Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-02

I DICK.
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1t was Sunday morning, and vincent
Rayburn, as usual, INTENDED passing
an easy time of 1t,
When an eligible man has reached
the mature age Of 35, and has success
fully eluded the w1iles and charms Of
woman, and settled into the bachelor
groove, he is generally regarded as q
hopeless case by designing member
Of the opposite sex. In fact, Eayburr
had on more than one occasion openl,
and severely denounced matrimony a.
hollow fraud, and expressed his in
tention of permanently wallowing
with the assistance of an assured in
come of $3.50 year, in selfish single
blessedness.
However, TINS particular Sabbath
morning he was not in a remarkably
good humor. The previous day he had
moved into new rooms.
Presently the banging Of doors and
other sounds of feminns unrest in the
lower regions Aoated up, and minute
later. to Rayburn's intense surprise
and disgust, there came a peremptory
knock at his door, and in ftounced
Mrs. Hatch, with scant ceremony and
cheeks afame.
"0h, what now-what now?" he
CALCULATED vexedly, facing the excited
female.
"What now, indeed!" piped the in.
dignant lady. 1.-THE front-parlor
lodger's Sunday dinners been eaten
by your dog"
Rayburn whstled.
"You young scoundreL Dlck!" he
said, depressing a smile. Then he
dived under the sofa, and pulled forth
a small dog and the fragmentary re.
mains Of cold partridge.
"Then l must 60 down and apollo
gize to the front-parlor lodger, and
make Dick do SO as WE'LL" h said re-
signedly. by the way, what's Ms
name?"
"Er name, II you please, is MRsa
Gbbon, and she drOrspctersl ans
werer Mrs. Hatch. Vincent started.
"And," continued the woman, "she Is
where all good Chrischuns as Is able
to- get of Is on q Sunday morning
at church!"-this last with defiant
toss Of the head.
Look here" he said testify, "all I
can do is to offer Miss Gibbon what
you have of mine, and III go out and
get something at a hotel or some
where"
"A bit of cold mutton as was left
from last night! You said you never
took dinner of q Sunday. and was 60
ing out TO supper"
Exactly" he remarked. But you
do as ! ask you, and TN write a
note 10 Miss Gibbon explaining the
unfortunate position of affairs, and
trust to her generous instincts. TIL
make doubly good the bird tomor-
row."
Then he sat down and hastily scrlb-
bled short note OF apology for his
dogs behavior, and the unfinished
state of his commissarat. and handed
it to Mrs. Hatch for delivery just as
the street door gave notice OF Miss
Gibbons return from worship.
"Thank goodness, that's over for the
PRESENT." he muttcred, with sign OF
relief, as Mrs. Hatch departed. Now
to get dressed and keep out of the
way for a. few hours, I'll be able to
face the artistic damsel better with a
brace Of birds tomorrow, and cut the
meeting short
That night, as all luck would have
it, as he stepped into the passage and
quietly closed the street door behind
him, the front parlor door on his
right suddenly opened, and Miss Glib
bon appeared, with II candle IN her
hand. She hesilnled for a moment as
she perceived Rayburn, and he stimuli
taneously stepped back to allow her DO
pass upstairs. II was then his mental
picture of the "aristc damsel' was
instantly dispeled by the reality-a
vision of youthful beauty and piquant
charms that took his breath away for
q moment.
"Er--I must apologize for my rude
and, perhaps, cowardly behavior OF
this morning more especially for
for the dog" he blurted out making
q rough grab at the hapless cause OF
his misfortune, and dragging him for
ward.
Miss Gibbon smiled, bent down, and
began to softly stroke the thief.
"Poor little fellow! I'm sure he's
she said kindly, looking up.
Dogs will be dogs, Mr.. Rayburn. Be-
aides, ! had good dinner after all,
for which I must thank you very
much. know you robbed yourself"
Rayburn laughed reieyedly, Miss
Gibbon was acting bike brick, he
told himself
"Th-ehanks," he muttered. "If II