Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-25
passed before her nina she NJ =
lent for aQme mQmenta.


Not the least doubt Of 1t, the whole
affair was excessively silly. It was
thoroughly in keeping with the rest
that now this young woman, on tho
eve of marriage with another man-o
marriage into which no one had
forced her-should be looking with .
look of pitiful appeal in her eyes, and
with tears, at man who had tlirted
with her iive years before. Still, silly
as 1t was, it was so.
Id don't know" he stammered.
Perhaps ought not to have brought
them. But | don't see why not. I
don't see how could have kept them,
could II"
"You might have burned them,
mightn't you?" Edna said, with .
rather mischievous smile.
so | might Cortrell answered
quickly, Il give you my word, Mics
Barsom-l beg you to believe mel
never thought of that"
The manifest sincerity with which
this was said and the ingenious blush
that accompanied the explanation
were irristible. Edna Barsom burst
into hearty laugh, which CortreN
was not long in taking up.
But at that moment the street door
was opened, and then the door Of the
library, where these two stood laugh-
ing over an old paid of gloves, and
the servant girl, in her directed and
distinctive manner, pronounced, Mis-
ter Bristol"
There was nothing really eInbar-
RAISING in the situation; the embar-
rassment was only apparent The
svent might have been different II I'll
the persons concerned had looked ct
the case as it should have been looked
at. But while the girl with charac-
teristic candor, saw only the reality,
Cortrel was, for some reason, inn
pressed chiefly by the appearance.
Bristol, perhaps naturally, reflected
Cortrell's view.
He at once walked 10 the table and,
lifting the gloves, said, with eyebrows
raised, "A present? Won't you let me
into your joke?"
How are you, BRISTOL" Cortrell
said, holding out his hand. Il hope
you haven't forgotten me"
The worst Of it was that Edna was
still laughing. And there were tho
gloves. Bristol appeared to think that
the situation demanded a display Of
quiet dignity.
II remember you perfectly, Mr..
Cortrell," he said, bowling slightly.
"May ask again what amuses you 70
much?"
Edna became serious in a moment,
and, as she became serious she be-
came angry.
ut isn't very much Of joke, Mr..
Bristol" she said. III you insist on
having 1t, however, Mr.. Cortrell has
just found an old pair Of gloves Of
mine and has brought them to me,
because it didn't occur to him to put
them in the fire. Isn't II funny?"
q hardly think So" Bristol an
swered. Perhaps might appreciate
the joke better II knew where Mr..
Cortrell found these gloves"
AS Cortrell opened his mouth to
make some answer to him, Edna, put
ting up her hand, said; "Thls Is my
business. I'm afraid you will not
have an opportunity of fully appre-
ciating the joke, Mr.. Bristol, until
you manage to get into better hui
NOR for that sort of thing"
She very carefully folded up the
gloves and laid them behind the clock
on the mantlepiece, while Cortrell
stared at her and Bristol stood biting
his neither lip.
Then there was an awkward pause
for some moments, until Cortrell said
something about going.
"Why, I've hardly had ten words
with you yet, Mr.. Cortrell," Edna
said with a wicked glance at the
other man. "Please don't go yet Per-
haps-perhaps | may find something
of interest to show, If you'll wait o
little longer" --n
Then perhaps had better call at
some other time" Bristol said.
1t was a very awkward situation in
deed. Bristol could not stay after
this last observation Of his, and Cor
tr,ll could not run away after Ednaa
pressing invitation.
Hall an hour later Cotrell said:
"What did you mean by saying that
you might find something interesting
to show me?"
"Dld ~ said Edna. do you hold
me to it? II occurred to me suddenly.
Wait here.
"Do you recognize this" and she
suddenly produced an old faded red
velvet smoking cap. 1t was a Me-
phisto, with sides pulled down and IN
absurd brush at one side.
"By Jingo!" Cortrell exclaimed.
"Yes" said Edna. "You had to 60
home bareheaded."
1T was that night, wasn't 1t, after
we had all been to the mill"
Remember the water rats?"
"And you would pull off your
gloves and try to reach water lilies"
Edna nodded. And you wouldn't
give them back to me-"
Jack stole my cap, didn't he?"
ayes, and ! made him give 1t to me
to keep in pledge for my gloves"
"When did you find that old cap,
Miss Barsom?"