Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-07

AASe9 "ol hV'
II shouldn't think" replied Mayne
absently, that Miss Cholmondeley il
more than 49,"
Walmer repeated the question with
asperity, and Mayne bestirred him
self in order to give lucid answer.
Wonder you don't settle down
Mayne," said Gascoigne.
"Who withg"
"Heavensl" cried Gascoigne, start,
ing up and pacing the room; cant
man settle down by himself? What
a character you are, Mayne! Look
at me, for instance. I've got my lit
tie place down in Surrey, with an
old housekeeper and couple of SER
wants, and am as happy said Gas
coigne, with defiance, las happy as
the days are long"
"They are long, expect"
II don't find them So" declared
Gascoigne, obstnately.
but you said just now before din.
ner--"
Don't argue so, Mayne," begged
GAgoine, with testiness. THAT was
always your falling" He turned to the
man who was looking into the fire
place.
"Are you still living at Gray's Inn,
Walmer?'
Walmer did not answer for few
moments.
"Yes," said Walmer, presently. "If
you can call it living. Sometimes in
my chambers there | am not quite
sure whether | am alive or dead.'
you want company, Walmer?"
sit would be more cheerful" ac-
knowledged Walmer, "if there were
some one else in the place, Some
one, | mean, to be about the rooms
and to-er-pay and sing bit"
"That was where Jumbles always
had the pull of us, remarked Mayne.
I'm Johannesburg, with few real
women about the place, ] used to
think sometimes of the way his sister
used to play up stairs when we four
were smoking in the dining room,
and how one by one we used to pitch
our cigars away and stroll upstairs
to listen. Do you remember that lit
tie German song she used to give
us?" -4.
The three men hummed the air
awkwardly--ns men do with whom
singing is not strong point.
Il used to sing it MYSELF said
Mayne, tout at that fearful place,
and somehowitused TO do me good"
II often wondered" remarked Cas-
coigne, "what the real cause was OF
oil the South African trouble. | sup.
pose Kruger has no ear for music.
Walmer, what are you thinking
about?'
"Only about the case have in
hand lust now replied the man of
law at the fire place. A think. II YOU
don't mind. I'D like to write a note
while | think Of it,"
II want TO scribbIe n note, too"
said Gascoignc, awkwarlly.
"Since it appears to be the correct
thing to do" said Maync, 81 may al
so as well write one
Presently each had finished his
task, and having stamped the envel-
one, stood with shy air.
"I'll post them for yon." said Wal
mer, generously. The other two men
thanked him, but declined to avail
themselves of his offer. 'SThen
said Walmer. with authority, well
let Fritz do it," And thatexcellsnt
man was again summoned and in
trusted with the duty of committing
the letters to the pillar box.
There seemed some restraint in
the conversation after the dinner
was over, and when the three recog-
nized this they burst into tumultu-
GUS, cratic talk, all speaking at once
with great energy, and they told
each other anecdotes which they had
told before, left out points of these
anecdotes, and laughed uproarously,
and then told more, with equal want
of success. They took the second
cigars, and Mayne snatched up the
special and glanced down the col
umns.
"Thunder!" he cried, starting up
He still held the paper
and, being now nearer to the light,
re-read something.
"What's wrorg?"
Everything" cried Mayne, Look
at this
"Read it out" said Gascoigne, COM