Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-22
HELPED HIM PROPOSE.
And Promised Not to Tell, But 1t
Was Too Good to Keep.

u
fellow, with blue eyes and dark hair.
lie was an artist by profession. lie
had but few patrons, but that fact did
not trouble him much, as he was very
well-to-do.
j He was idly toying with his W ntch
chain and watching the smoke of his
cigar as II curlcd upward In the air,
when tho door orcncd and Mr.. Clifton
| Wayne entered the room.
"Well, Arthur, how are you to-day?'
were his first words. "Thinlfing OF
your lady-love2"
Don't be a fool, Cliitonl' was his
polite reply. "You know | hate girls
like-like-"
softly, softly, my dear sir" inter
rupted Clifton. laughingly; 1.-The trouble
is you haven't come across tho right
one"
"And never WILL" interrupted Ar
thur "But enough OF this nonsense.
heard to-day that your sister Clara
was about to give a grand ball Is
that sop
"Of course II Is, and you're to be In
vited And say, Arthur, Cousin Nellie,
from New Orleans, is coming, too. She
will be splendid catch for you"
There you 20 again, Clifton. You
know am confirmed bachelor. And
as for Miss Neilic-what did you say
her name lisp"
"Forsythe - Nellie Forsythe. But
good dayl have an appointment down
town" And he hurried away.
Years ago Arthur Lyle had felt that
I Al nnIargtppI ppN woman IIa had
even gone SO far as to tell her that II
she 50 willed II henceforth his life
would be devoted equally to her and
his profession. And she had smiled and
looked SO pleased that he had kissed
her, and supposed that she would ut
some time, not far distant, be his own.
But he had supposed too much, as he
afterwards found out when she was
married few weeks later to a dashing
young lawyer.
This hurt his susceptible and scnsi-
tive heart TO think that she had so de-
ccived him, and he told her so the hrst
time he saw her after her marriage.
And she, with one Of her innocent,
surprised looks, answered his indig-
nant words by saying that he had
never asked her TO marry him"
lie had not met her for several years
lie went TO visit his friend Clifton at
his beautiful villa in the suburbs.
lie had been there but n few days
when he walked out on the piazza, and,
TO his amazement, saw his former
sweetheart walking around the grounds
OF a neighboring hosse with a half
grown child-a little girl-who in many
ways resembled her mothor
lie walked on aimlessly, blind, deaf
to everything around him. Thoughts
of his lost love and the fate that had
separated them were struggling to-
gether tumultuously in his brain.
The sound of horse rushing madly
down the road and low, startled cry
reused him suddenly from the revere
into which he had fallen He looked
up and saw q young lady in great
peril.
He darted forward, and seizing the
horse by the bit, stopped him.
What gentle woman's heart she
had, this lovely girl with soft brown
eyes and beautiful golden hair-a quiet
little creature with a charming, refined
face.
where do you wish to go9" he In
quired, respectfully.
ITO Wayne villa" she replied, In 9
sweet voice that thrilled his heart
~ found no one at the depot TO NEE
me, so l got a horse and thought
would ride over, but my horse tool
fright and was thrown on as you see
but II you will assist me to remount
: think l can reach the villa safely"
}. IL was splendid night The star
shone beautifully, the air was soft ant
s balmy. Wayne villa was brilliantly
0 illuminated; Chinese lanterns shon
here and there among the trees-iI
fact, 1t looked like q fairy paradise
r carriages drove up and deposited ladie
and gentlemen and the sound of musi,
was heard from the parlors Miss ClarI
Wayne was giving ball
When Arthur Lyle was announces
there was buzz through the room, q
, he was general tavorite, and maneu
!. vering mammas did not quite despair o
!. catching him.
"Ahl Arthur, how glad | am TO Sc
you" exclaimed Miss Clara, seizlng hin
a Dy tne nanu' y must Introduce yOl
70 Miss Forsythe."
"llang Miss Forsythe!" thought Ar
, thur (his thoughts were all centered ol
a the fair girl he had rescued on the roa'
a that morning., but he followed Clarl
!. obediently TO the corner of the room
!, where a lady who had her beck turned
, 10 him was talking with party OF gen
I, tlemen
Miss Forsythe, Mr. Lyle" SRI,
Clara, presenting him why, what
, the mat ter with you, Mr. Lyle9" sh
= cried, as Arthur stood, with his eye
! wide open, looking at Miss Forsythe.
For In Miss Forsythe he recognize
the beautiful girl he had met so unel
, pectedly in the morning. However, h
recovered himself sufficiently TO cor
verse as II nothing had happened.
From that time he found that
loved her. She was a woman after h
own heart But he didn't know how I
Y tell her so II he made up his mind thu
he cared to marry So he waited.
Then he thought some one migb
come alonG II ha dAllied. and discover