Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-16
A ROSE FOR A WIFE.

\ LUZ foh AAiiGShui'
"Never, 1 tell your cried the young
widow, with excitement. "That would
be the last straw indeed. Why" she add
ed, she has not been to see us for an eter-
nifty"
"The last time was just a week age"
responded the older lady dryly.
IA fortnight ago."
II thought 1t was week"
Three weeks, now that come to think
of it, !" maintained Frau Won Gerboth.
The whistle of the locomotive announc-
ing the approach of their destination
brought the discussion to close. 1t pro-
duced an effect like the blast Of an alarm
bugle sounded in the ears of sleeping SOL
diers and announcing the unexpected ap-
pearance of the enemy near their camp.
In few seconds tho two ladies stood
armed to the teeth and ready for the fray,
which, being interpreted, means they were
loaded down with the thousand and one
parcels, bags, satchels, shawls and UNI
brcllas and were waiting for the train to
slow up and the door to be opened.
The conductor, who at length opened
the door and helped the ladies out WAS a
remarkable looking person for such an Of
flee. His handsome, strongly marked fea-
lures had distinct military appearance.
His mustache was as fierce as any adjutant
could have desired and his hands were
cased in faultless kid gloves. His clothes
were also not those of railroad officer,
and his hat was certainly not of the sort
provided by the railway company for their
servants and employees.
VrtI Int|~ al, ,c,tr v>nrl
lightly from the car, noticed nothing If
all this, and in her anxiety to get seat in
the hotel omnibus had eyes for nothing
else whatever. Then suddenly the voice
of the polite conductor opened her eyes to
his identity.
"Herr Won Hilgenan! How on earth
did,
Twill you allow me the pleasure of &C.
companying you to the hotelf" no said in
a low voice that bore witness to old &C.
quaintnnce, while the other lady hurried
on to get seats in the omnibus.
II suppose there is nothing else for mo
to do under the circumstances, she said,
with well feigned annoyance, as the ON
nibus rolled away behind the two horses.
"Is 1t very far?" she added, with pleas
anter smile.
7 sit will only take us Is minutes to
walk" he said, .'and the path is shady
and cool. "
Then they began the walk side by side.
'Now tell me-" she began, show in the
name of goodness did you know that was
coming here?''
oh" he replied, with sly look in his
eyes, "there were a few indications that l
was not slow to notice. You also let drop
q few remarks in conversation with your
elderly friend who has gone ON in the om-
nibus to the hotel"
eyes, but you have not seen me to speak
to. for over week." she commenced,
land you had no special interest in MOTTO
ing my plans for the future"
us it only week since we last met?'
he replied tenderly without noticing the
latter part of her sentence.
1T is indeed only week, he went on,
answering his own question. "Now tell
me why you have come here, he added.
She made no answer, but for some min
utes seemed lost in reflection.
Herr Won Hilgenan, think you are
really tho cleverest man ever knew" she
said at length, with knocking smile "but
tell me what you are doing in this lonely
out of the way corner of the world"
"Oh," he answered carclessly, yet not
SO carelessly as he would have wished his
voice to seem, Il have come here to collect
wild flowers and''- He stopped suddenly
And have come here" she said, pre-
tending she did not see the embarrassment
written on his face, II have come here to
feel happy and enjoy life.
II acknowledgements
-to-use--a---compan he said slow
ly aud with slight tremor in his voice
that he could not control.
''Ach," she replied archly, "have not
my dear old Thekla?"
''Oh, you hypoorite!'' he thought to
himself. but you shall not escape me so
easily"
THAT is true he said aloud 81 had
almost forgotten her for the moment
Nevertheless trust you will from time to
triple alliance?"
Eyes, certainly" she cried. "It takes
three, you know, to form triple alliance
Still we can play hide and go seek, and
Thekla can hide"
why do you persist in making fun OF
mo, gracious lady' Must again say that
I honor you so-so-that l could even
bring the stars down from the sky If you
wished itS''
She had grown a little roster, and her
heart was beating quickly, but she had no
intention of being too easily caught.
You're getting quite eloquent" she
said tcasingly, "but the stars don't APP
pear In the daytime, you know"
"Oh, Frau Won Gerboth, can you not
listen to me seriously for moment cven?"
he begged, with shade of annoyance in
his voice.
stake you seriorslys Ach, my dear lieu.
tenant" she continued in the same ban
tering tone, "how many thousand brave
mon have promised us poor women to
snatsh the stars for us from the sky! But
as soon as we take them at their word
they fail us altogether. Don't you know
the story of the glove that tho proud
knight of Delorges was told to pick up for
his sweetheart, KunigundeP She got it in
the face, poor, foolish Rirl'
"Delorges had no heart" he said. II
would have stood the test very different
ly."
"You would not have gone to get the
glove at all, chr"
"You have never demanded such test
OF me.
"Who knowsf But there you are again,
the same as all the other men. You begin
by talking of catching the stars and then
cry down even at glove"
''By no MEANS" cried he eff there
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