Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-03
NusICs oHARN.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

In the year 1888 a man named Tap
pan moved his family from New
York to the remote western country,
said family consisting, besides him
self, of wife and six daughters. He
had failed in business, was broken in
spirit; his children, he thought.
needed fresh air, so he accepted as q
gift from his brother large tract Of
land upon the edge Of the wilderness
and settled thereon. Very soon en-
terprising people began to settle be-
yond him, and there came to be much
travel past his door, and as an act
OF humanity he frequently entertained
wayfarers. As these calls upon his
hospitality became more and more
frequent he enlarged his house u
meet the requirements OF comfort
able inn and put up the usual inn
keepers sign.
Not long after this party OF young
men, eight or ten in number, we !
mounted. were returning by round
about way from an electioneering ex.
pedition. They had stopped at every
tavern on their route, and Inward the
middle of the afternoon they refined
up before Tappan's door, pretty we'll
under the influence of various kinds
OF fiery fluid, and, having dlsmountt !,
ind secured their horses, they entered
the house and noisily demanded whis-
ky.
Now, it so happened that Mr. Tap
pan and his wife were both away.
and only his daughters were in
charge, and it also happened that the
host, being rigid and conscientious
teetotaler, had never kept any spiritu.
Gus liquors in the house. OF this fact
the visitors were informed by the eld-
est daughter. a handsome, intelligent
girl OF IS. But the riotously inclined
invaders had no care just then for fe-
male beauty. nor were they moved by
the fear and distrust Of the fright
ened girls. but they still demanded
whisky, and when they had become
assured that they could not have 1t
they resolved that they would cut
down the sign before the door, and
the leader so informed the young
lady.
"You must do as you please, gen.
tlemen," she said, shrinking, while
her little sisters gathered around her
for protection. Il cannot prevent
you"
"A tavern sign, and no whisky!
Such sign is a base fraud"
"Aye--down with it!"
where is your ax?"
"You will find 1t somewhere by the
woodpile, sir"
Three or four Of the party made
4 rush for the woodpile, cursing ~
they went, while the leader Of ths
gang, a young man who would have
been decidedly handsome II he had
been himself, with others OF his COM
panions took a notion to overhaul the
house, insisting that there must be
"a drop Of something somewhere.
And we may here say that the whole
party considered themselves gentle
men. They were well dressed and re-
specially connected.
In a small, well furnished apart
ment, apart from the guests room'
was found a pianoforte.
''Hallo!" cried the leader, who
plays on this? Can you?"
1T is mine SIR" answered the girl
thus addressed.
"And you can play"
eyes, sir"
Gan you sing?"
Il sing sometimes, sir%
"Will you play and sing tor us?'
with pleasure, sir"
She opened the piano and sat down
and played and sang 1.-THE Maidens
Prayer" Her voice was clear, musi-
cal and sweetly rich, and the accom-.
paniment was played with rare skill
and grace. The little sisters gathered
in a semicircle close around the in
strument, and the heretofore riotous
men--but riotous no more--drew