Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-12-22
h TWO
DISCOVERIES.
~ c. sEwELL

N hi"hys hohuNAhNbi q
Eiya, refiectiyely, as she handed
me my second cup Of tea, when you're
really going to fall in love, and
Don't be too hasty," interrupted, as
| assisted myself to sugar; perhaps I'm
even now consumed with the disquiet-
ing fever"
you're so fat" said Elva, disparag-
ingly.
"Nonsense!" I protested. Simply
well covered. Why, my tailor altered
my measurements only yesterday"
"Oh, of course. II you won't be seri-
ous," she sighed, resignedly, and pre-
pared to nibble q judiciously Drowned
muffin; "but really, Monty, you're-let
me see--4O-you're Independent, and
'm-"-she regarded me critically with
her head on one side--"passably good
looking; and yet you let pretty, nice,
suitable girls slip through your fingers
by dozens, because you're either too lazy
or too conceited to take sufficient inter-
est Id them"
Don't lecture me-" pleaded-Elva is
prone to lectures; you're so dreadful
ly impulsive, you know. AS matter OF
fact | looked in this very afternoon on
purpose to tell you how-how abom-
inably in love ami"
Something In my tone must have
struck her as unusual. The muffin, like
'Mahomet's coffin, remained suspended
while she surveyed me intently, presum-
ably to see If she could detect any latent
humor in my countenance.
did not move muscle. =
"If were quite certain that you were
In earnest" she began, hesitatingly, and
I thought-though, Of course, had no
business to think-that her voice was a
little unsteady, II should say how very
glad am"
please try and believe me" I pleaded.
She studied my face as II undecided
what to do.
"Is 1t recent?" she asked at last.
ut happened--yesterday," con-
fessed. you remember, Railways prom
Used that you should be the first to
know whenever ! really had anything
to tell, and l was just going to begin
when you fell upon me-"
Yesterday" murmured Elva, In evil
dent surprise. "Then 1t must have been
at Lady Toilets garden party"
I nodded.
WAS it love at first sight, or had you
seen her before?"
II had seen her." l said, guardedly.
"once or twice"
"ohl" said Elva, and think she
flushed. "Then, Of course, It's Mollie
Richards. l saw you talking to her
for ages in the rosary. She's a nice
girl, believe, and I'm really awfully
glad, Monty-awfully" Somehow her
tone didn't carry the conviction 1t was
doubtless intended to convey: / pre-
sumed 1t was because Miss Richards was
never a very particular friend Of hers
II suppose" she went on, you'll pro-
pose at once. You're no need to wait
like most poor creatures"
II intend" said, firmly, ito offer
myself with as little delay as possible"
"And you really don't mind my TAX
ing the privilege OF an old friend-a
very old friend--to ask you all these
questions, do your"
mot the least in the world" I said,
graciously; I expected them"
"What do you mean by that?" she In
quired, with suspicion.
Nothing, except that you're cate
chised me about my matrimonial pros
poets ever since you could toddle. Do
you remember, for instance, asking me
at q schoolroom tea in your early youth
1t was my intention to marry
your 'fraulein or not"
Elva's face frightened promptly.
"Rather!" she said; "apd fraulein
turned all sorts Of colors. and told
mother the next day that she would
NO longer stay with a child so embar-
/ really think she had a ten
dresse for you, Monty"
Probably" l agreed. Many people
have"
Don't be concelted," reprimanded
Elva; but tell me all about Mollie
and exactly what attracted
you. Some people call her pretty, l.
| rather admire her myself, only"
''Mollie Richards" ] inquired. with
extreme innocence. who said any