Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-03-10

% Win jealousy. ! mao not counted on
rival and the appearance OF Ned on tn
street after that always acted on me lik
red rag on goose, sir. Don't look a
II Id made slip; use the word I'D
. visedly, sir.
II Med, can say now, was good look
ing fellow with black curly hair cut 81
=, that It seemed as IL he had cap Of
when his hat was of, II you came up be
r hind him. The next time you're bach
of an orchestra see II you can't pick ou
some fellow that looks like that, sir. Al
, that time would have told you Nee
Remich looked like a peach orchard
; out Of cultivation, but naturally see
things clearer now. Ned was really q
, good looking fellow and good hearted
one, too, as I've found out many times
since then.
} Between Ned and me the rivalry for
Branche Strings heart waged fast and
furious. We hardly spoke 70 each other
although we had been passing acquaint-
ances before. Blanche never invited US
both to the house the same evening and
30 a direct clash was avoided.
Every time called the Widow Stirl-
ing sat there as calm and collected as
you please with pleasant nod for me
always and an occasional word or two in
the conversation. She never left us alone
In the room and gave me no chance to
speak to Blanche on the subject Of which
my head and heart were full. paid
both the ladies all sorts of pretty compli-
ments could think Of, but that was
about the limit. Several times when
Blanche and were out together at social |
affairs without the chaperonage of her |
mother had started to ask her for her |
hand, but she had always stopped me
one way or another before could make
a direct ayowal Of my love. Usually she
pretended petuancy and, II that ap-
peared about to fail, tears Against the
latter | was powerless. She explained
the tears by nervousness and hysteria
to which she was liable.
Ned Remich and | used to glare al
each other as you've seen bulldogs do
across the street when some ones hold
Ing them from each other. 1t was
Blanche Stirling that held us back while
1t the same time she unknowingly melted
Us to commit a serious breach of the
peach.
When my passion had about reached
is height found another chance to dis
.inguish myselfin the eyes Of the Stirling
household. Passing the house late at
light, | was astounded to see man
rying to fit key at the front door,
hadn't heard from Blanche for two days,
tut knew she was at home. The man 6
cted as bold as might be andI whispered
o myself: There's a pretty case of c
neak thleving that don go ON my beat!' =
with that up and grabbed him. He .
Larted to yell, but put my hand over
is mouth. l wasn't going to let him y
rouse the Strings at that hour of the Y
Ight. The man fought and struggled,
ut when he tried to enter into explana-
ons was feeling that savage hit him "
18th my club until at least he had TO
'me along quietly. At the station J
,oked him as drunk and what with the
ubbing I'd given him he acted 1t, too.
Il didn't want TO be hard on the poor O.
wi after the way Id beaten him and &C
dyed that he'd think himself lucky to W
let off with charge OF drunkenness te
ter what he'd been attempting to do. III
THE next morning when went down In
the station there was good sized at
anna waiting for me. The central fig H,
IS were the Widow Stirling and her ba
city daughter Blanche, AS entered to
Dir backs were toward me and my to
soner was just being led out of the an
l. tn
3lanche's arms were around his.neck tn,
an instant and she was saying some tut
ng | didn't understand. was thun- nil
struck. At last they broke away and be
!, looking toward me, gave sudden gil
IT. Ha
Your father, Miss?" asked. VIII
No, my husband was the reply. pal
You could have knocked me down car
h chunk Of fog was that weak. The moi
II seemed to open under me and bel
bed my eyes to see ii couldn't wake con
1t was no co. coughed violently doe
went into side room to get drink snii
water to clear my throat the
When | came back the Strings we're g
e and was called on for explana- I
s, which gave, The captain of the gat
1t watch laughed heartily and long y,
I tears came to his eyes. Hooked on wor
saw nothing to laugh about. ami
low | got out OF 1t don't know, but the
Is the recipient of many a rude Jest dres
a week or so until threatened to sma
on sight anyone that said Blanche WI"
ling In my presence.
seems that her husband had arrived Sc,
day before and was coming In late .,,
night when | mistook him for BAL,
lar. Ned Remlch was almost as bad NJ ~,
IS was, but the matter soon grew !, ~ !.