Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-21

fore sne knew It nad entered upon a
very interesting lecture about cathe-
drals, bridges, towers, Iruins, eto.
Then came her album Of famous men
and women, and the boys listened and
looked till dull eyes frightened, and
heavy brows took on new look of gen.
tleness and intelligence. The cigarettes
disappeared one by one, hats and caps
were doffed, and many a shame-faced
glance was cast on hands and feet un.
lit for the surroundings and for the
young lady's company
When the ent ertainment was over
tho boys showed very plainly, though
somewhat uncouthly, their pleasure
and gratitude. Then a bright idea
flashed through Polly's brain
"How would you like TO form your
selves into q club and meet here once a
week. for The present, at least2"
THAT would be jollyp was the sense
of the meeting.
Jim Albright remarked, his face get
ting red as he spoke, that 'it would be
good deal Of trouble for Miss Polly"
But l wish you TO pay me-" she re-
piled.
Polly ran up 70 her room and brought
down her little writing.desk. She sat
down and wrote out rapidly an anti
cigarette pledge; then she called tho
boys around her.
u wish you to pay me by signing
this pledge" she said. George will
sign hrst;" and she rose, giving her seat
to her brother.
AS George had not formed the smols-
ing habit, und was already ashamed
that his sister had seen him with a
cigarette in his mouth, he readily
wrote his name. His example as leader
was powerful with the others, and of
the four, all signed except AL Carter,
who didn't feel sure that he wished ITO
be led by the nose by girl"
When Polly found herself alone she
sat down to reflect.
II must have help" she thought II
wonder II Clara and Maud wouldn't
like TO come over and assist me in re-
ceiving when the club meets2 And wo
might have chocolate and some simple
cakesi and there ought 10 be books for
the boys to take home | will 20 out
collecting this very afternoon. know
OF dozen families who have plenty of
books that would help these bows, ly-
Ing in the corners OF their bookcases
and Of no use to anybody"
Polly dressed himself In her new blue
gown and jacket, put a jaunty little
hat atop OF tho bronze braids without
looking too long In the mirror, and
started out to find her girl friends. She
had not walked far before she met
them face TO face.
."Goodl" called out Clara. 1--WE were
Just on our way to your house. We are
going over to Johnstown tomorrow,
on the nine o'clock train, and we want
you TO go with us. We will have
luncheon together, and no end of fun
in the afternoon, and get home by sup
per time. You know Tom House Ia
clerk In Mann & Malley's. Wen call
on him, and he will treat us to lobster
salad and things II he can get ofr-and
he generally can"
The blood rushed to Polly's cheeles
Clara meant innocently enough, and
Polly herself would not, perhaps. n
week ago, have hesitatcd overmuch at
the proposali but her anxiety for
George and her plans for him and his
friends had already worked a change
She knew instantly that higher self
nod awakened in her, antagonistic to
such an outing as that planned for tho
norrowi but she uttered no criticism,
only told the girls, as they walked
along, Of the new club, and of her need
IF their help,
II think, " she said, that II you will
ZONE, prettily dressed, and chat with
he boys, and one OF you pour the
chocolate, it will be Just splendidr'
Then she went on to tell about tho
books that she hoped TO get, and ended
~ saying;
"How jolly 1t would be II we could
ubscribe for two or three papers and
magazines just for the club"
why" said Maud, "our trip to-mor-
ow, II we take It, will cost us dollar
md a half apiece; that would make, in.
'luding Polly, four dollars and flfty
entsl Clara, let's give 1t up and sub
cribe dollar and half apiece to the
literature fund" So 1t was decidedl
nd all three went rummaHinQ
trough the book collections at Clara's
nd Maud's for spare volumes that
ould be devoted TO the service Of the
'oys.
That first club meeting was an event.
ul occasion. No unblaclred shoes nor
ncombed hair, no soiled hands nor un-
ared for nails, appeared. There were
ONE honest blushes-always o good
ign-when the members" were pre-.
ented to the young ladies who had
ONE to help entertain them, and more
han one resolution m ado to work hard
nd save money for new shoes or hats
coats, or whatever was most needed
make the young fellows presentablo
II terms Of self-respect
Miss Weymouth, who had come. to
pend the evening with Mrs Hopldna.
eeped in when the affair was in fuli
wing.
~ shall never forget that picture"
he said those bright, winning girls
living all their attention, exertina all
leir charm, to help and strengthen
oys who had already begun to drift
owly downward"
How things growl" said Polly,
lther obscurely, as the last boy do
lrted, book in hand. zone would
link our club had been organized for
onths."