Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-09
AND ALL ENDED WELL.

you MUCH, anu tnOugnt we were IL
ways to be friends, but you san see
that 1t Is impossible for me to marry.
It is my duty to take care Of papa and
my brothers and try to take the place
Of my poor mother"
II felt from the flrst," said Harry
sorrowfully, that 1t was hopeless to
think Of you. You are too good for
me-"
Don't say that, please, for like
you much more than any one l know.
II l ever did lo-marry, 1t would be
just such a man as you-good, clever,
and generous But you see that 1t 10
impossible, don't your?
He looked into her appealing eyes,
but could not answer. Nothing Is so
subllmely tragic as a beautiful girl
sacrificing herself to a mistaken sense
Of duty, and she appeared 80 sublime
to him that he couldn't help thinking
her In the right.
In affairs of the heart a man. es-
pecially young man, needs q dlsln-
terested woman to guide, to encourage,
or to check him, as the case may re-
Qulre. Now, Harry Watson was 90
fortunate as to have a charming widow
as bis confdant and friend. She was
several years bis senior, and he was
once much In love with her-Or thought
he was. She had poohoohed his pro-
posal and told him that, although she
thought him a fine, clever young fell
low, she had no desire to take q boy
to raise, and that he mustn't talk non
sense. OF course, he was tragic and
went out West to hunt for grizzlies,
hoping to be mastlcated by one, but
he presently came to his senses and
returned to the city. He was natural
ly rather shame-faced when he met
the widow, but she was 40 jolly that
he soon forget his previous absurdity,
and they became fast friends.
You poor boy" said the widow in
humorous sympathy. what would
become Of you II 1t were not for mel
But II you obey my orders | will guar
antcc that you will win her.
After talking the whole matter over
Harry felt comforted, and he felt sure
that the clever widow was going to do
all IN her power to help him. But he
did not imagine that while they were
discussing the subject the ;;Gcrless,
self-sacrflcing Esther was weeping
bitterly, and almost rcbelling against
her fate. 1t was only by magnifying
her duty to an appalling grimness that
she finally recovered her composure
and soothed the pain ut her heart to
an aching numbness.
As soon as the widow felt that Har-
ry had recovered from the first bit
tcrncss Of his disappointment, she Or
dered him to 60 and call Oh Esther. lie
obeyed, and few such calls restored
to some extent their old relationship,
and they could talk more like brother
and sister. And one evening she talk
ed to him in most sistcrly fashion,
warning him wistfully to beware of
the wlles of the widow.
you know | look on you as broth
er and should not like to see one Of
my brothers as much in her company
as you are, OF course, she Is Mica but
people say she is so designing"
"The little MINK" said the widow
when she heard of 1t. II know | am
designing, but she will find that 1t ls
for her happiness | am doing 1t now
and incidentally for my own--or jus,
the reverse"
She, of course, diagnosed the case as
one Of Jealousy, and was pleased
Harry didn't understand the last par,
OF her remark, but be did not Ques-
ton.
Are you going to the Madison mus
icale? the widow asked.
Eyes, Esther and her father will bt
there Harry replied.
"Wel, shall be there, too, and
may want you TO do me favor. vii
you do ity'
Certainly
On the night of the musicale tn,
widow was trlumphantly beautiful
There was the light of battle in he
eyes, and that with good reason, TO
she had brought her own affairs AM
4 those of several other people to
crisis But no one could look at he
perfect figure aud animated face with
out feeling that she could conquer Ia
most 0blurate by her charms and hav
her will Harry had never seen he
looking so bewichng for he had ney
err seen her so thoroughly alert an
aroused. But his eyes were dwcllin
constantly on her pure, calm face, an
she seemed to him more than ever III
attalnable. When the evening wa
well advanced, the widow tapped hi
on the shoulder with her fan.
81 have come to ask you for thu
favor she said.
~ am ready to do your bidding"
'srake Esther into the CONSERVATION
and propose to her.
Il can't
'You must. If you do, | think | ca
promise you that you will win her
rot to-uinht-soOn aftprWard. But VIC