Abilene weekly reflector., 1895-12-19
BLISS BOUGHT AT AUCTION.

Come, Courtney, lend me your ears
', for half an hour, for am in a pickle!"
exclaimed Fred Sawyer to his friend.
Come up to my quarters. Ihave somcI
thing to show you, and-no joking-I
need your advice"
III you take it, 1t will be for the first
time laughed good-natured Courtney.
Lead on, and don't lose any time in re-
lieving this suspense. I'm not fond Of
riddles, you know
"Why, yesterday dropped into the
saleroom at London station. You
know, they sell of the uncalled-for lug
gage at intervals, and q sale was just 60
ingon. Anumber Of the boys were there,
ind we each commenced to bid for q
trunk. l selected rather small one,
md Here we are! Come right In
and view the burden Of my woes.'
lie led the way into pleasant apart
ment and pointed to small leather
trunk which stood In the middle Of the
room.
"0pen 1t, II you want to-" he said.
"I've had enough Of the COMPOUNDED
thing. It's full Of woman's stuff, and
what do you suppose can do with It?
haven't an aunt or cousin in the wide
world
Keep 1t till you're married, Fred.
These seem to be good clothes,' said
Courtney, peeping into the box and lift
ing dainty garments with half-rev-
erent touch, in spite Of his laughing
face.
"Iumph! The idea Of such advice
from you! Why, old boy, l shall not
marry for ten years fve,anyway-and
I'm not going to risk keeping these
things here and being taken for lady
burglar. Mrs. McGaffrey would find
them In spite Of everything-smell
murder in the air, and hunt around for
the skull bones No, I'll dump the
trunk in the river; that's what I'll do"
"Pshaw! You're too sensible for
that. These things cost money-lots Of
1t. imagine and you paid something
for them in tho bargain. You might
sell them to the second-hand-No, I've
better scheme than that. Why not 20
through the trunk Systematically, find
ont the owners name and address,
there are surely letters or something
and write to her, offering her the whole
thing for reasonable sum?'
DO an act Of charity, and yet turn an
honest penny. Anyone would know
you are Scotch. But must 20 back to
the store, and Here! you have all
the time there is; suppose you go
through 1t for mc2 All ask Is that
yon will keep Mrs. McGaffrey out.Fare-
dieu!' And off he went.
Courtney laughingly locked the
door, but the smiles soon left his face
as he proceeded with his task. lie won
dered II the little battered trunk had
been lost rhsome OF the dreadful catas-
trophies he had read Of he imagined
the owner killed and her body as well
as luggage unidentified in the horrible
excitement.
They were glrllsh things-dainty
wells and ribbons, ginghams, silks md
snowy linen. He fingered over n
small, worn slipper, and felt thrill
akin to that awakened In Cinderella's
prince.
mo clew yet" he murmured. "Per-
haps there are letters in this box"
Its catch was bent, but he wrenched
II open and out flew--his own photo
graph!
He sat down plump in box Of laces
and stared On the other side were
his Initials and date he had been try
Ing for three years to forget. "June
60. 1890"
"Ncll Burr's trunk!' he exclaimed
"0h, my little girl, what has happened
to you? Maybe some one. No, here
nre your initials on this belt buckle,
md your gloves were number six, and
this slipper would just fit your dear lit
tie FOOT
The young man grew excited and
lapturous over each article; presently
he lifted II package Of letters from one
rorner.
MY own--and they express the
,rcatcst happiness life ever brought
ne. They are like the leaves that fut-
cr down in the November rain. |
Wonder why she kept them. How many \
there arel"
rnfustenng the cord, he turned the
etters over and found many of the
ENVELOPES scribblcd upon by n familiar
land There were items iotted down
10 be remembered in answering, and
scraps of poetry which had not long
since reached his eye, and been ever
'lnce cherished in his memory. Upon
ihe last one-for they were all num-
,ered-was written in ink this girlish
Confession. al Courtney, | love you,
,ut will never marry anyone so ineon-