Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-05
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS SEPTEMBER 1895

1
made the absent Andalusia doubt his
sanity could she but have been aware
Of his behavior.
He came TO the depot the next day,
the next and the next. The little visitor
with the fax-Aower eyes and yellow
hair smiled divinely.
"The children" she ,confded to the
agents wife, ARE having such good
time. 1t Is all great fun"
She even thought 1t was great fun
when she went buggy riding with Mr..
Harris.
Take me past your farm" she com.
manded.
He grew red with ecstasy at the re-
quest. He explained apologetically
many conditions Of his property ~
they drove by.
Three weeks passed-four. Harris
had several letters from Iowa. The
contents Of the letters were chiefly
relative to hogs, and pastursge, and
baled hay, and discounts Ira did not
actually dread Andulasia's return, but
he would have preferred TO postpone 1t
indefinitely. 10 be sure, they had con-
sidered the possibility Of an engage
ment once, but he had never been
really engaged to her. He never could
be now. 1t was only right she should
understand that She was sensible
woman. She would understand that In
such a matter man had q right to
please himself.
As for Alys, was there ever such an
eye, such hand, such voice, such
foot, such smile. To be sure he had
once met Alys walking home from
church with the lumberman. But
then the lumbernan was only young
and good looking. 1t was we'll known
he was conducting the yard for an
English firm on u salary. To compare
Vail to him-Harris-who was so well
fxed" There could be no comparison.
One evening in late summer, when
Ira was jogging into town, he settled
mentally all minor matters to his sat-
isfaction. lie decided to whom he
would rent his farm, the kind Of house
he would build in town, the direction
his wedding journey would take, the
brotherly letter he would leave for
Andulasia, and the invitation he would
send the lumberman to be present at
his wedding.
lie dismounted at the post Office,
which was also the general store and
tin shop. There was letter for him
"a letter from Andulasia.
DEAR Ira. Things is all upset Uncle John
died week ago They cant lind no will and
I'm tired waiting for dead mems stockings
Meet me night after tomorrow Your
"ANDULAsIA STEBBINs"
Harris smiled curiously as he stuffed
the letter in his pocket lie was think
Ing Of the Omaha girl. The next night
Andulasia arrived. She was fatter
than ever. Her Eton suit was crum-
pied. She wore shirt waist 1t was
voluminous and not immaculate.
"Well, it's you, Ira. I'm clean beat.
Put them things in the buggy while
get some sody and yeast uptown"
uptown Miss Stebbins learned
several things, chief Of which was that
Ira Harris had transferred his affec-
tons to Miss Alys Lane.
Half way home Andulasia said quiet.
ly:
u hear you reckon to marry Miss
Lane" Q
Her composure, the loss Of her ex-
pected fortune, the witchery Of Alys,
all gave Harris courage.
81 was fggerin' some on It," he
avowed.
lie drove Andulasia to her home, but
she did not again breach the subject.
lie went back to town that evening.
lie met Alys at an ice-cream sociable.
lie gained grace of heart and pro-
posed.
She laughed gently
81 am honored, Mr.. Harris, of
course she said. But | always sup
posed you were engaged to Miss Steb-
bins. am to marry Mr. Vail at Christ
mas"
The following evening, Ira, feeling
exceedingly depressed, went to call on
AndulasM. lie found her talking with
Il brother farmer, a widower with
three children. He asked to speak to
her moment alone.
Fact is, Andulasia," he said, Its
yon want fancied for awhile I'd |
like that silly little thing. must have
been kind Of hypternized. Pm sure
now it's you want
Andulasia smiled-a peculiar smile.
I've just promised to marry Mr..
Mugs. lie asked Inc last night be-
fore he found out what you know"
What know? Andulasia!"
YES The news that come Ia on the
noon train about the will being found,
and me getting seven thousand dollars,
and
"Andulasia!'
What fine woman she was. Why
had he never noticed that fact before?
ats truel' she declared trium-
phantly.
But" he fairly howled, i've been
meaning for fifteen years to marry you,
Andulasiar
"Then, why didn't you?" inquired
Andulasia.
lie remembered some lines he had
once read. 1t would DO quite safe to
repeat them as original, for Andulasia
never read anything
~ feared my fate too much,' he pro-
tested, striking his breast dramatic
ally, land my deserts was too SMALL"
lie did not Impress Andulasia. She
turned scorufully away to where Mr..
Mugs waited.
"Go back" she counseled, ITO that
yeller-haired girl at the depot"
He did go back, but not to the depot
"Eh?" said the saloonkeeper I'VE
don't often see you, Mr. Harris"
mo. But ! feel tonight as II I'd