Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-04-10
A CALL TO ARMS.

and won't De cOeECtu into
him." said Lorna, with stamp OF ner
dainty foot. Her father ran DIS nn-
gers through his hair as If that 60
creed" had alighted somewhere in that
vicinity. Really, Lorna he remon'
strated, "you are unreasonable"
The whole conversation had come
about through his desire to see Lorna
provided for. Mr.. Jeffries was not
wealthy man, and, as his income ceas-
ed at his death, his daughter would De
left well-nigh penniless.
Ralph Waldron had more money
than he could spend, was man OF
fine appearance, and liked by every
one but impulsiye Lorna, who had tax
en- 1t into her head to ill-treat him on
every occasion. This afternoon she
had refused to dance with Ralph at a
lawn party, and had nearly broken her
fathers heart by her persistent oo'
stinacy. Ralph, for his part, had tax
en- the snubbing wonderfully WELL Dut
Ralph's father had singled out Mr. Jer-
fries and complained to him that the
union they had planned between their
children seemed never going to take
place, wherefore Mr.. Jeifrles saw ut
to demonstrate with his willful child.
Now he stood regarding her from over
the tops of his glasses with severe,
but anxious gaze.
IT don't care If I am" says Lorna,
with superb disdain. "You imagine
that all you have to do Is say love
him. and I'll fall into any mans arms
without a murmur. He might have a
pug nose, and a squlnt, and wooden
leg; you wouldn't care, II only he had
money"
Seeing that the war was in danger
Of being a long one, Mr.. Jeffries decid-
ed to storm the citadel In his best style.
He drew his chair up beside hers and
began in his most confidential tone'
seriously, Lorna, what Is your obJec-
ton to Mr.. Waldron?'
20, they are too many to name" she
responded, flippantly. II think 1t Is his
temper mostly. He Is SO cross and
grabbed. I suppose you'd like me to
marry a man who'd beat me. that Is
your idea of a proper husband
Mr.. Jeffries got up in despair ITS
no use talking to YOU he said, as he
left the room.
mot in the least" called Lorna, "for
I'll never marry him--never."
"Thats so,' said voice behind her.
and, turning, she beheld Ralph VALID
ron. His face told her he had heard
every word.
81 must apologize for being here he
said 81 thought the servant had an
nounced me. The curtains which sep
arate these rooms could not dull the
sound. heard what you said, and |
withdraw the claim to your hand
which my father made for me in my
infancy You will remember that
never made that claim for myself
"Well?' she murmured, meeting his
olance with n heroic attempt at cool
Indifference.
"There is nothing more. came to
say good-by. The President has de-
cided to send fresh troops to Cuba and
my regiment has been ordered OUT
She grasped the back of chair as II
she was going to fall, then said in a
low, strained voice, aren't you
afraid? You aren't strong, and the fe-
yer, you know"
Eyes, know. but can only die
once, and then they won't worry you
any more about me-"
She choked with tears. and, giving
him her hand, said only the word
"good-by," but turned from the win
dow as he vaulted into the saddle, to
fling herself down in a miserable little
heap on the floor.
O, if he had only loved her, how
gladly would she have given up ev-
erything in the world for him; but he
didn't care-he didn't care.
1t seemed hours since he had gone.
In reality it was only a few moments
when there was terrific ringing at
the door bell. "Mr. Waldron had been
thrown from his horse and severely in.
ured; would Mr.. Jeffrles please Gomez
But before the last words had left
the mans mouth Lorna was flying
down the road, and when her lover re-
turned to consciousness he had for,
gotten everything but that he loved
her. and, twining his arms around the
1.-THE form bending over him, MUIR
INJURED the word darling" which she
wouldn't have thought was meant for
her If It hadn't been for the look in his
eyes; but, being convinced, she bent
her lovely face to his and kissed him
with all her heart in that swift Ca
ress.
As the days passed by and she
nurs-d him back to health, Ralph wal
dron agreed that his call to arms had
been one of a different sort, for his
fractured limb would not let him 60 to
Cuba, and the hardest battle he ever
fought was the battle for woman's
loye.-BOston Post.
IS Mary Kingsley tells very
omrs,no story about West African
n