Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-07-18

| "oc thc Hoot duuOylu6 vi tutIl oil.
Il am glad" said the manager, "tha
these suitors failed to make a favor
able impression. They are all quit
impossible"
You have made inquiries then? p
Eleanor asked. her color rising lit
tie.
1T was my duty" said he.
| There was little silence.
| Il should have consulted you in an,
event." murmured the girl.
And ! should have been prepare
when you came" he said. Perhaps
you have come on that very errand to-
day."
Il am not quite sure" said Flea.
nor softly.
The managers cheek paled slightly
Then he spoke hurriedly.
Perhaps you came to ask an &C.
count Of my stewardship" he said In
a tone that was half banter, half So
rious.
This isn't nice Of you, John" sha
said. "You know that no such idea en-
tered my head"
But he persisted.
by strange coincidence l had Just
filled out little summary Of the con-
dition Of the business. 1t Is six years
since your father placed this respon-
sibility on my shoulders. ! want you
to know that | have not shlrked it,
He arose and picked paper from the
desk There are the totals then, and
here they are now.
ut seems like lack of confidence in
you to even look at them" said the
girl, as she glanced down at the fig
ures She gave little gasp. Why"
she cried, you have doubled It,"
I have been very fortunate" he said
you have worked like a slave, "
cried the girl. And for what?"
For love of-the work, perhaps"
he answered. Besides, am | not car
rylng out the trust placed in me by
your father? Do not owe everything
to him? He took me up when was
a poor, friendless boy; he advanced me.
and when he died he showed his con.
tidence by making me sole trustee OF
his property and your guardian. I
am trying to Justify that confidence"
The girl looked at him and her eyes
grew moist.
II am sure father would approve all
you have done" she softly said. Il
know that his daughter does" and she
held out her hand. He took 1t tender
ly and held it a moment John" she
added, II don't suppose | could marry
without your CONSENT"
YES he said, gravely, you could"
mo, I'm quite sure couldn't" and
she laughed softly
Il am glad you repose such conf
dence in me-" he said. May ask who
the fortunate man is?"
She gently laughed.
II can't tell you yet" she said. "You
see, he doesn't know
II do not understand" said the mali
ager
II am not surprised at that" muir.
INJURED Eleanor.
There was little silence
John" she said, you are getting
careless with advancing years?' Ha
looked at her wonderingly. do you
forget to finish and mail your letters"
What do you mean?" he asked.
She opened her purse and drew forth
n folded letter, opening 1t as she pas.
sed 1t to him. ITS a declaration OF
love, is 1t not, John?"
1T is a declaration OF folly" he MUIR
INJURED. But you know never meant
you to see It,"
But you meant 1t when you wrote
It. john"
God knows I meant IT," He looked
at her with sudden fire In his eyes.
Il will tell you the truth, Eleanor, and
perhaps you will pity me. 1t seems to
me | have always loved you. It is for
you that | have toiled. Hopeless, yes,
but the toll was sweet. never forget
the gulf between us-a gulf both of
years and social position-the gulf be-
tween the petted heiress and her faith
er's hired man. AT times may have
fancied love could span the chasam.
One of these fits Of folly came upon me
two months ago. | went to Paris to
tell you my love, and then my courage
failed me. came home and began
that letter. A wiser impulse seized me
and | tossed 1t aside. What unfortun-
ate chance placed 1t in your hands I
cannot imagine. That Is ALL"
He tore the sheet Of paper in minute |
fragments and flung them into the
waste basket.
John" she said, very softly, at is
a shame about old Pope Gregory, isn't
Il? You know what he did. When he
fixed over the calendar he cut us out Of
a leap year. I think, John that am
quite justified In refusing to accept his
and In assuming that the
old Julian system Is still In force"
He looked up at her wonderingly.
Her eyes dropped.
"You know I told you, John" she
vent on still more softly, that l would
have to ask your consent as guardian
when l wanted to marry. 1t Is true.
John, II this year Of 1900 were
a leap year should feel quite justi-
fed quite justified, John-in asking
,our consent as guardian TOTO my
narrying-oh, can't you see, dear
John, that L that l will be your
Vife!"
And she stretched out both hands
o him.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.