Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-19
A. LOVERS QUARREL.
The Story of n Jealous Girl ana
Her Lesson.

IaoI hobbOn.
Don't touch me or speak 10 me-"
said Nina Wilbur as her betrothed hus-
band, Ashton Craig, came up the steps
of tho low veranda of the Farmers
Rest"
"Oh, mean IT, am not one who
I does not know when she has been in
suited"
nina, you do not know anything
yet" said Ashton. "When have told
you"
Told me?" said Nina. "Well, |
! scarcely need telling You invite me
10 the races, and when you are almost
there leave me alone here until they
are over"
81 left you TO save life," said Ash.
ton.
''The girl was not thrown out" said
Nina ut was well enough for you to
stop the horses and carry her In when
she pretended to faint, but To send me
note telling me to stop where was
until you came for me. aud stay all this
while-why, us / said II is an offense
beyond forgiveness"
''As said, you know nothing about
It," said young Craig.
"lf the girl had been killed there
were plenty TO take care of her beside
her escort, whom tho people told the
landlady was not hurt, though he was
thrown out
"Oh, I've been nearly wild with NOR
tiiication, and that good old soul-igno-
rant of course, but so sympathetic
how she has pitied met"
You don't seem the sort to be used
so, miss she said. I'm going TO give
you her very words, plain as they were,
and so impressive. You don't know
mon folks vet, my dear she said.
When you are my age you will, TO
your cost. That gal that was run
away with is one of the sort that come
to the races In crowds When they get
their eyes on u well-dresscd young man
they don't take 'em OFF in n hurry. She
came 10 quick enough once she got
things the way bhe liked 'em, and he's
been with her ON the grand stand all
this time, while you've bcen cooling
your heels here, my DEAR That's what
she-an experienced old grandmother
told me-"
"Dlessed old LADY," said Ashton, 'and
you accept her viewsp"
why, as she said II all had been
right you'd have sent some one to bring
me over, instead Of telling mo to stay
here" said Nina, 'and she said things
like that often happened, only usually
the parties were all much of a much
ness of course | don't know exactly
what she means by that" faltered Nina.
"Exactly"
Not exactly-but it Is evident that
few hours' intercourse with an ex-
perienced old lady like that Is a liberal
education for n respectable girl"
well, you prefer this version TO any
can offer" said Ashton, coldly.
"Oh, you cannot slip out Of 1t like
that" said Nina
81 hope you have had some lunch"
Ashton said, ignoring her remark.
'She made mo take some salt clam
soup and miserable piece OF pic"
said Nina III / had had my nurse
with me | should have paid my bill and
gone home, but was not prepared for
this insulting conduct"
Ashton walked away and paid the
bill, and soon the vehicle In which
they were to return was ready. But
all the way home he kept perfect
silence, and made no attempt either to
explain anything or seek forgiveness.
Nina was visiting an aunt, and at
the door Of this lady's residence he
paused, assisted her TO alight and
drove away with very polite bow,
never once looking back, as she saw
plainly.
by this time she, being a woman,
was nearly mad to hear from his lips
what had hAppened-to listen TO some
story which might give her a chance to
forgive him.
Really, II seemed impossible, when
she thought the matter quietly over,
that Ashton could have played SO low
and shabby trick.
The old woman had Influenced her
strangely, At best it was very wrong
of him-very unlind--but IL he had
only confessed the truth and pleaded
and offered excuses--at least she
would have been able to play dig
nifled part.
Now she felt that she had neither
spoken nor behaved as lady should
no, not kindly, us one should even to n
friend.
She should have listened to him be-
fore she burst out into that TRADE, and
she entered her aunt's house with such
a face that that lady cried;
"Why, what's the matter-where is
Mr.. Craig-whS didn't he come in?
I've lovely high tea ready. Why,
Nina, l believe you've quarreled with
him"
Don't speak OF Mr. Craig" said
Nina "he is the most contemplate
creature-I wish had never seen
him"
And then she burst into tears and
was forced to tell the story-her YER
sion Of 1t, of course
She meant It to be the true one, but
In the case Of a quarrel, people are apt
to make the best story for themselves,
In very self-defense.
I'VE were very near the race course
she said, when carriage clashed past
us--the gentleman was thrown and
the lady was In danger. Ashton made
me alight and go into little country
hotel by the roadside-then dashed on,
and SomahnR. cannot toll how.