Los Cerrillos rustler. (Cerrillos, N.M.) 188?-1891, 1891-04-17

Il did not know that you were q
married man. Mr.. Undcrhiil. said
Miss Nilhcrforce. In tones which
showed that she was displeascd. De-.
cause the fact had been concealed from
her.
Feeling deeply the awkwarlness Of
the situation. Mr. undcrhin stammcrcd
out:
IL an not exactly married"
"What do you mean"
why, IL mean that ] am trying 10
get a divorce"
"Do you not love your wife,"
"Well. did love her: but she always
wanted 90 have her own way. aud IL
did not always want her 10 have H."
Perhaps you desired 90 have your
way, too, and would not respect her
wishes"
Mr. underhilHnoved ~nervously in his
chair.
II would not be my wifc's slave. II
Is humiliating for a man 20 be ruled by
a
81 presume Il Is: and Il Is also humil-
iating for "a woman 10 be deceived by a
man."
My dear Miss wilberforce, I can as
sure you that / meant no harm. as |
have intended 10 show you no more
than friendly attentions. / thought it
would be unnecessary and just as pleas
ant not TO mention the d~isagreeable
fact that ] was seeking n divorce"
Undoubtedly il seemed better 10 you
10 take such a course"
A long silence ensued. during which
Mr.. Underhill, a man both honorable
and sensitive, felt, as the saying is,
completely used up"
Miss Wilbertorce's important reason
for being disturbed was not known by
her companion. For Henry Maitland.
in whose conversation Mrs. Underhill
appeared to be much interested, she en-
tertained n tender feeling which she
had believed was fully rcciprocated. At
first she felt provoked that Henry
should he with a woman about TO be
divorced, but soon her fairness of mind
caused her to think that Henry might,
If he knew the fact, justly criticize her
for beingin the company of the woman's
husband.
Miss Wilberforce possessed, in n re-
markable degree, the quick intuition
peculiar to her sex, and, after watching
the c-ountenances of Mr.. and Mrs. I'm
derhill for a few moments, and recol-
lecting that what Mr.. Undcrhill had
said showed that he still loved his wife,
she came to the conclusion that they
really desired n reconciliation. but that
each was too proud 20 make any over
lures. 1t was u peculiar situation, in
which three, and perhaps four, persons
We're uncomfortable. The circum-
stances threatened TO widen the gull
between the ~estranged married couple,
and to draw the lovers into n serious
misunderstanding.
Now, Miss Wilbcrforce, as has been
mentioned, did not possess an unbend-
ing will; she could yield TO the wishes
of others or make concessions for the
benefit of her friends, when by so do
ing She neither transgressed n moral
rule nor compromised her self-respect.
She was sensible, and did nos believe
in endangering the happiness of herself
and acquaintance by maintaining n
barrier of false pride. In reality her
character was broader and stronger
than that of persons who plume them
selves on the possession of ~unbending
wills. She believed that il only re-
CURED n little iudicious maneuvering
TO harmonic the relations of -four per-
sons who were either jealous and
angry or in some way dissatisfied and
uneasy. Accordingly she resolved TO
act, II possible, as u messenger of peace.
Her method was simple. Turning her
face toward Mr.. Maitland, she waited
until she caught his eye, which was
rather difficult TO do, and then be-
witched him with an enchanting smile,
at the same time deftly reckoning him
to come to her. He hesitated, spoke to
Mrs. Underhill, who frowned but ex-
cused him, and with an uncomfortable
expression on his face wendell his way
slowly to where Miss Wilberforce sat.
The young lady greeted him cordially,
in spite of his evident embarrassment,
and introduced him TO Mr.. Underhill,
who nodded coolly, and did not offer to
shake hands.
"How happens II that you are with
Mrs. Underhill to-day?" the fair maiden
archly asked.
Mr.. Underhill's c-ountenance flushed
with anger and he bit his lip. On the
contrary, Mr.. Maitland looked relieved,
and eagerly answered:
'lt is easily explained. She is my
cousin. My father was her mothers
brother. AS she has lived in the south
and l in the north, it has happened
that we have never had the pleasure of
meeting each other until about "a week
ago. She is very agreeable woman. |
assure you"
The last remark caused Mr.. Under