Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-04
HER TRAGEDY.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Perhaps II was because she had al
ways been happy that Anne Berie was
10 laughing and frivolous and often
.ruel II there was no night there
would be no day. and the same prin-
'iple applies to the human soul. How
was she 10 gauge the amount of pain
she scattered freely when she had
Aever tasted the biltrness herself?
And she was motherless Spoiled,
ldored by her father, She had come
o regard mems hearts as playthings
or her amusement, and men delight
ID in giving them into her white
lands with the same blind pcWerse-
ness that causes the ugly little moth
10 hurl itself into the beautiful fame.
She was twenty-one, bubbling over
III life and in II mood of lazy and
constituencies fluffy kitten the sum
mer day Howard Webb talked to her
under the apple trees in the orchard
of the handsome country home be-
longing to her father.
He was the personifcation of deep
emotionshe OF careless enjoyment.
"Why don't you be sensible and
rood, Howard" she asked rather pet
ishly.
The man flung out his hands in an
,er. "Sensible!" he stormed: "lf Id
had any sense I'd have taken a trip
10 Kamscnalka the instant | met you.
Il was six months ago, and since then
| ave lived only you! What has be-
come of my work, my experience, my
my magazine papers? What have to
show for them? Nothing! Nothing
but this mad, unalterable love for you,
and YOU care less for ii than ii Of
fered You box of bon-bons, | de-
Spise myself for my weakness, u
man with brains and ambitions and
object in life, to throw everything to
the winds for the sake of Il hcartless
unfeeing, foolish girl like you,"
He glared at her quite impcrsonal-
w.. and she was too upset by the
storm of his words to take atfront.
1t was as though she was listening to
scene from II play,
/ 81 cant argue any excuse for my in
fatuaton he went ON. II seemed as
II he were letting loose thoughts he
had often turncd over in his mind and
had forgotten her presence You
would be no companion for mel like
grave, stupid things, and you are OF
the sunshine. You laugh and sing and
let life slip BY clutch every minute
for fear Of wasting u golden chance.
We have nothing in common and yet
love youl"
He turned ON her almost tiercely,
and his hand cured round her soft
Or
"Oh, Anne" he said, and there was
a world Of pathos in his voice, Il be.
leve could bear to know you cared
for some one else rather than know
you were incapable of caring Tor any
one! Did you ever feel that he pres
ence OF any being on earth made one
whit of difference to your happinessl
think not,
lie dropped her arm and buried hi
face in his hands with sigh, spent
from the violence of his TRADE. Over
the radiant face of the girl there fec
u sudden crimson, and she Leaned
back, biting her lip with a new ex
preston in her eyes. her gaz'
travelled over the figure beside her.
don't suppose" she broke The
silence in n tone which caused Howard
Webb TO look at her in amazcment
for never had he heard sharpness,
dealt out from her laughing lips, 81
don't suppose you realize that you
have been unpardonably rude. 1t is
rash to tell a person pointblank yon
honest opinion of her, Besides, she
might not care TO hear II. And did
Il eyer occur IN Won that mipbt moi
core 70 norude nv feelings for the in.
emotion of cyerv onep"
He grew white to tbe Inns "Theu
Won do care for some one he half
gosned ,orett me, II * pranford,'
His compclling pnze held her mo-
t;onless she Ind snoken nt ropdu,n
s;mnly IN emf him win yerbol wbip
Iash ,rd .be v.ion ~ granf,rd ro,,
hefore her ouite os new thoupht-
bandeome ioIlv Harry Rronford
whom e,,rv one liked Ind she Low,
b;mo She did not know Bnt ther,
wos this man IN ouell and send frou
ber ike n wbinned doy MS he do
served ror he had M riybt to tormeu
her and spoil her afternoon With NJ
effort she tossed her head and IN,
rich color crent hack ia her dimnle,
checks
"Woll. whot ~ 40, sho o,Lod anal
~
with m oluos, i,,r,;oulote cr,
Wehb snrnng IN his feet "Wbot n