Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-25

The operation was completely over
now, and the hlrha. stood awaiting his
pay, a brlmm' n slas, of whisky from
the iamlinr bottle As he drank to
Miss Anne's health, he regarded his
handiwork with pride, the hair parted
by cleaning white line just above
one ear and plastcred down upon the
forehead III scooping waves. Down the
i back OF the head was another part,
from which the hair was brushed
brislly away on either side. The ef-
feet was jaunty and ludicrous in the
extreme; but Uncle Josh looked upon
it as n work Of art His parting re-
mark was to beg his model not to
''muss it TO Miss Ann comes"
Robert donned his waistcoat and
coat and walked to the window. The
trees on the horizon were leailess and
black, but an afternoon haze softened
their iron outlines The locusts below
in the yard stretched bare boughs, and
the rose bushes had only stems to show
after all their summer wealth. Among
the dry brown leaves, which were
shiftlessly left in drifts, the hens
scratched industrously. A line Of
ducks contrary to orders, were march
ing across the grcensward on their
way home after late swim. Just be-
low the window, pro pped against the
great chimney, lay Turk, his broad
bull neck upon his outstretched paws,
lie was peacefully dreaming in the
austere warmth which the afternoon
sun afforded.
The man felt the chill from his
drenched head, 1t crcpt downward
and rendered the stiff shirt unbearablc,
Now it reached his heart and awolse
despair. Everyone, even the old negro
there, warned him that he was unfit
for Ann. lie had always known 1t, but
he had hoped that their love met above
and annulled the untltness How long
he stood leaning against the window
frame in mental numbness he did not
know, but when he looked around the
fire had died out md the sun was half
below the inky horizon. Ann would
soon be here. lie could not face her,
the strange daughter whom he did not
know. With trembling, burning fin
gers, he tore off the new clothes he had
put on IN hour before, and dressed
himself in his everyday garments.
They were rough, unbrushed and dis
reputable, yet he welcomed them. He
felt that he was himself again, the out
cast who worked long enough to buy
whisky; who begged food, shelter and
clothing lie had dreamed Of deliver
ance from without; deliverance he
was too weak to effect within himself,
which should be brought about by
sympathy, companionship and protec-
ton. But the dream was over lie
was only drag and disgrace to the
young lady Ann had developed into
lie opened his door and crept down
the stairs and across the hall His fin
gers ratified the knob Of the door SO
uncontrollably that he feared some one
would hear, and he halted, expectinga
summons to explain. No voice ques-
toned, however lie stepped out on
porch, thence to the lawn and softly
whistled to Turk The animal bounded
joyously around the corner OF the
house, leaping and fawning about his
master The two struck westward
across the lawn, and, as he went, Rob-
erts heard the sound OF window
thrown up md voice crying;
NMr Roberts, upon my soul! Mr.,
Roberts,
lie gave no heed, but plunged into
the orchard, feeling the cold evening
air, and seeing through the black
twgs Of bushes and trees the vivid
thread of scarlet justabove the horizon
line Of woods. lie had stick with
him, and thrust into pocket OF his
coat bottle which he had seized from
the mantel
AS he went on and the evening fell
darker, and Turk walked ahead more
sedately, he could not keep weak tears
from his eyes. lie did not know what
they were there for Sometimes they
seemed to flow ut the picture Of him
self, lonely, homeless without place or
worth, wandering in darkness, but
mostly they rushed unbidden at the
thought Of Ann, his little Annie Of ten
years back. To his dazcd mind she
seemed dead, and no mourned over her
as he would over dead child, How
She used to shield himl When he lay
weak from his drunken stupors, mind;
here was warmth and an anoydne;
then he wrcnched the bottle from his
pocket and flung It far into the dark
ness. lie listened to the faint crash,
and sat erect for few minutes. After
awhile he folded his arms and rested
his head upon them
I'm go presently he murmured,
heavy with drowsiness In spite Of
the bitter cold sleep seemed dcliciously
near and grateful. lie dozed in
snatchcs, now and again recovering
consciousness
ITS better for her. he rcpeated
"its better for her She's got as gen
Tie blood as any, and without inc to
hinder she can 60 with the best She
has money, too, thank God"
lie was drifting into Irresistible
sleep but through its veil he felt the
dog at his side GET and run forward
lie put out u languid hand; his touch
fell on rough stubble and dried weeds
A bitterness that even the popped ease
Of sleep could not prevent flooded his
soul lie rested In desolation on the
inhosptable ground, feeling the mo-
ments 90 by, Then the sigh he could
not keep back the salt drops forcing
their heavy, unwilling way through
his lids, were checked by AIMS volce