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


one Of the great fashionable temples
Of the city for poor Lydia to be meas
ured for a clean and decent outfit Of
clothing.
Looks like 1t, doesn't she" laughed
the major. 81 think myself she ID
rather an unpromlsing specimen
"What an ugly face said Mrs Sea.
cord. lowering her voice. "Who did
you say she was?"
leopold Temples nlece-and heir
ess, by the way-and my ward. Is
that your carriage, Mrs. Seacord?
Pray. allow me the pleasure"
Asthe courteOusmajor escorted Mrs.
Seacord to her coupe Lydia twltched
herself out Of the dressmaker's hand
and ran up to the great mirror.
"They are right" she said to herself
after a momentary survey. II am
ugly, do look like the wild girl OF the
woods, aud l wish was dead-so
there"
And slis silently went back to Mrs
Threadnccdle, who sat In sort Of
mild amazemeni waiting her erratc
notions.
The next day she went to boarding
school. Mai. Darrell left her ut Beau.
champ lodge, with kindly shake Of
the hand
"Good-by. LYDIA said he. II hope
you will do well. OF course l shall
receive quarterly reports of you, aud
In case Of sickness or any necessity
pray call upon me as you would upon
your own father"
So he went away. Lydia stood star
ing after him, with great, gltterlng
eyes and set lips.
"He never kissed me-he never
stroked my hair she thought Gle
don't care for me; nobody cares for a
wild girl Of the woods! Why couldn't
they have left me alone In the kitch-
en?"
Maj. Darrell was absent in India
eight more years, and when he re.
turned the silver threads were begin
ming to mingle in his chestnutbrown
locks.
~ suppose must 90 and see the
little wild gli1," he thought, as he sat
alone by the hotel fire the first night
Of his arrival on American shores.
And as the reluctant sense Of duty
forced itself on his mind a soft tap
sounded at the door.
"Come ln." said lionel Darrell
thinking only Of hIs slippers or the
newspaper, and in walked a tall, beau-
tlful girl slender as a reed and grace
full as a lily stalk, with purple-black
curls, Topped back from low, broad
brow, and eyes of a melting violet.
black. She wore a simple gray silk,
exquistely made and In excellent
taste, and scarlet cashmere scarf
was thrown plcturcs1uely across her
shoulders.
Good evening guardian" said she,
gayly. "I'vc come to welcome you
homie. saw your arrival in the
morning paper and as | CHANGED to be
in town with Mrs Beauchamp, took
advantage of the opportunity"
"Eh?" gasped the major; "you-you
are never little Lydia, the wild girl Of
the woods"
But am" she said, laughing shak-
Ing back her curls. "rlme works won
delS, you see, and Pm so tired of Beau
champ lodge! You'll take a house,
won't you, guardian, and let me come
and pour tea and coffee for youg And
let it be by the seashorc, please; | de-
light In the sea-"
ut shall be wherever you say"
que. Maj. Darrell, fairly bewlldered
by the beautiful vision.
The house was taken and furnished
regally; vinegar-visaged old house.
keeper and three maids engaged, be.
sides the majors copper-colored Malay
valet And Lydia, the homeless, came
home!
my twenty-hrst birthday, guard
lam said she, with pretty lmperous-
ness. What did you bring me for
present? | dare say you forgot all
about It,"
no, did not" said the major, val
icntly. II have brought you a hus-
band, little girl"
"Whm?'
Myself. VIII you marry the bat
tered old campaigner, Lydiaw
And then, aud not till then, pretty.
hlushlng Lydia whispered Il secret to
her guardian.
dearest, have loved You ever
since that day when you first saw me
in the dirt and dust Of Mrs Jones
kitchen"
"And you never told me-
III was for you to speak first" she
laughed.
And this was Tydia's fortune, better
than any Castle Of gold and diamonds
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