Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-12-21

porch rail he went. Inc Winuo" NO
found unfastened. Carefully he raised
It and felt his way into the room. To
his establishment he saw ray OF
light beneath the door and heard
voices In the adjoining room-where
the stockings were to be hung.
"Well, Amabel," her father was say
ing. what did Romeo have to say to-
night?"
The reply was a sniff from Amabel'
which Andrew interpreted as being a
suggestion to her father that he mind
his own affairs.
"Did you give him the neckue"
Amabel's mother asked.
YES"
did he like lit"
"He never looked at It."
well, I must say! In my time
young man would have shown more
gallantry." -,
mot a Hillington, mother" Mr..
Tuttle said. "They never think OF
what to say until week later"
Andrew grated his teeth. This was
true, but not pleasant.
"Well, you couldn't expect him to
tell how he liked u when he hadn't
seen It," Amabel said, stoutly. AND
It wouldn't have been polite for ham
IN look at it right there--besideS, i
phouldu't have given 1t to him To-
night" 0u
mo" her mother said. THAT made
1t look as though you expected some
thing from him."
Andrew was standing in the dark
mass. in the middle of the room. he
wished the family would quit taking
-especially as they were talking OF
him-and go to bed and allow MIN 10
drop his gift into Amabers stocking.
He did not dare TO move, for fear OF
running into some furniture. He
hardly dared breathe.
Suddenly from down street came
the clang Of gong. Also the clatter
of horses hoofs on the frozen high
way and the rumble Of wheels. Tne
noise increased as the horses drew
near, to subside and cease In front OF
the house. The Tuttles heard 1t.
Must be a fire, or the patrol Wag'
on" Mr.. futile exclaimed, throwing
omen the room where Andrew stood.
Andrew darted behind bookcase just
in time. Mr.. futile went through the
room to the hall and opened the front
door. Mrs. futile followed him, de'
sn,te Amabels remonstrances that she
would catch cold.
There was the sound OF hurried
footsteps up the walk.
whats the matter7" Mr.. Tuttle
asked,
"Where is he?" said q voice.
"Where's whO?"
"Patrolman Jones telephoned thai
he saw a man breaking into you
house."
Andrew shivered with alarm. Thu
was a predicament. To be arrested
as q burglar, to be carted on to JAN
without a chance to explain. III
ueered from behind the bookcase ant
saw Amabel dreamily hanging he
stocking. He swiftly came from hi
! hiding place, and silently hurried =
her side. Taking the package iron
his pocket, he whispered:
"Amabel! IL forgot to tell you
love you, and here's my proposal an
the engagement ring, tool"
The mere fact that he had appeare
thus mysteriously at her side did nc
appeal to Amabel. She did not tnin
Of that at all. She said:
"Oh, Andrew"
y And she then allowed herself {
fall into his arms.
b. That there was much excited col
lie yersation in the hail. that men Wer
n, running around the house and peerin
IN into dark corners In the basement an
er in the upper rooms was something
to which Andrew and Amabel were e.
ds tirely unaware. Mr.. and Mrs. Tut
lis came back, after the officers had gor
sr. away utterly bewildered. Even the
en- had been so excited that the present
he Of Andrew struck them as nothing U
usual. Amabel's shy but delighted a
M nouncement Of her engagement was
ny ceived merrily, however. In fat
70, father and mother futile and q
he young people got SO deep in the
in plans for the future that they almo
de forgot the incident until suddenly y
OF futile said:
i'd. 81 wonder who the dickens IN
ad burglar was, anyhow
np T-In bet It was mel" Andre
stammered.
in. well, l must fix that window tom'
row." Mr.. futile decided.
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