Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-10-01
WHATS IN A NAME?"

IL all CtiiilG dDOIU tHIOuBA Willing thoo
prize and getting my name published
broadcast throughout the length and
breadth of the land. 1t is, of course, fine
thing to wake up one morning and find
ones self famous, but even this apparent
ly has it's drawbacks. 1 did not mind the
crafty appeals for help, the willy prospec-
fuses of fortunes to be made by taking
shares in this or that bogus company, or
even the we'll laid schemes of horse racing
pools that came in by every post, but when
1t came to downright misrepresentation
thought the limit had been quite over
stepped.
1t was about fortnight after the day
on which my humble patronymic was
blazoned forth to tho world as the winner
of much coveted prize that received the
following remarkable communication:
cat last have found you, villain!
Your hiding place is no longer secret,
for have read in public print your hate
full name and address, Scoundrel! Those
whom you are bound by every earthly tie
to cherish and support have been cruelty
left to the tender mercies of the parish,
while you doubtless have lived a life Of
and day of retribution Is at hand! l,
your lawful wife, and my six children
your children-will make it our business
to call on you and demand the rights a
husband and father has so long with
held! Beware! You have extended to us
no mercy; we will show none to you!
Your loving wife, SUSAN"
To say that was knocked back by this
strange epistlo is only to express half
truth. 1t fairly took the wind out of my
sails. My wife and children-six of them
This was surely coming it strong toward
a young fellow who only few weeks pre-
viously had celebrated his twenty-third
birthday. did not even possess that in
dispensable dcsideratum to family man
"a wife. True, was soon going to have
one, for-and this is little secret between
ourselves-the banns of marriage between
the accomplished Clementina Wilks and
myself had been called for the third time
only on the previous Sunday, and week
hence was to SEQ us united forever in the
bonds Of natrimony. This by the way.
OF course I knew there must be some
terrible mistake in the document held in
my hands, but that knowledge did not
make the perusal of it any the more agree
able. 1 could plainly see that itmight
easily lead to some little awkwardness at
o time when least wanted any. How
over, 1 was determined not to let the thing
unduly worry me, SO, swallowing the mat
utinal tea and toast, l shortly afterward
lit cigarette and set out for the perform
ance of my daily duties, finally consoling
myself by coming to the conclusion that
the affair was probably stupid joke on
the part Of some freakish FRIEND and
should hear no more Of 1t.
At little later than my usual hour in
the afternoon returned to my lodgings
and then saw-a fact Of which was not
previously aware-that I had stupidity left
this very remarkable communication be-
hind me on leaving home in the morning,
for 1t lay on sideboard open for any one
to read. guessed, Of course, that the land
lady had, by virtue Of a landlady's in
alienable rights, made herself by this time
familiar with its contents, but did not
challenge her on the point. was more
concerned to know if any one else had
done so, too, and with that view inquired
If there had been any visitors during the
day.
"Only Miss Wilks," was the landlady's
reply, with sort Of bottled up smile. "She
came about an hour ago, thinking you
would be home, and after staying few
minutes suddenly left"
Suddenly left! Had she then read the
stupid thing9 Doubtless. Although I
knew Clcmentina to be q not more than
ordinarily inquisitive girl, tho near ap-
proach of our marriage seemed to give her
sort Of right to make herself acquainted
with anything that concerned my welfare,
and what was more natural than that she
should feel real interest in the correspond
ence Of the man who week hence would
be her husband9 Oh, yes, felt sure she
had read it; but, then, she was sensible
girl and would surely sec the thing III its
right light. OF course she would. But l
would much rather have told her about 1t
myself than that she should acquire the
knowledge of 1t by her own means How
annoying 1t all was, to be sure!
1t was some time later when sailed
forth to the home of my beloved for tho
usual evening visit How pretty the little
villa looked wherein she dwelt, with its
sloping grass lawn and beds Of brilliant
geraniums How proudly the tulips rear
ed their heads above the blue lowered
iris that skirted the garden wall, how
fragrant the honeysuokle that climbed
around the artfully designed entrance and
what wealth Of floral beauty was dis
played in the miniature conservatory that
encircled the drawing room window! But
how much more lovely than all was Glenn
entina herself, as she stood awaiting me
inside the room in all the beauty of bud
ding womanhood, with her brilliant eyes
and flushing cheeks
rushed forward to greet my charmer
with all my customary effusiveness. did
not get quite the rec Iption expected.
"Monster" cried Clementina, drawing
herself up to her full height Of 5 feet Q and
waving me off with her hands, SAP,
proaoh me notl Have you the effrontery
to insult me with your polluted presence,
you base manT
For woman who in half dozen days
is expected to become ones wife I thought
this rather rich, but as knew Clementina
had hankering after stage effect con-
cluded she was acting and laughed at her.
"Ah You mock me, vile thing! Quit
my presence and go-go to your wife and
childrenl'' shrieked the fair one, evidently
In earnest.
"Clsmentina, don't be stupid" said.
"Thero is mistake. know to what you
allude. You have been to my rooms and
read stupid note addressed to me. tell
you It Is all mistake"
"And pretty mistake for mel' cried
She "But, thank heaven, have discov-
cred 1t in time before 1t became irrepara-
BILE. oh, you monstcrW
"Heas me, Clementina, like the sensible
girl I've always taken you to be, / plead
ed. y ell you the whole thing 10 ap er-