Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-14
AeowH OF DovE-ooLoRED SILK.
How LOttie Wards Lover Helped
Her Obtain 1t.

If there was any one thing that old
John Dayton, the banker, took pride
in. it was that he was always prompt
in paying his employees, from his
confidential clerk and cashier to the
,crvants in his household. And thus
\ was a very tempting pile of coin
nat Lottie Ward, Miss Dayton's
nIid, carried to her chamber and
vt meditating over, with cloud on
Aer pretty face on this particular
occasion, Usually Lotties spending
money cos, her no trouble, except y
stltled regret that she cou i not do
r,ore with it for those dear ones at
home whose kisses and joyful thanks
had been such pleasant requital of
her generosity.
Although she WAS duitful and
loving daughter and as kind a Sis
ter, there had been an advent in
Lottie's life since the year began that
was closely connected w,,h the inn
patient sigh she gave, as she sat
gazing at her money, and abstrac-
teddy turning it over and over in her
palm. She had met at the house of
an old friend of her late father. .
young man so well connected that
many wondered he should think of
wedding a girl who worked for her
living Mr.. Charles Morrison. they
argued, with his good prospects and
excellent situation in the Office OF
Smithson and Brothers, ought to look
higher for wife than Lottie Ward,
whose father had died bankrupt, and
whose mothers sole dependence was
the annuity some of Mr.. Wards COM
passionate creditors had purchased
for her.
But if Charles Morrison heard these
things limited, he laughed and forgot
them. He loved Lottie for herself
her sweet temper, her good princi-
pies, and the pretty face and figure,
that were always set off by the per-
feet neatness and propriety with
which she dressed. Lottie, however,
had taken to heart many of the re-
marks made in her presence or told
by ill-natured friends, and had
rather hastily decided In her own
mind that the relatives Of her atfi-
anced husband looked down upon her
because of her position. This fancy
for it was no more-had made her
shy of meeting them, and unwilling
to accept the invitations SO kindly
sent to her. But Charlie had made a
point of her acceding to his parents
wish that she should join family
party at their handsome house at
Chaplain, and as Miss Dayton had
cheerfully consented to spare her.
she had not been able to excuse her.
self.
Naturally timid and shrinking
from strangers, Lottie looked for
ward to this visit as an ordeal rather
than a pleasure She was to be in
troduced to Charities married sister,
and to the wealthy uncle from whom
he had expectations; and her anxiety
that they should think well of her
eliminated in the inquiry What
snail | wear? It was no use dis
cusslng the question with her be-
trothed' She knew he would say
mat nothing could be in better taste
imam the well-iitting dark merino
that had been her best dress since
the commencement of the autumn.
But Lottie had her share of girllsh
vanity, and as she raised her eyes TO
her looklng-glass vision rose before
her OF certain dove-colored silk in
window that would become her ad-
mlrably. 1t was true that such an
expensive purchase would absorb
every penny in her possession, but
she choose to ignore this. So strong |
grew the temptation that when Lot
tie went that evening to visit her
mother she fingered long at the win
oow ana decided that on the morrow
the dove-colored silk should be her
own The children threw down their
BOOKS and toys when Lottie entered,
1or they loved her dearly, and Mrs.
ward though she had been wearing
a very anxious face, as she stitched
Dusty at some childish garment, con-
triveo 10 smile at her eldest daughter,
wno' however was not easily de-
celved. Something has gone wrong,