Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-02-25

puritanical rigidity, and had she live
in the time Of martyrs would bav
gone to the stake rather than tell
falsehood. But her desire to. win tn
wager had somewhat clouded her mora
vision, and white lie and black III
seemed hardly akin. In her twentieth
year she certainly had not reached thu
age of spinsterhood, and she had nevel
taught school; SO she could see nj
wrong in denying this charge
For the next week she buried herself
in the library, where she delved int
dusty, dog-eared books and brought
forth nuggets of wisdom which she
slowed away In her memory for fu-
ture use.
One morning she startled her father
by preventing him with five dollars and
demanding share In his Dawson mine.
He mildly protested, but her persuasion
won, and she received the deed.
Eleanor's appearance that evening
gave one the impression that she was
writing a learned thesis. With flushed
cheeks and hair charmingly disheveled,
she eagerly studied the pieces of paper
with which the table was strewn. Some
contained mining terms and statistics,
while others we're finely written with
phrases and even sentences cribbed
from various mems letters.
The girl felt repaid. however, when
the next note arrived from the post
mistress. The writer wondered how
she had ever doubted that her CORES
pondent was man. you must have
laughed heartily over my mistake" she
continued, but your knowledge of min
ing and your ownership In Dawson
claim have convinced me that you are
a broad-shouldered, bronze-faced
miner"
Eleanor showed this letter with great
pride to her brother, and informed him
that she preferred chocolate creams,
while he reminded her that the Yukon
was not yet frozen.
Frequent letters passed between the
San Francisco girl and the postmis-
tress OF Circle City during the succeed
Ing months. At times Eleanor'A con-
science gave uncomfortable twinges,
Tor her enjoyment in this practical joke |
had gradually been merged in keen
interest in this fearless frontier woman.
IF 1t weren't for losing the wager"
she confessed to her brother on their |
way to dinner three months after the
sending of the first letter, Il would
write to her that l am only a mere
Zip of girl and not the six-footer
The imagines me. The postmistress is
'oming out this winter, and"
MY gloves are rather shabby" re-
marked the man, but l guess they'll
asst until"
'Oh, don't count on my giving up at
his eleventh hour" interrupted his sis
er, "and there is no chance of the post
Mistress discovering my identity, for
he is convinced that | am a young
iercules, calls me her big Califor-
ian,' and fear she Is becoming very
ond Of me, Harold"
Take care" warned her brother, "or
OH will have a breech of promise suit
gainst you"
At the dinner table Eleanor found
erself seated beside her hostess
ephew, a sturdy Alaskan miner, who
nd recently returned from the Klon-
Ike. In the hurried introduction she
I'D not understood his name. or
PURSE he should have devoted him
III to the young woman ON his right,
ut the light In Eleanor's eyes as she
Joke Of the beauty of his fosterland,
'gether with her sweetness, held him,
I'd the girl herself found It difficult .
turn her attention from this face,
which were welded physical courage
I'd Intellectual ability. Besides she
I'd discovered that the young man :
ID spent much time at Circle City,
ID thought he might know the post !
istress. Here was her opportunity =
discover more about her delightful I
respondent. Salad had been served :
fore the girl managed to turn the J
nversation to the subject. The man !,
anced up quickly. What do you ;,
low about the postmistress Of Circle =
ty" he asked, watching her mar =
WHY.
"0h, | know great deal about her.
least-I mean--I-I have never met =.
r, but" Eleanor was becoming :,
pelessly entangled In the meshes Of :"
r own deception. Il have seen some =
tiers that she has written to an &C. :,
aintance Of mine," she declared, des- "
rately, land | think she is the most
woman | have ever heard
She has endured the perlls and
rdships Of that northern life with the "
irage Of man, and her description ~ =.
the trip over the Chilcoot pass and =,
'ough the White Horse rapids fills =,
. with admiration for her bravery" a.
You are bold champion to espouse !.
cause Of one whom you have never "
I" declared the man.
But know her very well, through "
} letters she has written toto my v,
End. Her moral courage is equal to ~
physical. Not an atom of bitter "
IS or discomfort has entered into her :,
cription Of the months she has spent .