Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-10
A Fair Elchange.

& A Fair Exchange. s
ysooococo COOS
I'm sure, Carrie, l don't know what
better YOU could d." said the widow
Durrell, with sigh. as she stood In the
smoke house." or summer kitchen, one
May morning, her sleeves rolled up, do
Ing the semi-weekly churning. Hes
certainly good match enough for any
girl in town."
But, mother, DEAR" answered Car
RE, throwing her sun-bonnet on the
floor and pouring water on a pan Of
greens she had just picked, "how am
to know what bis intentions are?' He
may not want to marry at ALL"
There, that Is just like you, Cad
Durrell,' groaned the widow. mot
know what his intentions are! and
he's been coming here of and on these
six months. OF course, Tom means to
marry; he has large farm, and be-
sides, be isn't that kind Of fellow to
fool round like some that | know Of.
THAT may be, mother, but suppose
Tom Stapleton doesn't care anything
about me, but does care for somebody
else"
Mrs. Durrell stopped kneading the
golden mass Of butter and looked her
youngest daughter keenly In the face.
All Of the Widows girls, and there
we're four sisters, were allowed to be
comely maidens, but Carrie was do
cidedly the flower Of the flock in this
respect. Her appearance recalled By
r0n's description Of Dudu:
Large, languid and lazy,
But Of beauty that would drive you
crazy"
She was tall and plump Of form, with
a velvet complexioned face, soft, dreamy
blue eyes, a tlpped-up, wicked little
chin, lips Just made to be kissed, and a
swath Of bronzy hair with sunlight
shining In every curl and ripple. Lam
guild and lazy" she undeniably was; no
vulgar haste about her. Her brisk,
energetic mother had been heard more
than once to wish that a wasp would
sting Carrie Just to see II she could get
round any faster.
who should he care for, II It isn't
you, l would like to know, Cad Dur
rell," calculated the widow, after a
somewhat protracted glance, III you
weren't SO MORALLY slow, you might
have been settled before this time,
same as Phoebe and Sally Ann. But.
la! you'll grow gray first"
A ripple Of silvery laughter issued
from the sweet red lips, and the
bronzed head was tossed aloft In pretty |
scorn
why, mother Durrell, you certainly
don't wish me to marry man who
doesn't want me; ! think it's Lu that
Tom Is after, only he doesn't dare
speak out
"Lu sha' mt marry him, I'll be bound"
cried her mother, holly. "You know
that all along I've planned for her to
marry Squire Raynor. She isn't
strong enough to be farmers wife"
But she's got faculty, you've always
said" declared Carrie, with a peculiar
smile.
eyes, she has got faculty which you
haven't" admitted the widow. Her
bread never burns, and her cream Is
sure to come butter. You never did
have luck with such things"
OF all human Affections daughter
who seemed to be created without the
boon of faculty" was the severest to
driving New England housewife like
Mrs. Polly Durrell
A slim, gypsy-looking girl, with great
dark eyes like sloes, and wearing
crimson shawl coquettishly over her
black hair, entered the kitchen at that
instant.
Mother, Squire Raynor's asked me,
and am going
Mrs Durrell looked up eagerly, and
a warm flush crept into the matronly
ace. "Of course, you've accepted him.
she exclaimed.
"Oh, ! don't mean that he has popped
the question: said the girl, her eyes
dropping and a pretty blush mantling
The dark cheeks. why, mother, how
you have upset me! As il Squire Ray
nor could think of me In that light,
He's only asked me to teach the sum-
ner school. Do you think CAM"
"Of course you'll take It, cried the
widow, "Why, 1t is just the chance
you need above all others; and, Lu, If
you are smart, you can be mistress Of
Raynor Hall before Christmas
I.u blushed still more holly and
dropped her scarlet face while her
shoulders gave very slight upward
motion, She cared more for look
rom a certain pair Of blue eyes than
or all Squire Raynors wealth, his big
house, Conservatives and all, but she
lid moi care to tell her mother so.
~ think | will try the school at any
rate,' she said, after a while, very
.houghtfully. ut Is eighteen dollars a
month and board, and | can walk the
distance easy enough from home" And
without stopping to hear her mothers
'urther expression she trpped away
nerrily humming Aud Lang Syne."
Don't you see how luck favors ILL.,"
observed the widow. "She will win the
Cc,ira oud down. Lrow ~ arvhodv