Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-09-20

nv FRANK Davis.

4 neATO bUuOthAAb - 49,
day that made me a bit uneasy" N
aaid. II was told that that DUDE IRON
gt Louis has been shining arount
here. Begins to look as though tner'
was a rival in the field" and Jacl
GLADDEN. assumed a melodramatc ar
mo. SIR" she said, sharply, there's
no 'riyar in the fleld-only your iach
Of manners; gentleman wouldn''
talk the way you do"
He had always liked to see ner mare
up like thls-it was a refreshing
break in the monotony Of smooth loye
making: but, somehow, she seemed
more in earnest now than usual, and
| It irritated him.
mo, Grace" he said, Il presume Q
gentleman wouldn't talk tnat way
but a man would, when he wants the
girl he loves TO turn from the erros
Of her ways"
They were sitting In the shade OF
a big elm. back Of the house. The
day was warm, and the girl famed
herself vigorously with the magazine
she had been pretending to read. HeE
face was flushed with something De-
sides the heat, as she replied to ms
sarcasm.
"Jack, you are always talking about
the girl you 4ove, when, II you only
knew 1t, you don't love anyone but
yourself. You really make me weary
with your everlasting nonsense" ana
the fan moved with accelerated Vigor
I'VE have known each other all our
lives. DEAR" said Jack, In sudden
humility, "and / have loved you ever
since can remember; do you really
think am that sort Of fellow"
what sort Of a fellow?" asked the
girl, not looking at him, and she very
carefully examined the advertising
pages of her magazine.
Didn't you Just say that am self
ash-don't love anyone but myselfT
well, you don't" she retcrted; III
you did, you would talk less and do
something. You are % years old, and
you don't seem to have any ambition
to do anything except work your
mothers 40-acre farm. You have
good education, why don't you use
IT."
He generally enjoyed these scolding
motherly lectures; now, they stirred
him to bitterness, and he said. with
boyish petulance: II suppose you are
mentally comparing me with Mr..
Henry Souders, the gentleman from
st. Louis"
"You talk like a boy, Jack; and ]
I am afraid you will always be one"
She was 10.
Jack subsidized into sulky, troubled
silence. Above them, in the topmost
branches, a thrush began to sing, In
pure, sweet notes, love-song to Its
mate.
A step was heard on the walk, fol-
lowed moment later by Mr.. Henry
eouders, "the gentleman from st.
Louis" Good afternoon" said he,
hat In hand. II hope l don't intrude.
They told me at the house that ]
should hnd you here, but they did not
inform me that you had company"
and he glanced in deprecatory way
at Jack; but that young man did not
appear to notice him.
Miss Grace Hadley rose to her feet.
"Why, how do you do, Mr.. Souders?
Certainly you don't intrude. My
friend, Mr.. GLADDEN.. Mr.. Souders."
Jack Acknowledged the introduction
moth awkwardly and rudely. "Glad to
make your acquaintance" he said,
without rising. Grace shot him a
ook Of mingled anger and disgust.
What a boor Jack Is She wondered
now she had ever fancied herself In
love with him.
Mr.. Souders, with perfect self-pos-
session, sat down on q corner Of the
rustic seat, and began making him
self agreeable. "For shade" he said,
there's nothing comparable with the
American white elm" and he glanced
up at the heavy masses Of dark green
foliage overhead.
mo, I'm sure there isn't" ac-
Quiesced Grace. Papa says that he
wouldn't take $500 for this tree"
Jack mentally concluded that the
old gentleman wouldn't, either, and
he felt like saying 80, but he didn't.
This question Of shade seemed an
important one, and Mr.. Soudera
turned to Jack: "what is your opin-
ion about It, Mr.. Gladden." he asked
lowing to the kind Of weather."
was the reply, and Jack continued t.
watch measuring" worm, a. Il
measured it's way up a blade Of grass
Mr.. Souders smiled Approximately.
Mr., Souders was determined to b.
pleasant. you're a farmer. aren't
youi" he asked.
Jack locke up from bis worm
SYes, sir, am. Why9F
Grace stirred uneasily in her seat.
Mr.. souders, however, had met
country pumpkins before. and snil-
ingly replied: 70, nothing, only !
thought ! saw you blowing in the
feld near the schoolhouse as passed
yesterday morning"
Jack felt somehow, that this we'll
groomed, city-bred chap was politely
making fun Of him. Jealousy, like
love, ls blind. and Jack was absurdly
Jealous Just now. Mr.. souderu, how
aver. was aimplv irving "a ha asrn..