Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-03
THE WESTERN EXPRESS.
Why Its Delay Caused a Happy
Marriage.

terhall.
lie was not, in n general way. much
of talker. Consequently, when he
spoke, his words had the weight of
sense and rarity. But Mira Esterhall,
the fine old lady who sat erect before
the clear. sea-coal fire. was too much
excited to consider all this.
"The wife of my son, Guion," said
she, SHOULD be lady, born and bred
not one OF those girls who have had TO
fight the world until all gentleness,
grace and unselflshness are ground out
OF them. No, can never give my con-
sentl"
The young man smiled slightly.
Mother" said he, ''the diamond it.
self hardly possesses It's true financial
value until the facets are ground with
much friction"
"llumphr' said Mrs. Esterhall. "No
one is talking of diamonds"
81 may bring her to sec you, mother?"
Mrs. Esterhall shook her head.
81 have no desire to receive her." said
she. But, Guy, here are the tickets
for Henry Irving tonight. Carrie Chip
pendale has promised to accompany me
of course, you will be on hand at
halt-past seven to be our escort?"
III You wish II, mother"
The old lady smiled to herself when
Guion was gone.
IA little management" she thought,
"a little judicious firmness, and Guy
will get over this boyish fancy OF his.
The idea Of a shop girl for my daugh-
ter-in-law-for Mrs. Guiou Esterhall |
think the lad must have. taken leave of
his sensesl"
And In her secret heart she rejoiced
with an exceeding great rejoicing when
Miss Chippendale arrived that evening,
In "A pale-blue moire gown, cut decol-
lete, with glitteriug necklace around
her perfect white throat, and bunch
of dollhouse roses in her corsuge.
III we are to have private box"
said Miss Chippendale, buttoning the
sc enteenth button of her glove, ''one
may as well go in full dress, don't you
lSnow?'
my dear. you are looking lovely"
said MrA Esterhall, approvingly.
Miss Chippendale was sort Of hui
man camellia japonica-fair. graceful
and serene-with big, expressionless
blue eyes, cherry-red lips, flax-gold
hair, drawn in fluffy crimps over her
forehead, and an unchanging society
smile perpetually lowering around her
lips She had been highly educated,
and she was destined by her parents TO
make a brilliant match. Tho Chippen-
dales belonged to the nristocracy-tbat
Is to say, they had mover done any
work and had always spent a great
denl Of money And Mrs. Esterhall
had decided that Carrie Chippendale
was the very wife for her son.
She went shopping the next day, to
match shade of Berlin wool, to buy
some lace hounces and to decide on new
portieres for her drawing-room down
Mt Esterhall manor. At one or two
o'clock she experienced, not hunger,
but a lady-lilSe sensation that "tired
nature" needed some sort OF sweet
restoration"
II will go into Maricotta's," she
thought.
Maricotta's was full, as It generally
was at that time Of day; but presently
the old lady succeeded in obtaining seat
in curtaincd angle, where the waiter
took her order for "a chicken salad and
cup of tea. Just then she heard a
clear, low voice on the other side Of
the drapery, as u party settled them
selves to table-Miss Chippendale's
soft, well-modulated tones
"oh, yes, Irving was very fne," said
Carrie. "Oysters, please-a box-stew
for one and fritters for two and three
cups of Vienna chocolate, nicely
frothed, waiter-but all the same.
nearly died OF eRnui The old lady IL
the most dreadful bore you ever knew,
and Guy Is a regular prig. Handsome,
you know, and very talented, of course;
but one don't want to be on full-dress
parade as TO ones brains the whole
time. lie isn't half us nice as Freddie
Fortune-only poor dear Fred hasn't n
cent to bless himself with, and pa pa
looks thunderclouds at me whenever he
calls. But once I'm married. it"
A chorus of well-bred giggliug inter-
| rupted Carries words. Mrs. Esterhall
no sc hurriedly from her seat, grasped
her gloves and eyeglasses and made all
haste out Of the restaurant When the
waiter came with the chicken-salad
and the tea he found his customer
gone. The unconscious Miss Chippen-
dale and her friends enjoyed their Vi
emma chocolate and oyster fritters very
much indeed.
Mrs. Esterhall decided to return to
the manor at once. Carrie Chippen-
dale's graceful treachery had affected
her more than she had deemed possi-
biei and, leaving hastily written note
TO explain to Gnion that she had al
tered her plans, she took the late ex-
press, which reached Clcvedon juno
tion Mt nine there connecting with a
branch train for Este rhall station. She
was travelling alone, as her maid re-
mained TO pack up the last things and
follow her the next day.
There had been a heavy snowfall,
| the night had settled down dark and
tempestuous, and the train was run
min & behind time, At last II came TO a
full stop. Mrs Esterhall started from
doze and looked anxiously around
| her
"Ten o'clockl" some one said, con-
sultinR n watch. "Why, conductor, we
are due at Clevedon at Ave minutes be-
fore ninel"
"Yes, know, SIR" spoke the official,
"but the road is all blocked, and the
western express is overdue at this point
We're waiting here for the signal to
move on"
"And what's to keep US from waiting
all nightP" petulantly inquired the old
gentleman.
Nothing, sir-unless the western