Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-04-01

ture and arrange for the necessary ad
verasing.
It was tacitly understood that In tb,
following autumn 'Lisbsth and GeorQ,
would be married. Ii Alec remained
and took charge Of the store for Mrs
Higgins, 'Lisbeth would 20 to live al
the house Of tho Marstons II seemed n
be taken for granted that he would stay
and when George spoke Of the matter he
always assumed that he should have
'Lisbeth with him very soon. though Of
course bis and her share in the control
Of affairs at the store would continue o.
long as there was any need.
II was with thrill that Alec heard
the proposition to go to New York. II
was year since he had left bis home,
az be now suspected forever, and not
one word OF news or affection had come
to him. Even the irrepressible Miss
Dora Thistle seemed to have forgotten
him. Should be 60 back to bis father
and say; II have succeeded Give me
your blessingT" Or should he forget, %
be was forgottenp Those were painful,
bitter thoughts.
But one day toward the end Of NAV a
letter came. It was 'Lisbeth who found
It,
Here's a letter for von. Alac - she
said, holding out a great souare envel.
ope edged with q wide band of black
Alec glanced OF the address, Il was
his mothers handwriting, and he trem.
bled for the news 1t must contain. Six
months before he had writtan bar and
sent his address, but till now be had
heard nothing.
OF course the mail had TO be distrib.
uted before be could read the letter ~
it lay on the board shelf before him AZ
be worked. But soon the last bap was
thrown over the counter, and the mail
man had snatched II nm and bnrried
into bis big three seated wagon obined
to his horses and was cone. and Iii.
beth was handing out to the waiting
ones all the letters that had MT been do
livered as they came to them in sorting.
Alec tore open his letter, while ,Lisbeth
glanced nj him peryorslv ,so,aos;ma
what the letter could mean,
II was brief. II said that Alec,s IN
Their was dead. and he mist coma bo,no
1t also inclosed a check for s1oo hid.
ding him nav nm his debts md Inv soma
clothes 80 as to come looking No dooout
as possible.
Indeed Evidently thew tbouob, ho
had been wallowinu in tho or,9or ~
here. How oould he ever oo haoL ~
such a home MS that. and how conl,
mounting mothor ,r,i,a ANY,. o% oou-a
letter? 'Lisbetb could mt have done !.
with all her bardness Tmross;hloI
He burriedlv told ,Iisho.h tho. II,
father was dead and hurried awar 70
think, He mist NJ least 90 and soi,orv
with the mourners 10 lis gethor,s o."uo
and after all be loved his fathers s mam'
orv md be would a,,n.ns ea.' nun ~
He had been n GOOD msn Int mavoana.r
and hard
His plans wero made IN 90 IN n ,vooL
Init now no "bauaod thou, o. ~ = s Wen,
to 90 the next day ,Tisboth ' told lv Mand
at sumner that nioht and Aloc snor, tha
evening in hacking his bao Ms H.
gins came to his room and baUosd him
not to leave them, Ha soid he would
come back and even oava her a Nl;ai
kiss that oomforted her Than Tin, .nd
the little ones CANA and s,ooa rasr a
fully by as he nacLad b;s ss,v hsirn~
inQs
That night be tossed rost,ess,v IN hoa
Never befora was h;s hsar. 90 81, e y.
nroh,ams wv. ".' n'' n'"I' ~ iuur Vi
should he not do, "a Ala NO. suo,u ..S
no voice scanned 10 toll him AVA a ~a.
nerbans IN ,ha hooL ' 90 t..a am !. Anu 10,
decided I'm, a,o w,.h .hs, .%o ~ ~
S" A'hb o6os WIN eHut tuUuRut u6