Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-12

lowers foolin' around-not shell"
Percival affected to laugh and
strolled away. In a few minutes he
saw the girl hurry out and get into her
cab Then he jumped into his own
having instructed the driver to follow
the other vehicle and keep it carefully
in sight.
When they had driven about mile
his cab stopped. The NJ. ?. got out.
lie saw the young lady alighting from
her cab about hundred yards ahead.
She turned and walked rapidly away.
With beating heart and trembling
steps, he followed her, keeping an in.
terval of seventy or eighty yards be.
tween them.
She had not alighted at her own
door, but at the end Of street OF pri-
vate houses, down which she was now
walking. rercival realized with
certain thrill Of uneasiness that it was
P street, the street in which his
own house was situated. But something
worse was in store. The Young lady
stopped, appeared to be carefully scru.
tinizing the numbers, then, after some
evident hesitation, she walked straight
up to the door OF lercival's house and
rang the bell. A minute later she was
admitted.
All at once the truth flashed upon
the unhappy NJ. P. There could, OF
course, be no doubt upon the subject
This young lady, annoyed and fright.
ened by his persistent attentions, and
seeing that silent disdain had no eff.
feet in stopping them, had taken the
ready and effective method Of report
ing him TO his wife.
Pcrcival leaned against some iron
ratings, near which he stood and
wiped his clammy forehead with lis
handkerchief Ills dismay was al.
together beyond words. If he had
been on bad terms with his wife i
love on either side had ceased between
them ii she had not been perfectly
fond and trusting toward him he could
have stood the thing better. But as
1t was he felt like man who had sud
denly received knocl-down blow
Ills knees were trembling violently:
q sense of sickness, of faintncss, stole
over him; in the face Of this fearful OK
posture his infatuation for the danscuse
seemed TO die; for the first time he
seemed to realize what an abjcct IDIOT
he had been.
1t was long time before he could
make up hi, mind how to act. lie
patrolled the street for more than ha.s
an hour before he had dccided-and d
bad half hour he found it. Then 10
took a sudden resolution. lie would
60 in and make clean breast Of tho
whole affair to his wife. That, after
all, was the most honest, and, proba-
bly,, the most prudent course She
might, or she might not believe him;
but he would tell her all the truth,
express his sincere pcnitencc, and
throw himself upon her mercy.
He nerved himself to the effort lie
went in. lie entered the drawing
room. His wife was now alone. She
looked up at him with cold, altered
expression, that made him vince. But
he persevered. He spoke. Lie told her
all She averted her face, and heard
his confession to the end in ominous
silence.
"And 80, Jim, my makeup my
golden wig, and my wedding draperies
TO say nothing of the shifting lights
and the shadows thrown upon one,
baffled even your penetration, eh, sirp'
Jim was staring at his pretty wife
who had now risen and stood before
him, smiling archly, in evident enjoy.
ment fhis obvious relief and astonish-
ment.
"And you fell in love with my make
up. For that is what it comes to,
doesn't 1t, Jimg'
by Jovel" he exclaimed with en-
phasis, that explains it. 1t was your
eyes that did 1t, little girl. They drew
me to the theater night after night to
worship you. could not resist their
spell. could otexplain it to myself.
Yet | felt there was something half
familiar in their magnetic influence
upon me. To think | never guessed.
by Jove l was duffer. ought to
have known that no such other eyes
were to be found in all England"
"0r in all America, either2" ques-
toned tho Rainbow danseuse, playful
ly. Jim's explanation was, uncon-
sciously, the most diplomatic that he
could have devised. Those incompara-
BILE eyes beamed upon him with tender
ness and loving humor.
but, say" asked Jim, an idea
striking him, these social functions
which you have been attending so as
siduously for the past few months
have they been simple blinds to dupe
your unsuspicious husband-eh, Jen-
niep"
mot at all, sir. Invent to them all.
But as my turn at the theater lasted
only ten minutes or so, | was able to
go there as well. Besides" she added,
with the slightest tinge Of playful re-
proach In her tone, you have not been
at home enough lately to miss me very
much, have you, Jim?"
by Jovew he cried, '"I'll turn over a
new leaf in that respect tonight"
He went up, placed his arm round
his wife, and kissed her fondly. She
leaned her head upon his shoulder and
held up pink slip Of paper to his
eyes.
There Dear old JIM" she exclaimed
MIR Y has paid me-what do
you think? Fifty pounds a week.
That is check for ten weeks salary
At this rate your Rainbow goddess
will soon dance you clear out Of debt
wont she, JIM
And she soon did. London Truth.
- WnWEM WIN eIIEEER