Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-03
LOST OPPORTUNITIES.
What a Railroad Accident Did
tor Susan Petii's Neighbors.

A'i'' thDtHuii hASNACA NdlhCN uR JlC
gravclcd path to the porch with the
western exposure on which was seated
her friend Mrs brewster.
"llow d. ye do?" she called out as
SHE drew near Il don't wonder you
like to be outdoors thought there
was real chill in the house, which Is
no morc'ns to be looked for late in
September But when you get out in
this mcller sunshi,c-my"
She painted as she seated herself,
giving pleased glance about her.
well, I've said it time and again,
and say it yet, that II there's one
place that seems to get more o the
real fall tints than another it's them
naples O. your'n. Look at them reds
and puppies. Solomon in all his glory
sure enough"
Abigail" said her friend, and the
tone brought Miss Abigail's eyes at
once to her face TO meet u look which
caused a sudden cloud to fall on her
own.
Whats the matter, Jane?"
"IIas there been anything heard
from Susan PETITE"
mot as Know OF. didn't know
anybody expected to hear from her"
mo, that's it," Mrs. Brewster set
her lip, and shook her head
"What Is a-troublin' you, Jane"
"Do you know when she was ex-
pectal home?"
"Why, no. don't know as anybody
knew. Did they?
u s'posc not That's it,"
what on clrtll's the matter, JaneP
You fairly make me creep, looiin' so
woebcgone. What is it? Anything
wrong about Susan Petit? didn't
know you knew her well enough to
take it hard II there was.
"Ycs, there It's again. didn't"
said Mrs. Brewster, ia deeply-paincd
voice. Abigail, wasn't her initials 5.
J.?'
Like enough they was Let me see
-ycs--l remember her wonderin
what the J stool for when she put
down her name for quarter on the
subscription paper to send Jerry Day
to the hospital. Susan Petit never
give much, but what she did give she
always give willin'. But what"
"Ilavc you seen this?' Mrs Brew
ster held up a copy Of the weekly cdi'
ton Of newspaper in the nearest
large city
NO"
AN awful railroad accident. One
car jumped right into another md
crushed peoples lives out A dozen
killed and plenty more wounded. Now
listen: Killed. s. J. Petit"
The two nelghbors gazcd Into each
others eyes.
Couldn't IL be mistaken"
at ants 1ommon name. Twas a
train--scc--" Mrs Brewster leaned
over with the paper and pointed to
some lines In the short chapter OF the
tragedy, comm this way. That was
why wanted to know II you knew
when she was a comm. But" Mrs
Brewstcr's voice broke into sob, no
body knew"
"you don't mean IT," said Miss Abb
gail, taking up tho paper with little
air Of desperation. n can't believe It,
De,dl ] can. seem to sense 1t. Such
clipper little ere, tur She was, in
spite OF i.er lameness Always had a
pleasant wcrd aa4 3 smile fer folks,
and all the chi,dy~ )ved her WE'LL"
with trcmblc III her voice, III had
it to do over again I'm free TO confess
Id do different by Slssn Petit"
With another huge sob Mrs Brews-
ter covered her face with Ssr hands
and cried,
"Al the time THAI woman's lived
here amongst us" SIZE presently b.
gan. i've had II on my mind that
whoa got round to It ID try to make
things little easier ind pleasanter
for her How long is IL since she
come"
six or seven year. ! gucss"
"Ycs And there was some ,oi US
that felt to lay 1t up aran hen that
she was niece 10 old Jacot Hart that
was always suspected ofthat rport.
gage fraud. And when sht cpe Nero
to take care Of him when HAAS ,dy.
ing and then lived on In \B,itle
mite Of house he'd left htlin l&-if
] haven't done q neighbour )y
her, which ! haven't--may med I'd
forgive met
"You needn't talk" said l.
gail. MANY and many's the "a
want hy thsrs and see her sstt 4