Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-09-08
PLAYING WITH FIRE.

roaming over the Ucaca Ut bllhcOuceu IN
COY, sheltered spots. Women, rosy pink
with the heat, were leisurely c%rochcting
and gossiping, emphasizing tneirremaT,,s
with the movement Of the white ivory
needles. Bright eyed men, their smiling
listeners. idly traced hioroglyphics ON
the sand. Happy children, watched over
by white capped nurses, made mud pies
TO their hearts content.
Over one small groul Of lourgers pre-
sided a young woman, whose pensively
graceful. delicate featured face was one
of rare sweetness. Her hair was blond,
her mouth fresh as a child'n, while in her
black eyes quivercd ,.gh AMI shadows
as on a placid fet-o a crowd OF young
men were gathered about her, each one
anxious 70 claim part Of her attention
by some triviRl little speech. Now and
then sho would quietly ltop q word, and
every one stopped sizing to hsarGnd ap-
plaud her.
Marguerite Helm was a Norwegian.
She had married FOR love q counttyman
Of hers, q painter, hut no had died soon
after. Gifted with a marvellous voice.
she had resolved to make it her means of
support. Going to Prris, shc had shut
herself up for g yegr with her grief and
her musical studies. Her stay at Luc-
sur-Mor was tho FIRST dissipation Of her
widowhood.
just nu7r TIC conversation had turned
on "a foreigners diiicultyin using French
idioms. AL her admirers seized the en-
p%oriunity to compliment her OF her igo-
ticience in the language.
asFH.Ma1...-~- - rf.m musT r-1Tan1- af.a..-
shall each tell mo which word in all
your language you prefer"
After a moments hesitation the con
test began. To the mon it was a pretext
for new ~gallantries.
Marguerite, sighed one.
Norway. murmured another.
Lover suddenly exclaimed n boys
undeveloped voice-a voice 5uht Under
going q changc.
The word was SO impulsiyely Ut eTed
that everybody started, EIarguCIto her
self bent forward TO seegtio Speaker. II
was jacques Lespar, a mere boy of al.
most girlish beauty. His white fore
head. his straight nose, with its sensitive
n~ostrils. his slender, refined hauds-all
bctokenod good blood. His penetrating
eyes fixed theuseIvcsupon those Of Nine.
Helm. Hers were filed with a sweet.
indulgent curiosity.
well, there really are no mere chill
dren. Make way for the yo5net" wb-o
the remarks head from tho men.
Happily the dinner hour was near, and
the group dispersed. Jacques and Nine.
Helm remained together. They both
felt a little embarrassed at being alone,
and neither knew what to say. Finally
they began to talk of the weather, Of the
superb days and warm evoaiDg1. Iltl
the boy escorted Marguerite to her hotel
and went home.
Ever since the beginning Of the season
he had silently admired Nine. Helm. A
subtle A5scination irresistibly attracted
him to her. When she took her morning
stroll, he instinctively walked behind
her, liko O dog following his master.
When she sat down on the beach amid
her admirers. he furtively slipped in
among them, envying, with all the
strength of his ingenious youth, the
young men who could laugh with her On
the old gentleman who called her "Deal
child" How often he had tried tospoal
10 herl But the great Cadneas rising IN
his heart at his utter insigniicauce would
choke the words in his throat.
An orphan from his cradle, he was en-.
tirely alone in tho world. A distant rel
ative had become his guardian and di
rected his education. de grudgingly
managed jacques finances and bestowed
only a scant affection upon his ward
The boys generous nature was starved
in this atmosphere Of Indifference, and
he at once loved Marguerite with all the
energy Of long suppressed feeling. II
was his first passion, and like o rici
spendthrift he. laid ut her feet all the
treasures Of his heart. As to being paid
in return, he never dared think Of that
Ho would have been satisfied Il, Ike Z
priest at Gods altar, hs might be al
lowed 20 worship Marguerite al his life
After that August afternoon Jacques
and Mime. Helm were frequently to
gether. They talked oyor their plans
and being mutually attracted learned t.
know each other well. Every day aftol
breakfast they walked on the quay, and
the boy MADE the young woman his con.
hdant. Marguerite heard his gay,
speeches with a smile and reciprocatel
by giving good advice with almost moth.
erly tenderness.
Time passed on and often when re
turning from their walk tho day dice
with the setting sun. Tho women com
ing home would greet them with som'
MALT audible, TESTING rolnars; the rasa
mullins would gigglo at them on th,
road, and the men bow, with a sort d
pleased, boOrish p~oliteness.
II was the first time since her depar
ture from Norway that Nine. Helm for
got her sorrow, She liked her role Of
tndcr mamma and put an uncOnscioui
ci5quetry into her conduct. She would
often prelude her remarks with, 81, M
Jacques, who am ia old women anl
she smiled 10 think Of her three anc
twenty years.
She did not dream how this chile
naored her. Only once did q eight doubt