Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-15
SERIOUS APPRENTICESHIP

. "s"" W III NY dSolSldUCt
managed to understand that the coul
be had brought In were recent INN
grants aud that the conversational
OF the party wanted a place in son
ones household for the girl.
The couple stood modesty waitip
side by side. 1t was already co
weather and the woman had a chea
plaid shawl over her head, a brigl
ribbon tied around 1t to form a hoo
l spoke to her in a kind voice and 81
looked me full In the face with I'll
bluest pair Of eyes had ever seen.
The man beside her appeared stupl
and heavy to me. l wondered II b
was her brother and asked our lntel
prefer. He managed to tell a stor
which afterward proved true In ever
detail.
The two were lovers from the ey
IRENE northern part of Sweden. The,
were the children of fisher folks, poor
They had despaired Of marriage q
home, but one day walked away to
gether, reached a seaport town, ant
there both, with hard labor had earn
ed enough money to come across the
ocean. The interpreter was her coll.
sin. He was also poor and had a fam
lily.
"Magnus has place In the railroad
yards explained the cousin; "he lives
with me. She live with you. After
while they have money and they get
married."
1t was finally decided that Christina
Erd should come to us. The lover was
to bring her chest from the railroad
station at once. 1t arrived In an hour.
q huge affair, and carried by the man,
Magnus Liefssen, without apparent eff.
fort She helped him take it I'D the
stairs, then the two said farewell in
my presence.
Christina had removed her shawl
and rough cloak. Her head was crown.
ed with heavy braids of flaxen hair.
Her skin was white as milk, and on
zach cheek burned spot that was like
pink rose, as clear and fine. She
wore her best dress, heavy blue skirt,
! white waist, an old glrdle. About
Ter white neck were heavy silver
'eads, curiously engraved.
When she saw that her lover must
o she went to him. They took each
Tiers hands and stood silent for a
ew moments. Then his lips moved:
e dropped her hands and She turned
way to me, a haunting look of pain
her blue eyes.
| was, therefore, left with a maid
mo could not understand a word said
reply to me. | pass over the trials
the next few days. grew patient
ecause of the girls extreme willing.
esS and real intelligence, and | began
realize what dump faithfulness |
cant. At first, she was tlmid, but in |
few days she began to repeat names |
articles, address us, and grew more |
ieerful. AT the end of month we
1t along quite well.
Three times week her lover came
see her for two hours. 1t was not
ng before | happened to 20 into the
tchen one evening and found both
boring over copybooks. They were
arnlng to write English, with the
usln's small son to guide them
was indeed good and beau.
III. When she came to church. as
e often did with Magnus, | saw that
ople observed her. told her story
one of our church societies and /
ard that they intended to add to her
'dest Quitting by a present.
must confess that, at times, felt
It Christina might do better than TO
d such a stupid man as Magnus
Essen But suddenly the man |
'ught stupid rose to the height of a
%.
I was all in the morning papers.
ndall ate the breakfast Christina
! prepared and unfolded his journal !
lie | slipped my coffee. He jumped
his feet.
Where Is Christlna??" he asked in 5
ow tone, his mouth twitching
he was singing somewhere. She
voice like a lark.
What is 1t, Randall?' cried. run.
e around to him. .
lie pointed to the great, black head.
.. | read, GREATNESS, of the at
lpted robbery of railroad pay car
parlng to set out III the gray dawn.
car had been drawn up in the
ten yards and guarded by the DO
man and several section men. II
been Il foggy night and the at
on the car was made 50 suddenly
quickly there was not a second of
to give n whistle of alarm. Two
ion men were knocked down, one
) and the car door was defended
le by a brawny Swede, who fought
Oily, doggedly, stubbornly, his eyes
d with blood, his wounds incredl-
No shot had been fired. The DO
nan was in the roundhouse, not
feet away, telephoning to head
rterS when the fleeing freshman
It In upon him with the news. Help
we'd In time to save the car from
g looted, but Llefssen was picked
for dead. He had been taken to
hospital and was the city hero.
e was little hope for his life.
loved pastor and took Christina
carriage to the hospital. Her
had been like marble since we
her.
had not regained consciousness.
vnc nnlx n vAanv ka =, |