Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-03
( Cruise Of the SandYlle Belle
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PART THE FIRST.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PART THE FIRST.
Where are you going this afternoon?
asked, Billy Martin, rather nervously.
pier" replied Diana laconically, a.
she opened her pink parasol with snap,
Z vicious snap, that sent Billy's loving
heart down into his boots.
"Diana" he protested after pause.
"Well?" replied the beauty, impatient.
".
II am sorry for what said last night
concerning your friend" stammered
Billy.
Il am pleased to hear you say 81" re-
piled Diana. II consider your attack
upon Signor Chigi most insulting to him
and cruel to myself"
LET me inform you" continued Diana,
that SignOr Chigl is an Italian noble
man Of very old and distinguished FAM
lily, who has been Obliged by misfortune
to take the place Of conductor to the
Red Pomeranian Band; 80 will not hear
him slandered In my presence.
She lifted her chin superbly and gazed
down at Billy with glance Of utter
scorn.
DIANA" he said slowly, do you mean
to say that you care for that felhow?"
"How dare you ask such question:"
returned Miss Strangeways, her cheek
blazing to poppy hue. "by what
right?"
"Only this" said Billy, replying to her
sudden flash Of anger by turning white
about the mouth; only this-I have been
going to tell you for a long time--1 love
YOU"
The book that Miss Diana Strangeways
was clasplng in her small white-g lavsd
hand fell with a crash to the ground.
She did not stoop to pick Ii up nor did
Billy. F."
1.-THE fat's In the fire now" he muir
INJURED, under his breath. Nov yeu un-
derstand," he added aloud, why l said
what | did last night. I hate you Sit
ting down on the pier there, In row with
those old maids who make such fuAs
over that blessed fiddler! l hate to see
him rolling his eyes at you all the time,
playing as though he were playing to YOU
alone and not to the people for whose
benefit the Pier company pays him his
salary! hate his beastly, sickly, Ger
man waltzes and the pretty medals he
wears on that brass-bound red uniform |!
hate the pier-and--oh, Diana, hate
myself and everything but your
Billy's eloquence would carry him no
further. A lump rose In his throat ard
Z mlstiness gathered in his eyes,
| Diana was gazing steadily out at the
blue horizon.
II promised to meet Mrs. Jones on the
pier at 8 O'clock" she said, calmly
Good afternoon" Billy recovered his
speech. DIANA" said he, appealingly
J won't you come for a walk with me to-
; nignt?"
81 can't she replied.
why not?"
II have promised to accompany Mrs
!, Jones and her friends for moonlight
sail In the Sandville Belle tonight"
Billy turned away without word
I That very morning Mrs. jones hersel
| had invited him to the moonlight excur
+, sion. holding out as an inducement tho
Signor Bernaletto Chigi was going Il
bring his violin and had promised to SIM
them a selection Of his Italian serenade
and love songs.
Diana watched him from the corner q
her eye as he disappeared indoors. Thel
= she turned suddenly and walked down t
the beach, where she selected seclude
and sheltered spot under the shadow Of
;, fishing boat that was drawn up on tn
Il shore.
h Here, having made certain that III
r paint on the boat was not wet, thu
IS there was no one In sight and that sh
r had brought two handkerchefs with he
n she burst into tears.
y my dear Mr.. Martin! So charme
q, that you have changed your mind ar
h have decided to accompany us!" gurgls
II Mrs Jones as Billy climbed from Il
@. shore boat over the gunwale Of TIL
g famous sailing yacht, the Sandville Bell
g I'VE are expecting signor Chisi ever
y moment His evening performance
's the pier finished half an hour ago. e.
pect he has gone home to get bis eloa
He feels the cold SO, poor fellow"
Il. I'VE shall sail for three hours. It
. half-past 3 now, and we except to
II back by half-past 70. Quite romantic,
" It not?" gushed Mrs. Jones In his ear.
AN Then he took his refreshment to I
IS. stern sheet, and seated himself by Q
DIS TEN Masterman the owner Of the DO.
* -
PART THE SECOND.