Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-08

"a You and trusted you all my lfe,
ever since Twas little girl, when you
0pld me that you were my guardian
and would take care of you, And you
have taken care of me, havn't yOu?--
very good care, should say"
Until now,' said Winford, gloomIly,
But now | am absolutely useless. |
don't feel more useless against tn.
winds and waves than | have felt the
whole Of the past fortnight. Moley, in
knowing THAT you were giving me up
for the sake of newcomer, whowaI,si
TO take you out of my care and make
you a part of his life. 1t is George
Vivian whom you choose for your pro-
tector, is it mote"
HE is not much OF protector
now,' sand Molly.
What can you expect? Winford
asked her bitterly. "He is young and
handsome. He has all his life before
him, and he is not likely to want to
throw it away. He will make a brave
fight for his own life, but, Molly, he
won't give his life for yours-as [
would d."
Molly was silent, but her hand closed
tighter over Winford's arm
Il am old, | know" continued VIM
ford, land ugly and uninteresting, and
cannot expect you to care for me 30
much as for younger man. But do
want ito say word about Vivian,
Molly, because it is possible you know
just possible-that you may be saved
from the wreck and that may not,
and then you will have nobody to adj
wise you as your old guardian used "
do"
"You are not DID," said Molly, quick
ly. "And' there is no particular need
for you 10 warn me against Vivian"
Perhaps not, but one is temped to
do unnecessary things sometimes"
said Winford, grimly. IF you are
saved, Molly, you will be a prize, you
know, because l have left you all my
money, and there is a good deal of It
more than anybody knows-so want
you to be careful"
Il won't hive Of you die" she cried,
with a sudden note OF passion in her
voice.
Don't say that, my child The mat
ter lie probably not in your hands. 1t
is more than likely that none Of us
will ever see land again, but there Is
just this, If you do escape, you must
be on your guard against men who
want to marry you for your money.
Do you understand"
ri shall marry nobody" said Molly.
But the winds and the waves reared %
loudly tina. ~ "-.us ,... -. .v..n
Winford's ear.
"Ths lis my warming Of you escape"
sand the man. but | am more con-
cerned about what l want to say II
nether of us escapes. If we meet In
another world, you know, think It
would be more satisfactory If l had
told you the truth now, Tor | suppose
you will know it then. Your father
and were friends, as you havealways
heard, and that was why | took charge
of his child when he died out there in
Australia. Everyone thought that I
was most devoted friend to him, but
there was something which nobody
knows, Molly, and which ! never in
tended even you to know. | cheated
your father, | robbed him, practically
| killed him; for | broke his heart
and that is what 1t seems to me you
ought to know"
Her eyes were fixed upon his face,
and the gentleness in them did not
waver i'm the very least. He felt com.
PEELED To go on, to say even more cut
ting things about himself.
II cannot explain everything just
now, dear, but you must take my
words about it, 1t was something
about a mine. ! knew the worth of IT,
and he did not, bought 1t from him
for IAN old song, and made my fortune,
while he lived and died destitute. He
never reproached me, but | saw that
he knew the truth before he died, and
| never told him, Molly, never asked
him to forgive mel
But he would have forgiven you"
said Molly.
Perhaps he would. He was a good
man. 1t was for his sake that | took
you, and did my best for you; but |
have always felt that every penny of
what | have made belonged to you by
rights, although he had died of want
heart break, and fever, away in the
scrub, with nobody to give him help.
ing hand. That was my fault, you
know"
And you have sorrowed for thai
all these years." said Molly. TT was
not worth while Don't you know he
forgives you now?'
'1f you forgive me-" the man said,
ii think can believe that your father
would. And the worst of 1t was" he
went on, ''that was not content 10
make the child happy, and to give
her as many of the good things of this
world as | could, but ! was idiot
enough to grow fond of her-to Love
her-to feel that my only chance Of
happiness in this life was lost becaus.
she could not care for me. l never
meant you to know, Molly. | should
have given you to another, II he had
been a man worthy of you, without Q
protest, but here-it seems 10 me that
| must tell you ALL"
Then she turned to him with cry
% ,oy md hid bor fooa upon htu