Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-02-02

however. We became better friendsi no
on speaking terms Of course, but ina
friendly indifference that brings neithe
good nor evil. ~ s
Thirteen years that Chinaman serves
me faithfully, and In that proyerpia
year be took his celestial flight. Thir
teen years Of much the same thing, dal
In and day out, probably made me care
less to the fact that there is ever turf
in the road, and when II came, this hare
old heart OF mine was touched. since put
ting all the sweet things out Of my life
was attached to that Cninaman alone
vet we have much for which we may b
thankful, and even In my dire extremity
| was not without sympathy.
A certain widow who resided several
doors from me, on learning that ! hao
death In the family, came to OFFER hel
coincidence, and suggest q means Of DIS
posing with the remains Of my faithful
servant and friend, could not notify
any OF his race of his death, and did
not have the heart to give his body to
the medical students; so without the
help Of this Angel Of Mercy l should in
deed have been In a sorry plight.
was ashamed Of my antipathy to
women when she offered to defray the
expenses Of his burial, and to save my
feelings, suggested that | might pay II
back as I'found 1t convenient. And so
this sad chapter came to a close,
l may lack that fine sense Of feeling
but a week later found me longing for
something else in my life beside soil
tude. Perhaps the old longing of my
youth had been kindled anew for aught
know, but. be that as it may. | lived In
state OF constant unrest. Perhaps It
was money needed; perhaps 1t was the
widow. She had enough, and to spare,
but whatever meanness forms a part OF
my nature, believe me. could not stoop
to such means to obtain it. No! II she
could accept me, she must feel my de-
sires were prompted by love, and love
alone. But to demonstrate even this, !
must have some of the filthy quantity.
At last, strain and want deprived me
Of sleep, and night after night | lay
awake, thinking, dreaming of million
fancied wrongs on the part OF proVi-
dence, until more than once resolved
to drown my sorrows and liquidate my
indebtedness in the ebbing tide.
What would the widow think Of my
Would the publishers accept
the work Of my life? And last of all,
the strange thought: What had Wong
done with the money paid himi Thir-
teen years at $50 per month-$S,l2S!
Not a mean sum, that, and l wagered
some fellow celestial held the whole.
And lately, to add to my unrest, that
god Of Wong's had been making Pc
culiar sounds at night, and this ! deter
mined to end, planning to lay with my
revolver beside the bed. and let him have
the contents II the offense was repeated.
Constant strain had robbed me of all SEN
.iment in the matter.
At length dreaded night came. Nov,
have never been a praying man, but !
confess that this night | expressed
wishes to an unseen power that means
night be forthcoming for escape from
The dreadful groove into which l had
allen.
slept space and awoke with start.
lark! That god again. | reached for
nv revolver and waited, and presently
heard the same peculiar sound. |
lined In the direction Of the sound and
lred.
Now. | don't believe am coward, but
crash followed that left me in the cold,
,lammy sweat said to come before death
It length found courage to strike q
light, and my floor was covered with
20 gold pieces, the god split In twain
ring in the midst Of the Offering gold,
On examination, l found he had been
made Of two pieces followed from his
mouth to his stomach and glued together.
before glueing he had been carefully
added, 90 that any ordinary jar would
,etray no sound Of the matter within
i'm. Each month Wong had taken his
20. dropped It in the mouth Of the god,
nd the weight had long been too great
,r his construction. Ny aim was true,
or | struck him fair in the middle, caus-
ng rent that continued to spread from
he weight Of gold, and he lay, a pitiful
lreck. Pieces Of padding, gnawed into
its, explained the mystery Of the noise
ONE mice, creeping down his throat,
ound a well-made nest, and running
lver the gold at night, caused 1t to
lngle.
II Wong had any heirs, | did not know
ny course to pursue to ind them, 20 iig-
red | had every right to the treasure.
The mice7 Well, feel'so tenderly to-
7ard them that | have had gold-plated
mage made for q paper weight that
lille write may be reminded OF the
God fortune for which they are 10 .
MEASURE responsible.
The womani Well, we are very happy
lnce closer relationship has. to large
xtent, removed many Of my faults and
evealed many Of her virtues.
The hei Well, / still retain my an
Ipathy to falsehood. = Overland
ionthly.