Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-06
A FOUNTAIN PEN.
Why the Owner Of One Never
Wanted Another.

WanvoQ Another.
! am not the possessor Of fountai
pen. l never had but one, which wa
given to me as Christmas preseu
years ago, when | was a young mar
and fountain pens were novelty
Mine was made Of tin, with a rubbe
bag to hold the ink. When yo
squeezed the penholdcr the inl, ran gu
OF the bag and flooded thepen-or any
thing else that happened to be With
convenient range. The diabolical con
trivance looked like a tin whistle IN,
acted like cutie fish, but no one els
had one, and SO was proud Of 1t. Van
itas ranitatum! Short was my triumph
can still remember, Us painful
ly as though 1t was an affair of yes
terday, how the tragedy occurred
II was at the Sturdeva Mt Ilamiltons
ball-thc event Of the season. | ha,
been looking forward TO this ball will
interest for good while, because In
tended to find an opportunity there t.
effect a reconciliation with Alice. Suct
opportunities were not frequent, and
knew that II | missed this one 1t nigh,
be a long time before found another
and that odiously handsome Dick Ham
ilton was paying her great deal more
attention than liked, Alice and
had been close friends ever since We
were children, and l had come to feel
that lhad a sort Of proprietorship In
her. We had even been engaged for
just twenty-four hours, at the end Of
which time we had quarreled, for
reasons too complicated and too absurd
to be introduced here. | speedily re-
pented, however, and was only waiting
for an opportunity to induce her to do
likewise.
With this weighty resolution on my
mind, II Is no wonder that I felt a
little tremor as started to go down.
stairs, and that I scanned myself with
unusual attention In the great pier
glass, TO make sure that my attire was
perfect. Nothing embarrasses one
more under trying circumstances than
the consciousness Of being badly
dressed. Twas, think | may say, well
dressed, My trousers were impeccable,
my gloves, ditto, my coat fitted to per.
lection, my white waistcoat was as
spotless-to employ a figure which Ia
popular among my brother barristers--
asspotless as the driven snow; my,hair
was at that precise point when II has
lost the formality given to 1t by the
hairdresser without assuming the wild
and outrageous appearance to be no
ticed among MUSICIANS and other doubt
full characters, Ny complexion had
never been better. On the whole, |
was well satisfied with the general 81.
feet.
When entered the ballroom, Alice
was away at the further end, talking,
! grleved to note, with that odious
young Hamilton. | did not care TO
make my approach under such circum.
stances, and bided my chance with
what patience | could muster. Finally
my opportunity came, and lost no
time fl reaching her side. She greeted
me very kindly, as she always did, In
something the same style TINT she
might have received very old friend
Of her father. This cheerful unem-
barrassed greeting always provoked
me beyond measure; but ! did my best
to stide my III temper, which was also
somewhat assuaged by the pleasing
discovery that through some mlsunder-
standing she was not engaged for the
next dance. I had never seen her
more radiantly beautiful, and | could
feel the eyes Of many envious observ.
srs turned upon us as we took our
places. The next dance and the next
were taken, but the third she prom.
lsed To me. AT the end Of this dance, !
remarked that she was somewhat
flushed with the heat, and proposed
That we should take turn In the con.
servatory.
Whether she guessed what was In
ny mind or not, 1cannot say. 1tseemed
10 me that the color grew a shade
deeper In her lovely cheeks, but that
may have been due to the heat, or was,
perhaps, but the effect Of my own I'm
agination. At any rate, she assented
n the most charming manner In the
world, and we strolled out into the
arge and handsome conservatory which
vas now quite deserted. 1t was in this
'ame conservatory that we had stood
md talked the evening after we were
Engaged, and hoped that memories Of
his would affect her, as they did me.
But alas she was evidently In fur
rom sympathetic state Of mind.
Il suppose you must be very much
with your profession, she re.
marked, sweetly, I'VE see so little OF
1ou nowadays" This had all the effect
i premeditated satire. 1t had not
,een q month since we had laughed
nerrlly together at my brieAess condi-
Ion, and had agreed that we could be
Happy together without riches.
mot SO deeply engaged but that |
Ind time to call on all who care TO
ave me- answered, bitterly.
Indeed, you are very unkind and
MUST to speak So she replied, with
tranquility. at was only
asst Thursday that heard Uncle Jack
ay-'
Something very Aattcring, no
oubt,"1 broke in, angrily. "A very |
ne division Of affection, indeed
nioy your Uncle jacks, and yours
oes to that"
II think we had better 60 back, now,
ir. Lang. had supposed that
night trust you, as an old friend, not
0 try to annoy and vex me-"
"Mr. Lang Isee am getting to be
very old friend, indeed. So old that
soon shall be quite forgotten. You
ra ,;rbt Va bod haitian no hooiy,