Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-10

| &/\/S\/~~~~~ "
The twilight Of mid-Juy was full OF
brightness; the scent Of new-mown
slopes, boated in the afr, and, Just be-
slopes, floated In the air, and, Just DO
| yond the elms In the hollow, the full
moon was rising up, a great globe Of
pearl And from her low seat beneath
the overhanging honeysuckles Bertha
Wyman saw and felt all this summer
beauty with the faint. blissful languor
| Of a tropic dream.
Bertha"
Paul Fordham crossed the broad rib
bon Of moonlight that futtered over
the piazza, and came to sit down at the
fiancees feet.
"You are like picture tonight Ber-
tina; do you know III?
"Am II" Miss Wyman was accus-
toned to adulation, and took 1t very
| coolly, with only royal smile flung
down to her admirer
"Hush-who is thatY she said, with
| a little start, as a light footstep sound
ed on the matted hall beyond.
"Only your aunt's companion, MRS.
Raymond. BY the way, Bertha, what
a very interesting little thing she Is
| such child widow, with those big
black eyes, and the heavy lashes, that
seem actually to weigh down her eye.
lids! She makes me think OF one OF
those exquisite little South American
birds, all grace and sparkle"
II never could account for the taste
NJ Won men," said Bertha, half con-
temptuously. 4,
"No. but she is a beauty, by Jove! l
| can tell you what, my fair Saxon en-
press II I hadn't lost my heart irrey-
ocably to you long before | ever saw
| Mrs. Raymond, there's no telling what
| might have happened"
He spoke jestingly, but Bertha drew
away the hand he had taken very
| c0olly.
at is not yet too late, Paul, If you
really admire Zaidee Raymond go ell
Enthusiastically,
BERTHA"
Miss Wyman laughed strange, un-
natural sort of laugh. Up to this mo-
| ment her lips had never tasted the Bit
ter cup of jealousy; now 1t seemed as
| II the draught was maddening. How
dared Paul Fordham, her betrothed
lover, SO to speak in terms OF COM
mendation Of any woman save her-
self?
| Miss Wyman went up to her own
apartments earlier than usual that
evening, not because she was partlcll-
larly weary, but because she wanted to
punish Paul Fordham, who was fond OF
moonlight and sentiment and delicious
| July evenings, for his unwarrantable
notice OF her aunt's dark eyed compan-
ion.
| She sat there silent and motionless
for well nigh half an hour then there
came soft tap at her chamber door,
Come in said Bertha Wyman.
| And Mrs. Raymond entered.
81 beg your pardon for disturbing
you, Miss Wyman, but were you aware
that you left your bracelet on the pl-
azza floor? Here 1t Is"
at takes you and Mr.. Fordham some
time to discover the loss OF bracelet,
said Bertha, tauntlngly. 81 am really
sorry to have given you the trouble Of
so heightened a search"
Zaidee Raymond's cheeks flushed
painfully.
III you would but allow me to con-
flde in you, Miss Wyman," she fal
tered, drawing a step or two nearer Il
the naughty Saxon beauty. INF
Fordham has told me-"
81 do not wish to become the reposi
tory Of your confidence" said Bertha
with chilling abruptness; NOR do
care what Mr.. Fordham chooses tt
tell you. Good night" And she mo
toned Mrs. Raymond imperativel!
from her presence.
It was about week aftsrward tina
: Bertha Wyman was coming home from
long walk to distant farm house
where an old schoolmate of hers re
, sided. She had refused Paul Ford
hams escort, probably because she ha'
seen him walking up and down tn
j, long hall with Mrs Raymond at hi
side that very morning, and now sh
felt a little wearied, somewhat lionel
4 and very cross. The sun had bee
down about half an hour, but the ives
was still illuminated with a belt Of OF
ange brightness, and the winding rive
n tangled along the shore with starr
J. water lilies, reflected the warm glo'
OF the sky like second armament.
:, As Bertha descended into a littl
!, wooded hollow, fragrant with vii
roses, for she had avoided the thol
l, oughfare, unfrequented though 1t wa
u and chosen instead shaded by path
e she became conscious that two othe
l. persons were strolling along the roa
!" itself, from whom she was only divide
by a tangled mass Of wild grapevine
festooned from the slender branches {
lew SllNtI UlTtuto- tWo Otiei pei ooh
IS Paul Fordham and zaidee Raymond
ID The color died away from Bertha
l. somewhat flushed cheeks, as sh
D. paused to listen, for they too ha
v, paused where two roads separated.
J; I'VE must not walk any further Il
a. gether," said Paul Fordham's vote
Nobody Is to suspect anything ye
you know. Well surprise them"
And then came Zaidee's soft. hes
lie tating laugh.
V. 1T seems like dream, Mr.. For
n ham,"
n But you will find It, I hope, q hapI
lie reality" be said, looking tender
h down upon her bowed head. You
10 not regret trusting to mer
"Oh!" she murmurVd. u new