Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-14

The Way to a Mans Heart is 1
Through His Stomach. (

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Priscilla and were having littl,
chat on the subject of cobwebs, I
conversation not altogether of {
pleasant character, and she had Just
Informed me that she was too bus,
keepln' her soul clean ter keep do
house clean," and was about tc
make a fitting response when Char.
lotte Deals, old ? ter Deals youngest
daughter, appeared in the doorway
Charlotte was small, weakened
little creature, with put-upon ex.
preston. that always appealed to ms
strongly, and now, when | saw hel
hesitating on the Threshold,
straightway forgot Priscilla and my
grievances, and called to her ia
come in" She wore blue calico
skirt, an old pink silk waist, that had
once been mine, and mans over.
coat; her shoes were laced with white
strings and her hair "wropped," Us
Priscilla would have expressed II, in
innumerable tight twists.
She was not prepossessing looking,
and as much as | liked her, | was
fain to confess that from a pictur-
esque or fashionable standpoint she
was hopeless, but I was always glad
TO see her, for back In the dim past
when ! was little child, she had
been one of the few Quarters" chill
dren that | was allowed to play with,
and | could never quite forget the
glorious blackbe' wing and crayfsh
expeditions that she had successfully
engineered for me. Priscilla did not
approve of Charlotte, and never
lost chance to run her down; she
said she was common that old
Peter was ode no countedest niger
on de place, an her ma"
What is the matter now?' I ask
ed, sitting down on the steps and
leaning my head against a pillar.
"llas anyone been worrying you
again?'
Charlotte grinned and began 10
tumble with her sunbonnet "Deys
all mad against me-" she remarked,
but in no detected tone: "dey sholy
is mad, but dis time hit don't mex no
difference at all ter me-"
1t doesn't?' | said. "Wel. 7 am
glad to hear it; have often told you
how silly it was to mind them; what
was the trouble, anyhow"
| was gazing over the grassy yard,
but as Charlotte did not reply ! turn
ed IN some surprise and looked at her.
"Why, Charlotte" said, what has
happened?" For her black face fair
ly beamed with happiness and her
dull eyes shone with excitement.
Miss Mary she said in shaky
voice. Use ingaged ter be married."
Now, ] had always known that to
express establishment over such an
announcement, no matter how unex.
pected or extraordinary, was exceed
ingly bad form, and among my ac-
quaintances ! had hitherto failed to
betray my amazement, even under
the most trying circumstances, but
regret to say that when Charlotte's
tidings fell on my ears my good breed
Ing suddenly failed me.
Engaged" repeated in the ut
most bewilderment, to whom"
"To Lincoln Smith," she said,
shame-facedly.
Lincoln" l cried, mot Priscilla's
Lincoln"
"Yessum."
"Oh, sweet revenge" murmured;
"the mills Of the gods grind slowly, |
but they grind exceedingly fine"
"Ma'am?" said Charlotte.
Nothing" I replied hastily, moth
Ing; tell me how it happened" For
that Lincoln Smith, Priscilla's pride
and boast, Lincoln-who taught school
on the Howell place and who was in
training for a preacher, should con-
template marrying old Peter Deals
daughter, seemed really incredible.
Hit wuz like dis" said Charlotte,
in reminiscent tone. MAS sister
members Dinah Green,
Miss Nary"
yes. yes"
well, mas sister Dinah, what
lives on de Howell place, tux sick
Christmas week an sent ter ma ter
sind her one Of US gals ter nuss her."
"And the others wouldn't 20, and
you did," ] broke in.
why, yessum, cried Charlotte,
,pen-eyed; 'but how did you know
lat?"
II just guessed IT." I laughed; go
IN, this is a story with a moral, where
Iirtue Is to be properly rewarded"
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