Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ANGEL OF A CUPBOARD.

to reveal themselves to the common
eyes of men, except robed and
crowned, curled and frilled and tuck.
cred, in the veriest fullness in fact.
of their glory. That is why it was
rash of Miss Ethel Baines to go from
the place Of washing her hair, in what
was quite an old dressing town, down
to the library, there to dry her long
tresses before the fire. She might
have pleaded that no one could posi-
bly, call at that hour. That was GER
tainty, or next door to 1t. So she sat
in comfort before the glow, and
thought the pleasant thoughts Of a
careless angel. Now and again, when
the fire got into her back, she would
rise for GOODNESS sake and look In the
mantel-glass to see that 1t was clear
and without flaw. What she saw in
it was, at least, more than fawless,
and something beyond compare, so
many people would have thought, and
Miss Baines was not disposed to ques-
tion the fact herself.
But she turned paler than she gen.
orally liked to look at hearing sud-
den knock at the hall door, followed
by Capt. Baines' CHEEKY voice:
"Ah, Colmoraud! delighted to see
you-come into the library and smoke.
We shall have it all to ourselves in
there"
The tread Of Capt. Baines and his
visitor came toward the library door.
Miss Baines shivered. Mr.. Colmoraud
of all other people! The idea of
discovery was too ignominious to be
faced. Miss Baines, gathering the
long strands of her hair in one hand,
as though they were skirt impeding
her looked for some way to escape.
Through the door she could not go,
unless she wished to be tlaken-red-
handed, so to sPeak-in her quiet old
dressing gown: nor could she fly
through the windows. Behind the
curtains temporary shelter might be
found, but how unsafe.
Suppose her father drew them to
get a breath of ozone, as she called it,
or Mr.. Colmoraud stumbled against
them, and lighted apologize upon her
toes. There remained only the cup
Observation-Disclosures musty, abom.
Unable place, but seldom visited. 1t
was not the haven where she would
would be; yet, since time pressed, Miss
Baines, shivering and decided, slipped
in among the chaos of maps and
dusty tones silently, like n cat. And
| the door of the library opened.
"You wanted to see me?' Captain
Baines was saying, cheerfully.
"Yes," said Mr.. Colmoroaud, who
seemed unusually hesitant, "onI a very
serious matter-at least to mel You
see, Pm off to India tomorrow, UNI
less"
Cant do better than india" said
| the captain. Nothing like the elm
/ ate, If you don't take too many pegs
Splendid place! Polo, plenty of shoot
ing-not too much work, you know.
remember when ] was in those parts
used to tell old Jigbury-you-ve
heard me speak of old Jigs?"
"Yes," said Mr.. Colmoroaud, meek
ly.>
'Well, as was saying" went on the
captain, "old Jigs was in India then,
too-Madras way. Stuffy down there
except in cold weather. You're not
going to Madras, eh?'
mo. to the northwest provinces,
The climate is not so Dad there, is 1t.
even for ladies?' Mr.. Colmoraud pu,
the question with eogerness.
"Topping climate" said the captain,
innocently. "Nothing ladies like bet
ter. Why, old Jigs used to say that
his first wife-and he had q good
many; regular old sea dog, Jig; wife
in every port, married once a month,
don't you know;said he'd never been
to church without hearing his banns
called-hs first wife simply wouldn't
come away Tiger-shooting all day
Sporting woman, she was. Buried out
there, believe
"But she liked the climate?" said
Mr.. Colmoraud, uncertain what moral
to attach to this story.
SHOULDN'T have been buried there II
she hadn't" said the captain, logically
81 suppose not" said Mr.. Colmoraud
obviously. "But It was about getting
married that was going to ask your
opinion, or rather about--about--"
Miss Baines u the cupboard forgot
for a moment that she was being as
phyxiated. and began to take an in
terest in the conversation.
"Come now" said the captain, JOY
tally miss Ethel pictured to herself
his innocent leer), "you're not think
ing of it yourself, Ell? One of the
Hemant girls, Miss Ruby, eh?'
"Under other circumstances" said
Mr.. Colmoraud, growing bold, ~
should be grateful for the recomnen'
dation. But the fact is, came around
to ask you, as Pm off to India, il you
would mind, you and Mrs. Baines, II J
If ] asked Ethel to go with me as
my wife"
"Ethell" repeated the captain, fab
bergasted. "You don't mean Etheli
Never thought of It. Ethel, now
she's a good girl--I'll say that, but J
expect she's too fond Of her dad to
leave him"