Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-11


aashing, but said nothing Ralph was
really alarmed for BY this time her
face was very white. sAre you hurt
madam he asked, anxiously, Mo an
aWer. He began to talk. hoping thaf
she would break her angry silence.
4 hope you Will forgive me for
laughing You see thought you were
rer, some one else. And ] was 90 sur
prised could not help laughing Tell
me whether you are hurt Let me
help you" His face looked 90 hand.
some and so appealing that the stony
expression Of the woman softened
trife.
"Well, the least you can do ~ 70
| help me home. J" she said, grutiiy. I'm
all shook up" She evidently blamed
him for her fall. He raised her, ana
she leaned on him. gruhtins ana
groaning - n.
As they hobbled down the road.
Ralph restraining his mirth with DIM
| Guilty at this contrast Of his Dreams
Ills torn and spattered coz, bis yel-
| low shoes, and the woman leaning
heavily Oh his arm.
\ He glanced at her from time 70 time
and saw that her normal color had re.
turned and that the fan seemed 70
have done keF very little harm. ne
believed she had sprained her ankle.
A They walked on. She said nothing,
i Finally he began to BE- unpleasantly
aware Of her weight HIS arm
seemed almost paralyzed ana
4 drops Of perspiraticn came ouI
on his forehead. He stood
still q moment in the road. Would
| you mind changing to the other sideI
/ could support you with my right
arm, This one 10 getting . little
tired. The long lips Get into grim
line. Cant" responded the woman.
my other arms hurt TOO bad. Ae
wondered vaguely how her arm could
possibly be hurt, but said nothing. The
woman urged him on, II seemed q
Ralph interminably. Her weight
seemed greater each moment Hil
| breath began to come in short gasps
He knew that he had practically car
! ried her the whole distance.
She did not speak except to urs'
him to walk faster Finally, tneS
made one last turn and came With
sight Of small gray house set vel
! back from the road In q garden 9
roses. Red ramblers climbed owe
fence and porch.
u As the two drew near, q young glr
\ arose from the steps and hurried e
4 ward the gate. Oh! are you hurt
v Are you hurt?" she exclaimed, breath
lessly to the woman. The latter pu
n out her injured" arm and opened n
v gate with q bang. mol ! fell dow
4 but / want hurt q mite. Would q
been home an hour ago only ] wante
Il to teach some smart fools a lessor
She strobe up the walk and into II
d house, letting the screen door slal
after her.
II Again the helpless at Of laugntt
came upon Ralph. He leaned again
the gate, rubbing his numb arm an
shouting with mirth. This time D
had a sweet echo, and looked into
rosy face dimpled with fun. for aftt
4 one blank moment, and glance at u
81 state Of his attire, the girl ha
M seemed to divine all. In fash.
N The young man looked down som
:. what ruefully at his coat and shoes
. seem to have received the worst Of II
/. be said.
!. The girl looked up with a trace
y shyness. you could come In an
y clean up. DO not mind her. she's ?
7, culiar, but"
y He broke III with question. "An
~ relation3v he asked. What Il 81
= should be the mother!
"Nol Oh. moi We are boarding hei
!, my mother and |. Mrs. Thurstc
takes boarders every summer
\, She started toward the house. az
v Ralph followed. Mrs. Thurston m'
them At the door. She led the youn
y man 70 q room, supplied him vii
= water and clean towels IA grim silenc
But as she was leaving she pause
y alCimne that coat" Ralph handed
!. 70 her, and she disappeared,
= Presently she brought back z
4 coat. The long rip was neatly mende
y n0uess thiS'll DO till you can See
taiIor. Dinner ready Ia half an hour
y That dinner was 8 memorable even
* II was 9 well-cooked meal. served
4 the long bay windows where z
= rambler climbed IN over the silL M
\. Thurston lost some Of her grimnea
y and even smiled once or twice NJ
q Ysrrand. the girls mother was vsl
10 gracious.
= Ana the girl herselfi She sat By y
q open window, not IN the blue dress
- pictured, but IN snowy white.
nm hsr eyes were the lights and SHADOW
= the Impressions he bad seen IN =
be eyss Of the Dream OH around 7
=, INA A the stream. HIS wonderf
: -. - t.Aanl harun