Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-05
Highest Of ID Ia lsavsning Pow@- -lass U. cevtlpet
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large and important order. That was
the bcginning Of it lie became one Of
our best customers always insisting,
however, upon the fulAllment Of my
purt Of the contract A little insight
into his character proved that thu
somewhat harsh exterior covered .
heart us BIZ md tender as q friend
could possibly desire, and tho years Of
our acquaintance resolved our relations
into those Of remarkable confidence
and comradcship"
Mr.. X. paused. the serious look deep.
ening on his face.
"And thcn?"--llelen Harper knew
that there must bc more TO the story.
"0ur acquaintance had covered
period Of three years." ho resumed I'm.
creaslng oil the time in intimacy and
mutual esteem, and ono day Us we re-
turned from lutte drive through the
country together Mr. Gray said, with =
little nervous shifting Of the lines
and catch In his usually smooth voice;
X, I've favor to ask OF you, I'm .
bluff sort OF II man, Us you hive reasol
to know, but ! know you'll give ine
credit for q reasonable share Of com.
mon sense, What want 10 say Is this:
You've been coming to this town for
quite spell now, and like as not you'll
keep right on coming Us long as you're
ontho road. Every time you have been
here for tho last three years you have
been In my store, and you've humored
the old man by sitting there along In
the twilight and whistlng for him.
And tell you now, wherever nm that
music Is COOL enough for me, Now, my
boy, when you come here again and 40
into my store to ask for me they will
tell you that am dead. know H. We
need make no words about II And
then want you to take this horse and
drive over tho hill to that little ccme.
terry you can just see up thcrc, and find
where they have laid me Then (non-
sense, boy, ! know what am talking
aboutl) Il want you to sit down on tho
mound thut covers me and whistle.
Whistle the hymns md songs, tho airb
from tho operas and the songs Of the
street, any and oil Of them
" expostulated with him, referred
him to his perfect health and tried to
laugh away his morbid fancy, but II
would not do. In o minute | had
promised and his hand had closed over
mine with the earnest Thank you,
lid, thank you. shall hear youI"
The women drew their wraps u little
closer, and one OF the men said, ncrv.
ously:
"Deuced uncomfortable statement"
"Wcll,' continued Mr. X, " was
sent on another route after that md II
was nearly year before lagaln WIS.,
tied Mr. Gray's town. | had heard
nothing from him In that time and
our odd agreement did not occur TO
Inc until saw the unfamiliar faces at
the store pslsed for my old friend
only " learn that he had been dead
three months. and am not ashamed to
say that chill, sharper than that 81
the autumn air, ran over inc
whom ! remembered my prom
ise ut our last meeting. I frank.
ly own that tried to get out Of
1t, but taking the horse drove out to
his pleasant home, just on tho edge Of
town. lila widow greeted me very
kindly ana | ut once made known my
errand, which was TO secure her con.
sent to tho caneellng Of my rashly.
made agreement To my surprise she
held me TO It's fulfllment
"'Mr. Gray was very much In earn.
est when he made hts singular re-
quest, am sure, she said. "A few
moments before he died he told me TO
tell you that he would be listening. l
did not understand what he meant
then, but you have brought tho expla-
nation. must insist upon your keep.
ing your promise TO my husband.
"Well, drove up over the hill 70 the