Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-02-13
HER BIRTHDAY GIFT.

HER BIRTHDAY GIFT.
The glow and glitter Of a tropical
midnight was over the lonely tent
where Col. Temple lay dying-the mo-
notonous chlrp Of some East Indian
night bird filed the air with mournful
melody, and the little clock had Just
struck IL.
Darrell, you'll not forget" said tho
sick man, suddenly raising himself on
his elbow.
'I'll not forget, Leopold Maj. Oar.
rell responded, soothlngly. "Lie down
and be at rest; your last wishes shall
faithfully be carried OUT
II know 1t Is asking n good deal OF
you" resumed Col. Temple, "but she
Is all the relation have in the world
the only child Of my only sister.
Poor Lily!-I sometimes think that II
! mad been a little kinder to her she
wouldn't have run away with the VII
lain who married her. But that's all
past and gone-past and gone! They
sent her to an orphan asylum some
where-the child, mean And SIZE 10
at service now-Mly Temples child
my niece and helress! Ha! ha! hal"
And Col. Temple laughed q hOarse,
bitter laugh that changed 10 a grOan.
Darrell bent over him in some dlsmay.
The turbaned East Indian servant adj
vanced.
II told you so,' he signaled to his
masters friend. "IIc is going out with
the turn Of the tlde-20 minutes
past To-
Dhurum Jashee was right. At 20
minutes past Y Col. Leopold Temple
died.
"Chldrcn, will you keep still? How
on earth am ! TO commit my spelling
lesson II you make such a racket az
this?"
Lydia Kemphcldsat before the kitch.
en- table, her thumbs In her ears, her
fingers thrust through her uncombed
tresses. and her elbows among the I'M
washed dishes. She was an over
grown girl of 10, with long ilmbs, long
arms, and great black eyes, generally
half-velled by tangled hair, a skin as
brown as n berry, and n bb-apron 50
dirty that II looked as II she might
have used lt-as she probably had-for
a buster.
Bother the spelling, B, A, Ba-K u
r, kvr, Baker" barked out Master
Rodolphe Jones' balancing himself
neatly on the back Of his chair. Wash
the dishes, first, Lyddy, or I'll tell ma"
II can't; the water amt hot. Mind
your own business, Rodel'
81 know someAn," croaked Philip
Augustus Jones, who was making pies
Of ashes on the hearth. MAY says she
Is goln' to choke Off this ere evenln'
school business for Lyddy. Mas goln'
to take in shirts and set T.yddy at the
buttonholes'
"Tell us a story, Lyddy" coaxed
Meggy, the youngest aud least tO.er-
able of the lot please! Just one be-
fore 90 to school,"
well, then, llsten!' said Lydia, sud.
denly turning around. Rodolphe de-
scended from his aerial height, Philip
Augustus left his pies to the mercy OF
the cat, who at once proceeded to roll
over In them, and Meggy leaned her
elbows on l.ydla's knee,
go on, Lyddy; we're all ready"
they cried in chorus,
"Once upon u time, children, there
was a palace, all made of gold, with
the windows of clear diamonds, and"
But the unexpected opening of the
kitchen door knocked the castles of
gold and diamonds into the dim realms
Of nothngncss and Mrs. Jones
founced suddenly in, while tall gen
tleman blocked IN the doorway, hls
dark, questioning eyes seeming to take
In the whole scene at q glance.
"There! cried Mrs. Jones, spitcfully,
III you want to see my kitchen girl,
here she Is, and much good may the
sight do you But she's bound legal
and lawful to me till she's IS. and I'm
one as knows my rights as well as an
other! No, and amt to be cheated out
Of 'em, Mediterranean II know it!'
Maj. Darrel's arlstocratlc lip curled
slightly. For the life Of him he could
not help recollng In spirit from the
uninvitIng tableau.
Lydln-dlrty, greasy, ana unc0mDcd
the clamorous children, the recking
Kitchen And I.ydia's great dusky
eyes saw II all. How she wished she
were little mouse. to run away and
hide from sight at that Instant
Exactly" said Maj Darrell. slow.
ly. "Of course, your inconvenience
will he pccunlarly considered. Mrs.
ahem- Mrs."
Zones, sir" interrupted the virago,
now all srlles and courtesles. 'To be
sure, slr-I might have knowed you
would ha' done the correct thing. And
Lyddy's very good girl, when she
amt incoming over her books"
you will come with me at once, my
child" said Maj. Darrell. 81 am your
guardlan-the representative Of the
wishes Of your deceased uncle, Col.
Ipop0Id Temple. The carriage Ia nj