Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-02-21
MANDY'S TRIUMPH.
After Many Years It Was Hers
for q Moment.


Aieer Maliy aoara ~ was ners
Tor q Moment.
1t wss a summer afternoon. The
rich, red gold OF tho sunshine was
orosen only py d rev nu''ering lear
snauows ~ d i's"e breeze s,'rrea inc
trees a mock'hs'plfa overhead ROY
eu "nu teV''ea ! SHOWERS oi ecs'a''c
sonS ~ was uay wnen ''ie seemed
10 ourh ana .in8,e everywhere
Except III ~ vac ''''ie caoih near .ne
sprins' incrc was no sound no sign
Oh nny occupant uh''l tue sun was low,
a IN ,ne ioas si,"ow sum. almost Sou touched
,a s "'v ,sn,, ",s' " s, nas.'s .' az
,', S' ~ mon s ,',., D i.l,i r"sA
,"s ". e a.a,,;s ,. "" nns '"s ,.,'
px cs s,t" onS roaSn ~ 10 nrs.h I ,a."
sn'i,os Oh hoaan % " ua, smnnan
,.;ma,;n, tha A.. e ,,.,,. -, ,',, sN i,.
,ha, h,a,aI o,io,1,, A. shr hrnnrh.
ou, a. ,ao,.;,a,I. ,.,i,,cnon ~ ~,
south sho SAM, shnr, ,,n,shes - sorr
nttan hra,n,,,,, a,y ahrrn,,r ma n,one
ing ovor han shonldsr NJ ,he onon donr
srdaon,v sha vttsrod a l,,,,a crv In
III. shadav - ,I'a dooru,an s,ooa a
mor-a 1or,, rrrred 0grre-.wl,h n
ANA ..l..n IN Il. crrs Whom Ia
saw she had noticed him he walked IN
and luid thc child softly on law
couch. then sat down bv the rouoh
pine table. lie did not once look at
her or spea,,
She had held ont her arms to the
child, but seeing him SO sound asleep,
went back to her cooking.
Presently she looked ut her husband
and said timilly, but In probitiatory
tone:
"Yo're lutte tonight, Nathan"
lie gave her so harsh look that
she drew back Us II afraid, and bent
over the child TO SEQ II he had
awakened.
Presently she looked again toward
her husband, as II she fancied she had
misunderstood him ind said:
"Yo' seem out O. sorts, Nathan Did
the child poster yo' while yo' wur
worhin'p Yo'd better leave him with
me mex time"
lie laughed sneeringly. "Yo' wanted
him, didn't yo'?' lie paused . moment
and went on as II with difficulty
Il was plowin' on the ridge, an |
seen yo' I'M that Teller tergether. I
amt no need ter say mo-"
"Why. Nathun!"-hcr voice was
rnised n little. as II with excitement.
lie broke in roughly
"Stop. Don't tell no lie. | seen yo'
both, an tibet man'd been dead, but |
mint keariu' ter tell the neIphborhood.
IIenceforward yo' amt no wife Of
mine"
~ don't suppose yo ever reared fur
me, anyhow. Yo' never said yo' loved
me since the day we was married."
There was n half passionate ring In
her childish voice.
"Ther warn't no call fur me TO say
anything. wus 20 husband"
She began again eagerly this time
returning to his accusation, "Yo' don't
understan', Nathan
lie stopped her, her whole face work.
ing convulsivcly. VI do undcrslan'
well EMU, an don't want no les
Her face changed It's pink to white,
Its soft contours hardening into 4
curious rigidity. She made no ut.
tempt to speak again. She took tho
little shawl down that hung on n nail,
and spread 1t over the child's bare
feet. lie was q pretty boy OF four and
his long dark lashcs lay without u
culver against his rosy cheeks. She
caught her breath quickly, but she
made no appeal. Her sunbonnct had
fallen on the foor--a sign pregnant
with tragedy In this rude liie---shc
picked It up, and moved toward tho
door as her husband repeated husklly'
"Yo' amt no wife o mine"
Out OF doors 1t was very dark. The
cabin stood In the clearing and close