Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-23

to the manager OF car construction
company in Detroit By industry and
thrift saved little money. With II
| bought land in n rising town Of Nor1
Dakota The starting Of II big factory
there gave the town boom, and the
land | had bought for few hundred
dollars was able to dispose Of for $55.-
0OO engaged in other specnlations.
exercising my best judgment, and ev
erything | touched seemed to turn t.
gold; whatever did was right. Money
came to me in tens Of thousands, Inn
to-day worth 100000, and II 1t had not
been for you should be lying in sui
cide's grave
Something glistened on her Iashes
She dropped her eyes and toyed with
the feathers OF her fan
II am glad, very glad, you have sue
ceedcd."
He gazed lingeringly ON the graceful
outlines OF her Inquire, the curve oi her
full white throut and cheek, the brown
hair which waved and curved about her
brow and neck.
"And you'-his voice sank lower still
--"you have not marrledw
NO, as you see. But 1t Is probable
that shull lose my freedom soon."
docs that nivun you are engugedY'
III means thut Mr.. liaroiu McLor-
mick the noIed stock operator proposed
to me by letter this morning, and that
Am t0gIse INN MS answer tonight"
"And III II to l'e vesT"
She laughed u little.
no you know tnat Is very strange
question 10 put Oh so short an ucquant-
ance, and that our conversation IL be-
coming unusual IN the extreme2 Mr..
Lundeck, you seem to forget that we
wire introduced only mali III hour ugo.
you were present ut the most sol
emn moment Of my existence. Let he
little behind the scenes OF your own
life, he urged.
she hesitaled, and cast RAPID glance
at him. Her lips, qulyering us with
some hidden emotion, stroye 10 smile.
1--WE seem tated " nave strange con
tIdences, you and |, she SAID, and
laughed uncertainty. III you are very
curious TO know. 1t Is yes shall ac-
cept him."
Perhaps it was only fancy or the
Aickering OF the gas lights, but IL
seemed as though u sudden spasm
crossed his face, born OF disappoint-
ment or OF pam.
You care for him, OF course~
An uncomfortable impulse moved the
woman to dash aside the barrier OF con.
ycnti0nallty and give expression 10
what she felt She raised her eyes to
his. They met, and the anguish In
them touched him TO the heart, She
shook her head merely, then turned
her face awuy.
"Then tell me why you are going to
marry him."
because he is rich, and my fathers
property is heavily mortguged. may
ns well tell you the reason; everybody
will know"
"You intend to sacrifice yourself for
your family's sakeY
"Sacrificel What an ugly way ofput-
ting II! am going to make mar
riage Of convenience Other women
urc doing the snme thing every day."
There was silence, save for the sub
dued sound Of distant music
They were alone.
In the dim hight OF the conservatory
the man was blind to all but the white
clad form against the mass Of foliage.
The heavy perfume OF the exotics
seemed to rise and stiic him; the won.
ans beauty intoxicated his senses; the
consciousness Of her presence thrilled
his very soul.
He leaned over and touched her gent
~ on the arm.
Sylvia, we are scarcely more than
strangers, you and |. Perhaps you'll
tell me am mad. But | love you
Heaven knows love you. | believe
loved you-then. Sylvia, will you-oh
for PHYS sake, take me instead OF himY
"A most romantic affair" said thu
society papers when they we're mar
ried. "He proposed to her the first tint
they met."-N. \. Weekly.