Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-02
STORY OF AN OLD MAID.
NJ lTTA ALLEN FELLNEh


lam now an old woman Of eighty l
heard some one speak Of me the other
dsy as THAT old, old maid, Miss La
ceil.n and could hardly believe they
meant me, for had not thought OF my
self as an ''old, old maid" and yet l
know that /, Marie Lacell, am the only
living soul In Belmont who remembers
the great storm Of 1888 and the wreck
Of the fishing boat that was blown
against our rocky coast one night ana
the loss Of the noble young men who
went out to the rescue.
Yes, I, the old maid, "old Miss La
CELL" as l am called, was once asyoung
and pretty as the group OF merry
schoolgirls who go laughing by my
lonely old house at twilight, and who,
II they see me, look at each other and
seem to say: There Is that old Miss
Lscell; I wonder II she ever had q
lover? Poor thing"
All, girls, laugh on and be happy bu t
leave me alone In my own home. While
fsit BY the window, gazing out upon
the village street and listening Tor the
evening chimes In the old church tow
ar 10 ring out their dear old melody, l
muse and dream Of sixty years ago l
am no longer an old maid, alone in an
old, old house, but / am Marie Lacell'
the pet and pride Of Belmont, village
belle, the only daughter Of the village
psrson and the happiest girl In oil the
world, for am Ralph Gordons sweet
heart, and he loves me.
Belmont was pretty little village
situated upon the rocky shores OF the
great Atlantic ocean. Unlike most sea-
side villages, Belmont had on one side
mountainous lands, with hills, WOODS
and meadows, but on the east was inc
aver raging sea, with Its uninterrupted
waves always chasing each other Tar
out into the ocean.
Our coast was very rocky and was
seldom used, for 1t was treacherouS.
ONLY In pleasant summer weather did
anyone venture out from Belmont in a
boat Often in winter md sometimes
in summer after squall pieces OF q
fishing boat and tackle would be
washed upon the rocks and sometime
the bodies Of unknown fishermen
would be found dead upon the beach.
Now In 1895 the coast is dotted with
lighthouses, but never can forget the
first life-saving station that was built
by our own boys sixty years ago. anu
the noble crew, with Its brave young
captain, my lover, Ralph Gordon
pelmont Is n fashionable summer re-
sort now. but in 1888 1t was quiet
little place, where every one lived like
the Acadian farmers OF old, dwelling
in the love OF God and man, in the
homes of peace and contentment My
father, the village minister, was much
loved ind respected. Our family be-
lonQcd to Belmont, ind my father built
his house almost in the churchyard.
our nearest neiphbors were the Cor
dons and thew were our dearest
friends The Gordon family was one
~ the first families in town. Old Mr.
Gordon or "the SQUIRE" as he was al
y.vs called WINS the wealthiest man II
ths village The family consisted o.
bImself and wife and only son, Ralph
,ha hondsomest and best Young man Ii
i,slmont
p.,,h cordon was alwavs a hero In
a,., nd do MT remember the
ti,ne when I did not love him. When
,,. ,voro oh,jdren topether he was al
wavs INV playmate, and he taught mt
wonv n childish pame. He was 81
stronc and brave, and | used to watcf
~ $50 Ia. i s.,ah nr;da and nleasure M hi
Aaaa w." .h~a,,aI ,ha village on horseback
or mingled with the other boys in theil
sports
A. sohoo, ho was the teachers fa
,or,ta md thrill of pleasure rar
,hrorrh INV hear, whenever I hcart
s.ran',ors nra,sino hIs manly beauty
AZ. ..s'as,,,I ,rors or h;s sunnv nature
A. 20 rra,y oldsr be was INV constant
.",,n o s and nv escort from church
WA al orr nart,es md little socia-
VI" ~, M o' ,or ,,o r,oro yorv nav r.
.ssss ID dars Tbo antump tbat
nS,''b , vu ,;notoor md seyenteen h,
hulpu Nuo hiiiNttNh "h' ~ -