Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-09-20
WARNINGS TIP.
1t Taught o Man to Properly Ap.
preciate His Wife.

Mr. Duncan walked through tn,
streets with his eyes lowered, seeing
nothing, and 1t was only because o
Charles Warnings restraining hand thaf
he drew back at crossing in time t.
let an elegantly appointed carriage
pass.
What lovely grill" Charles ex
claimed, as the occupant OF the car
riage leaned from the window "She
seems to be locking at YOU" he con
tinued. "Whyw---as his companion
raised lis hat-"do you know her?"
She Is my Wife" was the unexpect.
ed reply.
Your wifc!" Charles looked at the
carelcssly dressed, elderly appearing
man beside him and then at the car
riage with its fashionably attired oc'
cupant, In Amusement ut the contrast
between them.
The two men had each an Office in
the same building. In spite Of the diff.
ference III their ages a warm friend
ship had sprung up between them,
and they had formed the habit OF
walking home together us far as their
route lay in the same direction. But
their talk was always Of business, and
they knew nothing Of each others per-
sonal affairs
No wonder you are astonished,"
said Mr.. Duncan, at last withdrawing
his distracted gaze from the rapidly
receding carriage. ~ will tell you
about It, Two years ago an old, rath-
er eccentric, client sent for me In
haste. When reached his secluded
suburban home ] found him dying.
Ellis mini wa full Of anxiety for
the one chill he was to leave. She
had not Il relative il the world, and
hc begged me 10 accept the position Of
guardian l,n,w nothing Of children,
and hesitated.
"'She will be no care to you he
urged. The woman who nursed her
is still In our employ and devoted to
the child; but she is ignorant, and |
must have some one Of mind and judg-
mcnt to watch over my daughters in.
terests. Say that You will accept the
trust.
"Ilis naturally pathetic eyes were
doubly SO when dying. With their
gaze imploring, beseeching me, what
could do but agree to take the re.
sponsibility on my shoulders? He
died that night. His child and her
nurse were spending the summer In
the mountains, too far away to reach
home in time for the funeral. was
to open the will and then go to bring
them back to the city. Judge Of my
dismay to find on examination that
every one Of the securities mentioned
in the will had become worthless!
Creditors Immediately put in their
claims. The house and furniture even
could not be saved. There was abso.
lutely nothing left for my ward.
My dismay at the condition Of my
clients affairs was, however, insignia.
cant in comparison to the consterna-
ton which awaited me. Armed with
a large doll and supply Of candy, l
sought her mountain retreat, asked
for my ward, and found her to be
beautiful young lady of twenty, yet
rs ignorant Of the world Us a child,
having been brought up with no com
panions save her father, the old nurse
and dtily governess.
81 did not know what to do. with
her. She hal her fathers pathetic
eyes, appealing, haunting. Not to
weary You with o long recital, upon
! concluded that marriage
with my ward was the only way out
OF the difficulty, She was Of cling.
ing, dependent nature, and made no
objection; and so we were married."
"And have lived happily ever after,
like people in stories, put in Charles
to fill the pause.
A half-sigh preceded the answer:
~ hope she Is happy. am sure
give her all she seems to need"
YES, and work yourself to death to
do It," Charles said to himself.
sometimes | have feared-well, per.
haps, 1t is the companionship of young
people that she needs" went on Dun.
can, musingly. Il am too old for her
You are not married?' turning alb.
ruptly to Waring. "IIave no ties9"
NO. | am free as air."
"Then come around to the house,
Sing with my wife. Talk music, books,
all those things Of which l know moth
Ing. | like you. Como often. Here
Is the corner where we part. Come
very soon. Good night"
Some evenings thereafter, Warning
called at Mr.. Duncan's. He found the
house luxurious and tasteful, the mis-
tress beautifully gowned, with many
Jewels cleaning and sparkling about
her.
She was beautiful woman, this
Berenice Duncan, with rather long,
slender face, light hair and large,
haunting dark eyes. She proved SO
attractive that Warnings visits to the
house became frequent; but, although
he sang duets with her, talked music,
books and all the fads Of the day, and
sven, at her husbands urgent request,
accompanied her to several concerts,
ne did not feel that he understood her
my better as the companionship prog.
ressed. There was always a wistful,
look In her beautiful eyes
when fixed on her husband, and War.
ng, as he noted it, would ask himself;
Il wonder what 1t Is she wants now?n
John Duncan interpreted the expires.
lion Of her eyes in his own way, and