Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-06-27
A SONS WIFE.


equally faultless attitudes-when Ir4atch-
key ratified in the door, and Fred's hearty
voice rang out clear and cheerful:
Here we are Susie. Never mind the
traps. Tom will attend to them" And
the door of the drawing room opened to
admit Fred and Fred's wife.
The ladies all rose and greeted the new
corners with perfection of courtesy and
gentleness of tone that were as cordial az
Jumps of ice, yet so perfectly well bred
that, fret as he might, Fred could find no
room for fault finding. Mrs. Frederick
Holbrook was eased Of her cloak and hat;
an easy chair was drawn to the fire for her
use. But if the ladies had expected to
crush the intruder under the weight of po-
Tito ceremony they were disappointed.
The bride wore plain steel colored pop
linz her hair, of rich dark brown, was gath
cred back from fair, sweet face. Not an
ornament broke the simplicity of her trav-
cling dress, yet she could fairly rival the
beauty of her sisters in law in their rich
dresses.
''She Is beautiful and refined" Coralie
thought half angrily, land that travelling
dress fits her as if it was cut in Paris"
Fred, busy all day, was satisfied In the
evening to see his wife fayoritc and ap
parently happy at home, and asked no
questions where no complaints were made
But Susie, gentle and sensitive, lived in
daily martyrdom of courteous cruelty
Matters were in this promising condi-
ton when Fred was obliged to leave home
for three months.
To say that Susio's heart sank at the
- H. To-, l,N
uncheered by Fred s presence, unsupported
by his love- would give but faint idea of
her dismay.
Yet, when he was gone, in her lonely
grief she did make another effort to win II
daughters and sisters place in the house
hold. The failure was complete. Uncheck-
cd by the fear of Freds displeasure, the
three ladies allowed their jealousy and dis
like full sway.
There were no little domestic duties to
draw them together Well trained serv
ants attended to such matters.
Christmas festivities and New Years
receptions were over when Mrs. Holbrook
was taken sick with what seemed to be u
feverish cold Maria, her maid, was her
nurse, and Susie's offers of service being
coldly declined the lady grew worse, with
little loving care to comfort her
1t fell with an indescribable shock upon
all when the physician, entering the sit
ting room one morning, informed them
that Mrs. Holbrook had unmistakable
symptoms Of smallpox. Coralie fell into
Mysteries. Ernestinc began to faint, but
finding no one noticed her concluded to
recover Susie spoke to the doctor:
IT boyo mot 1,oop allowed tn Nfrs
Holbrook. Is she very ills"
''She is today and delirious If you have
not seen her, however, there is not the
least danger of contagion. You had bet
ter, however, leave the house. Her daugh-
tiers will be sufficient nurses"
ZIP" shrickcd Ernestinc. II nurse the
smallpox shall go to my Aunt Mary S
at once"
II shall go with Ernestine," said Cor
allie, going toward the door, but before she
reached it she fell fainting in good earnest.
''roo late for you to escape, my lady, y
said the doctor. You are already on the
road to the sickness. Now, Mrs. Holbrook,
you may run too. will hire II nurse"
IL have no idea Of running" said Susie
gently, though her face was pale. Il am
u good nurse, doctor Tell me what you
wish DONE"
But the doctor first tried to dissuadc her.
He knew a little of the position the young
wife bore SO patiently and thought she
strained her duty. But Susie was resoluto.
1t was Fred's mother, Fred's sister, and
they should have the chance for recovery
that tender nursing would give them. She
consented willingly to take every precall-
ton the doctor advised and entered at once
upon her self imposed task
An hour later every frightened servant
had left the house. Coralie had recovered
from her insensibility in delirium, and the
young nurse had to face her duties alone.
No task was too revolving, no duty too
| disgusting, If the comfort of the invalids
| required it's performance, and the room
was kept always as sweet as was possible.
1t was touching to see how Susie fought
for Coralie's beauty, applying cooling To-
tions to the burning, itching face and
striving to keep the gloss of the fever dried
hair.
Her reward began when her patients
passed the crisis Of their illness and q
nurse was finally procured to give hel
some assistance. Few words of repent
ance were spoken, but by every mute ap
peal did Coralie and her mother show
their contrition.
I Fred was coming home. That was the
news that met Susie when her patients
were pronounced out of danger, all risk Of
contagion over and Ernestine recalled
from her exile. Servants We're engaged
i the house put in order, and on the day the
traveller returned Mrs. Holbrook and Cora
lie came for the first time to the drawing