Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-11

she did not yet know just how to view
her. But she followed Lisbeth and did
not even say good night to Alec, who
returned to the store to think over in
wonder the strange things be had heard.
She was really beautiful, be thought,
and much less angular than most Of the
country women.
The next morning Maud did not ap-
pear for breakfast. 'Lisbeth said she had
been very restless all night, and had
seemed not to sleep till after midnight.
But she was sleeping at breakfast time.
She said she meant to keep the girl in
bed all day. She simply wondered how
she could have walked % miles in so
short time. Maud had said that
farmer had given her long ride, but it
| could not have been above five or six
miles, and all the rest Of the way she
had walked. She had started long before
sunrise and had kept steadily on to her
destination, scarcely stopping to rest or
eat and all day she had only had to eat
a few sandwiches she had brought with
her.
Alec fancied 'Lisbeth was taking q
real interest in Maud as she had in him,
and he thought that augured we'll for
their future relations.
The day but one after Maud's arrival
was Sunday. She came down to break
/ fast looking rather pale, but with a
bright face Her shyness and homesick-
ness seemed rapidly wearing away under
the genial kindness Of Alec and 'Lisbeth.
After breakfast she insisted on helping
| to do up the work, and fell TO with an
ease and dizziness that gave still further
assurance to 'Lisbeth.
MAUD is very good GIRL" she said
to Alec "You must be good to her. :"
They all went to church together and
nearly everybody looked to see who the
strange girl with the Higginses was.
She was 10 tall and fine looking that
some Thought she must be relative OF
Alec's. But it was probably George
Marston who set ahoat the report that
she was the hired girl. After that less
interest was taken in her, but all the
old ladies came up to give her kindly
church welcome and ask her name, and
the other young ladies showed her re-
spectful attention. Maud found it all
rather cold and disagreeable, and was
glad when it was all over. But Alec
was a little proud Of his acquisition.
Everybody spoke to Alec nowadays,
and the young fellows shyly congratu-
lated him on becoming the master Of
the store. Some Of the older men shook
his hand heartily and remarked on the
weather, which Alec also interpreted as
a congrstulation and an expression OF
hope for his success. He moved about
among them all with an ease when
was peculiar to himself. They recog-
nized his superiority, but still felt that
he was one with them, and that was
enough.
One thing alone troubled him. He felt
that Maud seemed to make claim upon
him that he was not prepared to recog-
nize. He would take good care OF her,
he would be a good friend to her, but
he was determined to set certain limlta-
lions which neither should cross. lie
would do it gently and kindly, and in
such way as not to hurt her. Above
all he would not deceive her, for she
should understand from the start.
Before that day was over she did I'M
derstand. Yet the fact seemed to trou-
BILE Alec more than anything else. de
looked at her again and again, and could
not resist the fact that she was won
derfully fine country girl, SO strong 6
finely built and yet SO shy and sweet Il
I he were always to be o countryman, III
would marry her. She would make ,
, wife faithful to the very last drop Of
i her blood, and gentle and atfectionatt
Q and intelligent too But to wed mel
would be to wed the country. Tint
alone could tell whether that should b
his lot or not,
Now that 'Lisbeth had help they de
cided that Alec should go to pavonli
and get new stock Of goods. The stor
should be cleaned and painted, and Ale
had dream Of "a sort Of exhibition O
"opening."
On Monday morning he started b
the coach, but he was much afrai
Mauds parents would come and TAX
her away in his absence. 1t would be
relief when she was Is years old an
4 the law could not be invoked to fore
her to return. 1t was agreed that Mau
Q should not be seen in the store or at th
front Of the tavern for the present.
1t was November now; the days wer
. sometimes chilly and the sky leader
Old weather prophets said that sno'
would come early and stay late and b
unusually heavy. All the leaves ha
7 fallen now, and the landscape was bal
. and dreary. Down in the valley 90