Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-11-07
FROM JEST TO EARNEST.

II don't understand you at all,
said Pierce Trevor to his friend Ralpl
Dewey.
"You talk as II I were q conun
drum"
80 you arel Now, look here
Dewey, let's have clear comprehen'
sion Of the matter. Do you love Fanny
Winter
"Well-yes-I rather think, on thu
whole, that am little taken with thu
sparkling brunette.
"a little taksnr How very enthu
siastic you arel And she, poor child,
Is more than alittle taken with you.
II fatter myself that you are RICH t
swell, then, why don't you ask heI
TO marry you9
"There 1t is" groaned Dewey, you
are all in such a hurry. Cant man
admire girl without being brought To
book for It the very next day' | won't
DO hurried. When | get ready I'll
ask Fanny to marry me. Are you sat
isted?"
Very far from it.
AS Miss White is only your wifea
cousin, l really don't recognize your
right to catechise me!'
docs that mean that am to mind
my own business9"
Ralph laughed. "Construe 1t as you
please-only pray don't bother me any
more"
lie threw himself lazily on the grass,
ainging his cigar into the very heart
OF cluster of wild flowers and max.
ing an impromptu pillow Of his arms
crossed underneath his head.
"Sleep, then" said Trevor, little
contemptuously. II cant afford to
lose the brightest hours Of a golden
day like this. "
Our hero had not lain there many
minutes, however, before the soft
chime OF girl voices sounded through
the tiny bugles of summer insects and
the monotonous murmur OF green
boughs overhead.
Girls" muttered Dewey; cant
fellow be clear Of EN- anywhere? But
they're on the other side Of the copse,
that's one blessing, and II keep quiet
they'll never beat up my ambushl'
They were on the other side Of the
copse-three brightfaced girls in aut-
tering raiment,
"It's SO delightfully."- cool here" said
Hildegarde Aymcr, fair blonde, as
Saxon as her name.
sand one can talk here, too" said
Mary Bell "At the hotel one is never
certain Of not being overheard"
Dewey gave a silent chuckle at this.
Fanny White, leaning against the
twisted stem Of the veteran wildgrape-
vine, devoted her whole attention to
her parasol handle.
She was the prettiest OF the three,
with deep liquid brown eyes an hair
black as the blaekast jet, while her
skin, just touched with the creamy
tint that characteristics the creole,
glowed carminc "a h,r check.
Fanny, do let IN. try!" said Hide
garde. ut will be such u spleAiil
joke, AMI your English adorcr Is So
long in making up his mind"
"But-but what will Capt Aymer
think?"
Hell be delighted; men always
glory in bit Of mischief, and Kent Is
such Il splendid actor.
"Do, Fanny" urged Mary Bell. ut
will be jqst for all the world like the
theater. IIildcgarla's brother is to
pretend to be desperately in love with
you and you are to encourage his nj
tentions until that slow-movins Dewey
Is brought to the point. How | shall
enjoy the progress of the situation
"But your brother must fully UNDER
stand the scheme said Fanny, hest
tatingly.
"Of course; sha'n't explain it TO him
myself? There's not bit Of harm In
1t, and Mr., Dewey certainly needs
some stimulus Now, do CONSENT Kate
will be here this very evening
"She don't forbid it, llildegarde,'
eagerly cried Miss Bell, 'and all the
world knows that silence gives CON
sent. Come sec how long the shadows
are getting9"
And the three graces huttored down
the hillside.
Dewey rose to his feet and walked
away also.
my dear little girls said he, by
way of soliloquy, tits u very cleverly
concocted little plan, but it won't
work, and I've no doubt shall enjoy
1t as much as Miss Bell proposen to
do
And he laughed aloud to think how
completely he should outgeneral his
feminine adversaries.
MI keep Fan in suspense for an.
other month, just to pay her for thatI'
he added, within himself. ~ like the
girl well enough, but for all that |
won't be hurried into matrimony''
Knowing what he knew, therefore,
Mr., Dewey was not at all surprised
that evening when he walked into tho
hotel drawing-room to see stylish
young man in the uniform of a captain
sitting on the sofa and being very de-
voted to Miss White.
LET 'em work. said Mr.. Dewey, and
he sat down to play backgammon with
a pretty little widow. Fannie watched