Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-28
'topnE'l. pst. sy rme Avrroa.

and the little space that opened to tht
ky. A pine wood 10 like great oathe
dral, with its gigantic pillars springine
up on every side, its domes and arcbei
and massive frescoes and cool, calming
space about one.
At last Alec climbed up on a high,
gray bowlder and sat down, like Robin
son Crusos in tho midst Of bis lonely
island over which be was sole ruler and
king. The bowldsr was bis throne. All
these tall pines were his humble sub.
jeots, never uttering a word Of insubor.
dination. What was poverty now, with
such q free heritage!
but suddenly q sharp, cool breeze
came along, pushing the sultry ar be-
fore it, and Alec glanced up through the
trees to see black, soudding clouds. The
sun was covered. and it was growing
darker, but in this dank forest he had
not noticed It, Then came long, low
rumble Of thunder, and Alec slipped
quickly down from his granite throne
and began to look for the right way
home
He could not find 1t and began to be
somewhat distressed thereat "a be hur-
ried here and there, looking and won
dering, when suddenly he saw some
thing that changed The whole current Of
bis thoughts. There, not two rods away,
wholly unconscious Of his presence, sat
'Lisbeth on low stone. her chin buried
In her hands, which In turn were sup
ported by her elbows resting on her
knees. She seemed looking vaguely into
space. Alec thought she had been cry
ing. Her chip hat had fallen off beside
her, and her whole attitude was that Of
abandon huddled bunch, She was by
no means graceful, but most touching.
His heart went out to her at q bound,
and he would have liked to go to her
Immediately and have comforted her.
But he dare not. He was almost afraid
to make bis presence known, and began
to think Of slipping of without her oh.
serving him, when he recollected that
be did not know the way; that it was
about to rain, and that at any rate he
ought not to leave her here to get wet
because Of her melancholy, however
sacred it might be.
He had taken but few steps toward
her when she heard the breaking Of the
small branches under his feet and turned
and saw him. She smiled sadly at him,
and he remarked prosaically:
1T looks as II it were going to rain.
If we don't hurry home, we shall be
II don't think 1t will rain" said
'Lisbeth in harsh, monotonous tone "a
she glanced up at the scudding clouds
which could be seen through the trees.
1.-The shower Is going round"
A few big drops came bouncing down
npon them before she had finished, but
she assured Alec they meant nothing.
"She has been thinking Of the black
smith," said Alec to himself, and, as
Tor 'Lisbeth, she seemed to feel that he
,ad read her through and through.
She rose rather sullenly to her
leet, however, and started off, bidding
Alec come on. He followed her, sorry,
Iympathizing, wishing he could COM
'ort her, help her, at least show his feel
ng But she was silent and forbidding.
Il was impossible to speak. They tried
10 talk Of Indifferent things, but CONVEX
Iation failed, and as they walked through
he avenue Of trees which formed the
'oad they both lapsed into utter silence
That evening about 8 O'Clock, as Alec
was thinking Of going to bed, he STUN
,led into the parlor from the piazza,
where he had been sitting on nail key.
At first the room seemed to him desert \
I'd, but soon he heard q half stifed sob,
md at the farther side Of the room made
'ut the form Of agirl lying on the old
'ofa. 1t must be 'Lisbeth, and she was
,rying. This time Alec could not re-
train his sympathies, and he walked
iirectly across the room to her side,
where he let his hand rest on her arm
II the dark
us 1t you, 'Lisbethl" be asked as
,heerily as he could.
She Immediately sat upright, but
made no answer.
"Tell me what's the matter" he said
Kindly. Perhaps l can help you. I'm
10 sorry for you. You've been awfully
1000 TO me, Lisbeth, " he blurted out
md put bis hand out to her in the dark,
,ut she repealed II.
lyon don't know anything about it,"
he answered in a broken voice, land II |
wouldn't do any good il you did. You
IAN do nothing for me but 60 away
md let me alone. You've got plenty Of |
hings to think about for yourself. |
You've got Job to earn your board and
'ed for little while, and you think
'ou are as independent as a landlord. |
But you don't know how long your jobs |
Ioing to last nor where you're going to |
Iet the money to pay for them very
'lothes you have on. Therel / didn't |
mean to say that, but it's the gospel
ruth, and You better understand IL now