Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-05-19
.-A40E-A.
Three. Faces
GEORGE :. PICKETT

4 lcepyrishs. iso,. BY Daily story Pub. COL X.
1.-THE Verney mansion was abloon
| i with flowers. Roses glowed Il
gold and silver vases In parlor an
Ihall and vines trailed up the long stair
ways. t ~ Y g
| In an upper room the heiress TO- tn
magnificent mansion and the broas
acres surrounding 1t, arrayed in brida
robe. was submitting to the hna
touches Of skilful hands and LISTENING
to the chatter Of her maids.
Il am her maid of honor" said thu
tall, dark girl who was arranging hel
veil. "She must give me her bouquet
else where are the privileges Of my po'
sition?" --5
THAT is not fair" replied a maiden
whose golden curls fell in riotoui
mass over the tiny slipper she was fit-
ting to the foot Of the bride. "You
have highest place and will be the most
observed and admired. She must throw
her bouquet fairly and let chance select
the fortunate one"
III you do not go away now and give
some attention to your own adornment
you will not be ready to 60 down with
me and there will be no fortunate one
to receive my flowers. Had / known
you were going to quarrel like this !
would not have allowed you to send
my dressing maid away so you might
practice the art of costumery at my
expense. Go of now, every one Of
you"
Putting them out and shutting the
door, she came back to the center Of
the room and stood looking about her.
She was taking leave of that room, the
sanctum OF her maiden life, and Of all
the beautiful things in 1t which had
been her pride and Joy in the happy
days she had spent there. Tears came
to her eyes as she thought that those
days were going away from her for
ever. She would leave everything in
the room just as 1t had always been
and come back to 1t sometimes, but
It would never be the same. 1t would
belong only to her little episodes then;
never again to her life.
She knelt and said prayer for the
Of that coming life-for its
true happiness. Not that it might be
free from the thorns that are the lot of
Ill who tread well the path of life, but
that two might walk hand in hand and
bring blessing each to the other that
would heal every wound and light the
darkness Of the road until 1t should
merge INTO the shining way. She re-
nembered in ner petition, too, the little
life that was being given to her care,
or Alan Warrington had once had a
ovely young wife, who had died and
eft a little boy to comfort him for her
oss. NJ ....
She stood by the window and looked
'ut at the ripping river in the distance
md away over to the horizon where |
he dreams of her childhood had taken
orm in the days gone by. She heard |
arriages driving up to the door. She |
ould hear them bowl around the curve
nd turn into the drive. There the
eavy, arching trees hid them from
lew. Some one came running down
he winding road. She observed him
lily, scarcely consciou- of his presence. |,
lie came on up the pathway to the
COR. s.-~, ~.r.z 2 z
How still the house was. The muir
lur of moving forms and light voices
ad suddenly been stilled. It was the
ush of expectation, she thought. Alan
'ould soon be there. 1t had been a dis
ppointment to him that he could not
ave had one sweet hour. with her to
cse the old life before they had en-
red on the new. He was stationed at
fort in the west with his regiment
nd weddings were not included in mil
airy duties; especially, when there was
q excitement on the border. So he
as to arrive just before the hour set
" the ceremony. = /,
Something was coming down the
'ad. moving slowly. As it came near
she saw four men carrying stretch
covered over with q dark cloth.
Thy was SO gloomy a thing coming
wv? ,+-.,h as-. .e5
After a long time her mother came
, all the light gone out OF her face.
Inevra held out her hands, -
you need not tell me-" she said in
voice softer than whisper. yet more
sistent than a thunder-tone. ALAN
dead and you have come to tell me.
will go to meet him. He cannot come