Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-23

however, " was now my oeLcSoua
fate TO be able to arrange matters for
these two so that they should be able
to marry; neither knowing how It had
come about, nor in the least corner Of
their hearts suspecting me. Then
with what swelling pride should look
upon their happiness and know that I
had given i'll, who 10 far had given
only trouble and modification TO my
family
IT was an easy matter TO make my
mothers last years comfortable; and
ahl the pleasure, the selfish pride I
took in remembering small personal
wishes and gratifying them bit by bit,
while never suspected
It YVES an easy matter, too, through
my agent, TO buy the very paper on
which wrote; to slowly dismiss the
men who were Disgrace TO II, to pro-
mote and engage men whose work
made 1t great voice soon, and through
it, slowly to win the public confidence
and work my will, little by little,
among the affairs Of the city. Such q
splendid game 1t was to arouse public
enthusiasm over some free baths, or
childrcn's playground scheme or
other, to start subscription lists, and
covertly head them myself; to mschin-
ate safely and quietly through my
great pages, AVID NIL the while having
my copy refused half the time, and the
other fellows wondering how kept
my place.
All this, and much more, was easy
and exciting; more OF triumph and q
Joy even than had ever imagined 1t
would be; but my pet scheme Of
schemes hung fire u little. Fred got
his new position, In perfectly natural
manner; he was n good fellow and de-
served it. Still there was no sign Of
an engagement between him and my
Cousin Mary. Then | thought, being
an Independent girl, she might be
waiting to have something OF her own;
and after Us pretty n BIT Of Anesse as !
ever saw in my life, If It was my own
invention-and small wonder, for had
l not schcmed at such pleasant mir
acles since ] was eight years old?-1
managed to provide her with neat
little fortune of her own. Still no re-
suit. So one day when | was at home
Il did not 20 often, for mother would
always lecture me on my habits, and
somehow | never could entirely get
over the hurt OF it, big as ! was-I
CHANGED to be alone with my Cousin
Mary for as much Of an evening as she
would be willing to bear my company.
! felt very happy to see how besuti-
fully she was dressed In these days,
how her hands were white already,
and grown smooth again where the
delicate fingers used to be rough with
countless needle pricks The house
was a comfortable one now, my mother
was far easier in her mind ind there
fore u sweeter companion.
Everything looked pleasant around
Mary, and told her how glad was to
sec it.
| did not tell her how glad was to
see her, how in all the rich and varied
ioy Of nv present 20 ition, us in all the
unuttcrabic wcuriness and dullness Of
my former state, to zee her was the
keenest delight | ever felt, or ever
hoped to feel. Calm, strong, beautiful
woman that she was; perfect in lowell
ness Of face and form and character
mine would be poor triumph, after
all. If I could not contrive to make her
happy.
sat watching her, and she watched
the leaping flames Of the fire; and I
wondered clumsily /, what possible
way | could force her into tho happi-
ness which should be hers, when all at
once she rose und come to my side.
cousin Tom" she said, in that de-
licious voice of hers. why don't you
amount to more why don't you do
yourself Justice In some way? Is it.
and here she blushcd beautifully-but
the cousinship gave her courage, and
she went on. rs 1t for lack Of money
to make n start with? Because, you
know, | am quite rich now-because
want Won to let me--you'll forgive my
awkwardness, won't you?-to let me
rive YOU some Of 1t, Tom, a whole pile
Of It."
That blessed, generous, sclt-forget-
ting creaturel She looked SO lovely as
she said It that my poor brain swan
dizzilv
NO" SAID |, at length, tit Is not lack
of money, nv dear Cousin Mary, but
sheer personal incapaoity that prevents
nv amounting to anything. nm an
ordinary. stupid fellow at best, and
nv family are too clear-hcaded to give
me that blind, loving faith which makes
even stupid fellows do very well some
times"
"You are not stupid" she cried, NOR