed TO
read in II plenty Of hidden meaning.
She blushed, and then, woman.liltc, bc.
gan 10 make excuses for Tom
"lIc has been so busy at the NIL
lately that he has not had inuch time
To be here" she said.
NAY. not at the mill" answered
Gorringc, his henri beating high nc the
knowledge that Tom seemed 10 10
ncglccting her. 81 have not kept hih
late once lie must have some other
reason; some work at home, perhaps"
he said.
But she understood the look no gave
her when shaking hands, and she felt
Inundated at finding herself In such "A
position.
When her mother came into the
room she found Mary lost In her
dreams.
"Why don't you marry him, Mary2"
she asked, after awhile, when she
heard that Gorringe had been In.
"Why don't you marry him?"
"Why should | prefer him To Tom,
mother?" was her reply. III you think
Reuben Gorringe IL the better man,
you're the only body in Walkden Bridge
that thinks So"
lies u man that knows his mind,
whether he's better or worse In other
things" answered her mother sharply,
"and that's more than some other
folks seem To do. II hc gets n bite, he
holds on. Lool, at his money, too"
what u his money! Hes only
manager at the mill"
"Ah, maybe hut he's got a shed on
his own accounts and, warrant nc,
he's got II tidy sized stocking and that
its pretty full"
VERY likely But | don't want his
money. / can earn enough to keep hc
and I'd rather die weaver lass and
naught else than wed man couldn't
love"
"Wcll, then, set TO work and love
Reuben Gorringc. II you weren't so
prccioua obstinate, you'd have done II
long since. instead of Numbering ON
with that Tom Roylance; fddling and
about and doing naught else.
I've no patience with you"
Mary made no reply to this. She had
had more ,han one dispute with her
mother on the same subject, and there
had been high words between them oc-
cusionally.
"Why don't you do rs ! tell you,
Mary, luss?" continued slrs. Ashworth,
after a pause in which she had waited
vanity Tor reply.
II dun't want to talk about II now;
I'm not well enough" said Mary.
liut her mother did not mean to give
up her efforts 10 induce Mary to take
what shc regarded rs the proper course
In regard to marriage. Moreover, she
had turned against Savannah, und
when Mary told her what Reuben Cor
ringe had said about the girl seeking
some other lodging Mrs. Ashworth
was pleased.
"Um glad of II, that am. I'll tell
Savannah this very night what he's
said, and the sooner she packs the bet
ter. And there's no reason now why
we should keep her. Where is she
now?'
~ don't know, Maybe with Toms
father"
more likely with Tom himself" said
Mrs. Ashworth, speaking ut random in
her irritation, and having no particu-
lar meaning for the words.
"Mother!" cried Mary.
Mary" answered tho mother, imi-
tating her tone.
"If you don't want to drive me out OF
the room you won't say such things as
that" said Mary, quietly. They pain
mo-"
IAN right, my lass, won't say any
thing more"
She was fond OF the girl, and had no
wish 10 hurt her feelings But she
was very anxious 10 see her married to
Reuben Gorringc, and was thus very
often u most injudicious advocate of
the latter's cause.
She went now to the girls side and
bent over her and kissed her.
nm sorry greved you, my lass"
she said
Its nil right, mother" answered
Mary looking up, and smiling. ~
know what you wish, but IL can't be. I
can't marry man without caring for
him 1t yoc5 against nature. Try not
TO wish It or nrcak Of It again"
She wcut DAT Of the Kitchen then,
ana thus the diguSAiou ended, u, all
the talk on that subject did, by each
keeping her own opinion
The EeAt two or three days were u
time 81 great trouble TO the girl, She
recovered her strength quickly, though
she was not able {" go b. the mill, and
iadcsi was compelled - stop in the
horar. Eat what porplcNcd aud wor-
rud her most was the fact that Tom
Eoylaucc only came once to sce her,
aud then only Tor short time, during
the whole Of which he seemed i'll at
case aud quite unlike himself
Savannah Morbyu lott the Ash.
worlhs' cottage on the day after Reuben
Gorringc lad tpoken about H. She
went away with scarcely a word,
simply telling Mary that She was go
ing, and where she had found lodg-
ings
Then came dreadful Dews
Savannah Lad been 20 ~ With Mary
two evenings, ami on tlIr cy"niEg OF
the day before Mary intended TO 50
bnels 10 work she came in state o.
great cyciteincnt.
..Att. a. -.-- ~,