Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-16
AT PLATFORM THREE.
BY EVEN MACPHERSON.

"Chesney, | jus can't. That's oil
there is ABOUT it. Yes, do, Chesney.
You know love you. But l can't
leave poor mother to slave all by her.
self"
And why can't take care OF both
of you" Chesney Payne retorted in a
tone that well suited his square Shout
ders and manly, self-reliant express
sion of face. "I've asked you that u
dozen times before now, and you We
never given me any answer tna't
amounted to anything"
They were strolling together, in the
early dusk of a May evening, under
the lowering lilacs that shaded the
well-kept gravel path along the inside
of the cemetery wall.
"As for that Hida answered with
some spirit, "lf you don't think the
answers | have given you amount TO
anything, Mr.. Chesney Payne, you are
not likely to get any better. So long
as I've got fingers to STRIFE the keys
of typewriter, and sense TO tell oa'
letter from another, my laoiher shall
not depend on anybody Dut me-"
"Will you give in if ! cut off your
fingers?" Chesney aske ], laughing.
please don't be iNe4y ABOUT a
thing like that, Ches rs. va know
it's only too serious q .-Ait~i'"
Something tremu,Oaa "A the giHi''
voice told her love! tai' he nl'4e
mistake in taking a toae of LEVITT
with her.
81 beg your par lon, il,..'a. WASH
thinking-or thiekng oh,y ABOUT Tie
future-the long, weary future that
can see for ore of us at least Fol
you it won't be so bad. lou will al
ways have your mother. have Meth
er mother, nor sister, nor BROTHER
"And your work, tneSney. YOU
know very well that surveying is a
good as wife and family to you.
She was in good humor again, ant
spoke with the accent of gay mock
cry. Come now! If you were a mar
ried man, wouldn't you give 81
thoughts to your chains ana com
passes and one to your wife,"
as that what married men do?'
Chesney asked, musing. "Perhap
it's a fortunate arrangement OF hu
han nature"
"Why?"
80 that the married men may b
able to take care of those same wives
Men have to stick pretty close to bust
ness nowadays, if their wives are t
live"
"Seew Hilda said triumphantll
"And in your case it would be wifi
and mother-in-law."
"0h, don't talk like that said tn
young man impatiently. ut ism
much use, our talking about thos
things anyhow. Let's go and see ho'
they're putting up the stands for Dec
Grafton Day.
i "There'll be three platforms TIL
time" Hilda said. "And that on
down there is Eight opposite father
grave"
you'll be here, Of course"
"Of course, we will. Have we eve
missed decorating fathers grave sine
he died? believe that was one rea
son why mother stayed here, instea
of going out West, when they offere
her that position in st. louis, wa
only little girl then
"You are not much more now" sal
Chesney, smiling. "IIi.da, suppo'
your mother had gone out West an
taken you along?"
"There wouldn't have been anybod
to decorate fathers crave. Not
cousin, even, left in tiis place, out
all that large family
They were standing now by a ne'
white headstone on which was the il
scription, Luke Whitney Scot, cal
tain -th Indiana Infantry. Die
March, 1872. from the effects I
wounds received at Characteristic
Aged So years"
Nobody to decorate this grave
the young man said softly" and rs
body to bring color and sweetness il
to my life, Hilda."
The girl answered nothing, but B
her lip and blushed.
Lets 90 now" she said, after
minutes silence. 1.-THE sun is settin
They are going to lock the gates
Certainly it seemed a hopeless d
lemma to Chesney Payne when he s
Town that evening to think the ma
ter over. Do what he would, he cou
= neither blame Hilda for her indepen
: ent spirit, nor see the reasonablene
, of her objections. II he were a poo
!. er man. he thought, there might
! sense and logic in the girls posltio
but he was making a good living; I
coolest and least sentimental OF b
y = friends told him that he was well alb