Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-02

would laugh at the idea of renewal
of that boy-and-girl loveshp?
Sir Hugh determined to stay on
and go about his work just as he
would had he only known Mrs.
Raynes for three weeks.
As for Winifred, she, too, was con-
siderably taken aback when she
found whom it was she was to keep
house for for six months. After all,
it was only for six months. At the
end of that period her husband would
60 back well and strong again and
Hugh-she meant Mr.. Summers, but
occasionally she found herself mad
vertently thinking of him as Hugh
would go away, and in time marry a
rich girl, and buy practice with her
money Che had none himself, poor
fellow!) and she would be always
glad to hear that he was getting on
well for old times sake.
Anyone knowing the exact circum-
stances would have smiled to himself
had he seen Hugh and Winifred-I
mean Mr.. Summers and Mrs. Raynes
at meals, the lady so very, very
proper and matronly, and the gen
tlentan so very, very anxious to show
her how completely that loveship of
five years back had been dismissed
from his thoughts. Such common
place remarks did they exchange, so
earnestly discuss matters that were
strictly personal-this old woman's
rheumatism, and that old mans govt,
the Smiths idiot boy, and the Jarges'
epileptc girl-they must have smiled
queerly to themselves when these
meals were over and they betook
themselves their own ways. For each
knew, and each knew the other
knew, that that old oveship of five
years ago had not been battered out
of existence Each knew that the
very position in which they were
placed by the irony of rate only in
creased and cherished the regard
they still had for one another. And
as this became palmer to each so did
they become the more formal in their
behavior.
you'd think they was deadly enc
mics" said Jane, the housemaid. ITO
hear the way they talk. And such a
handsome young man as he is, too"
And the same time Jane observed
with no little wonder, that Mrs"
looked very carefully to Mr., Sum
mers' comforts. that she personally
darned his socks, and that his mate
rial wants were always carefully ca
tered for,
and yet" Jane explained to cook,
"she behaves like a hiceberg at din
nertime."
At the end Of the first month a
bright idea struck Winifred, and she
couldn't imagine why she hadn't
thought of such thing before. She
sat down and scrubbed letter. and
in two days arrived the cheerest
plumpest, most loyeahle maiden lady
whose solitary state had only rem
dered her the more mellow and
kindly.
Miss Bayiss broke the ice-fook
the edge off the reserve to which
Wnifred and Hugh had treated each
other in such large doses.
"Why, to be sure" said Miss Bay
liss on the first night. beaminp at the
handsome Young doctor, "you must
have known Wjnifred at Matt's9"
"Er-yes," replied Hugh. "I-er-
met her occasionally"
81 was not there very long, YOU
see, auntie," put in Winifred quickly. |
"Ah. to be sure. TO be sure!" said
the old lady. "but It lust shows what
a small place the world is"
But she was knowing old soul
and she noticed what she noticed
-
~
The six months went by, and at
last the wanderer returned. But |
Hugh knew that the haggard, aged
man whom he helped from the car
riage had not very long on this earth.