Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-12
AN NJ. P.'S INFATUATION.
A DOMESTIC DIFFERENCE.

The general impression among Jim
Percival's friends was that he might
have done a good deal better for him
self than he did in his matrimonial
venture.
An M. p, with safe seat and de-
cided abilities, young, good-looking,
well connected, but having only
limited income, he was just the man
who should have married money, and
this Is exactly what he had not done.
He met his wife in Paris during holt
day trip. She was pretty, viva
cious Irish woman, lady-like and at
tractive, but she had no fortune, and
was Of no particular family. The NJ.
P.'s friends shook their heads over the
match, and all felt convinced that be-
fore long he would find out what
mistake be had made.
There could be no doubt that under
the circumstances his marriage was an
imprudent one. With his eight hun
dred pounds year Pcrcival had
subsisted comfortably enough as
bachelor, but as n married NJ. P, he
found that his income went simply no
way at all. To cut himself off from So
ciety and to live with his wife in econom-
ical seclusion was, Of course, out Of the
question. 1t would have made him IN
popular with his constituents, as we'll
as with certain influential friends in
town, to whose good Offices he looked
for securing some post in the govern
ment when his party came back to
power. And as he had no profession
but had launched himself for good or
i'll upon parliamentary career, it
would have been madness in him to
prejudice his cha noes of political pre-
ferment,
The natural consequence followed.
Percival got into debt lie consoled
himself first OF all for outrunnipg tie
constable by the consideration that his
party must soon return to power, and
then he should be able to recoup his
present expenditure. But the radicals
remained ''in" session after session;
the looked-for general election came
no nearer, and Percival began to feel
very lugubrious indeed. lie already
owed nearly one thousand pounds
"a crushing liability to a man with
o small income and no capital; in.
deed, he did not attempt to disguise
from himself that unless something
very unexpected turned up he must
soon be hopelcssly insolvent. Lis wife
had long been urging immediate and
rigid retrenchment, but each time she
mentioned it Percival shook his head.
The house was in committee on a
bill which was being fought tooth and
nail by the opposition, and urgent
whips had been issued to the members
of both parties to be as frequently as
possible in their places. But there
were many dreary intervals Of debate,
when no big division was imminent,
and during those intervals Percival did
not always remain in the precincts Of
the house.
lie might no doubt have spent them
At home or in escorting his wife to one
or other of the numerous social func-
tons which, for his sake, she go re-
ligiously attended. But in his worried
state of mind the dizziness of domes-
tic evening, or the yet deadlier bore
dom Of q political Conversations, was
uninviting. lie preferred to forget his
troubles in more enlivening scenes.
Within a mile of the Palace of West
minister there is. as all the world
knows, famous theater Of varieties.
1t is under unexceptionable manage
ment; it puts forward the strongest
and most enterprising programme of
the kind in London. One evening DUR
ing particularly drowsy debate a fell
low NJ. =. had suggested to pcrcival
that they should run across to the X.
and see the Rainbow daIscuse. PEREZ
val had complied. After that night
he went to see her pretty regularly
Just before the dance the stage was
darkened; behind doomed a background
Of murky clouds, gloomy as the sky
before an impending thunderstorm;
then brilliant blaze of sunlight burst
upon the Swallowed scene, and whirl-
ing wildly in its dazzling rays APP
peared the famous Rainbow danseusc.
What sight that was! How dexter
ously she managed her mass Of gor-
geous draperies, which iloated all about
her, and swirled and spun like re-
volving wheel. At times nothing but
the flashing hues Of these robes was
visible; at other times a lovely face,
crowned with golden yellow locks,
stood out among them, radiant, spirit
ual, superb-and then, while this en-
trancing apparition smiled and the
audience clapped and shouted, rum
blings Of thunder rolled upon the air;
clouds overcast the sunlight; and,
amid their gathering gloom, the Rain
bow goddess faded slowly from the
scene.
II 1t had ended with his merely adj.
hiring this ravishing beauty from a
distance, oil might have been we'll
But such infatuation as percivals was
not satisfied to confnc itself within
those modest limits. A strong desire
came over him to make her personal
acquaintance lie ought, OF course, to
have withstood it. 1t should have been
perfectly obvious to him that, in Civ
Ing way TO his desire, he was volun-
tarily thrusting himself into the path
Of danger.
But he gave way, nevertheless. lie
went farther. He actually addressed
one Or two letters to the young lady.
To his great chagrin she sent him no
reply. At last, in desperation, he pro-
cured an introduction TO the manager
Of the x, and bcsought that gentle
mans aid in his foolish and culpable
project.
Just So" said the manager, rather
coldly. well. Mr.. Percival, | will
communicate your wish to the young