Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-11-01

| morrow Oh Gno AII6FuOOu trulu. ISL IL
mean, after all my preparations tooi'
Jack thought 1t was, and the subject
dropped In the evening they went over
to the Van Pluys' to play whist, and Edith
and MIR. Van Pluys beat Jack and Mrs.
Van Pluys, much to Edith's delight and
Jack chagrin, for If there was one thing on
which Jack prided himself it was his whist
and his famous combination play of the
king second hand which had never failed
Of its object, but did fail signally that
night.
For some unaccountable reason the next
day did not pass as we'll for Jack in the
city. Everything seemed to go wrong
His typewriter spoiled two briefs when
they were almost done, and he dropped his
big inkstand and spilled all Of the ink Oh
the pretty rug which he and Edith had
selected to make the office look more
CHEEKY. When it came time for him to go
to the station, he was glad and sank with
In his accustomed seat with sigh of re-
lief. He remembered the affair Of the day
before and wished that he had told Edith
and compromised with himself by decid-
ing to tell her when he reached home. The
monotonous rattle of clicking cars Jared
upon him, and he could not read. When
the train stopped at West Alton, his tenn
per had not improved materially, and
when he ran into fat man with two grips
he did not even beg the fat mans pardon,
although he knew that it was his own
fault, but muttered savagely something
about people not looking where they were
going.
| Edith did not meet him at the gate as
| hot <o%a I, Az,
he neared the little porch he heard the
sound of animated voices One was Edith's
The other sounded strangely familiar.
Where had he heard it beforep He racked
| his brain, but could not determine. AS
he opened the door to the cool, darkened
sitting room Edith met him.
"Maude has come Jack, " she said and
dragged him into the room where, seated
on the divan with the big cushions, was q
white form which his eyes, unaooustomed
to the dimness Of the room, could not make
out.
"Maude, this is my husband, Jack, :"
said Edith. "You remember Jack?"
II believe that we have had the pleasure
of meeting more recently, Mr.. Strong"
said Maude, with roguish smile.
"Er-ah, yes, yes, Of course" he man.
aged to gasp. "Delighted"- And he sank
down upon the nearest chair with the per-
spiration standing out upon his forehead.
His wife stood like statue Of ice and
looked from Maude, who was smilingly
self possessed, to Jack, who looked like a
melting molasses candy image.
II do not quite understand, 4" she began.
| Maude said nothing, but kept her calm,
roguish smile. Edith turned to Jack and
almost caught him in the act of making a
wild appealing gesture toward Maude.
He wilted further.
| "John," said Edith-and when she said
"John" she meant what she said, and
Jack knew it-"John, what does this
mean?'
| oh, dash It'll saw her yesterday in
the car. That Is what it means" And
Jack blurted it out in voice which was q
combination Of groan and shout
MET her in the car? Well, see no
reason why you should be SO confused
about it, Edith had become very naughty.
Jack said nothing. He was swearing
he was swearing to himself. Maude saw
that it had gone far enough, and that it
was time for her to speak.
"Come, Edith" she said, "Ill confess.
When I entered the car Yesterday after
noon. recognized vour husband at once
and was going to sneak to him. but 1 saw
that he did not recognize me. well. I
do not know why did it, but you know
nv fault is liking fun and practical Jokes
and all that. and lust Thought that it
would be fun to play a trick on him and
f1irt with him and then tell YOU all about
Il. He kindly helped me"-here she smiled
at Jack. who cursed mentally-s'to raise
the window. and then he talked yery nice
" to me. And nearly died with laugh
ine and having to keen it to myself. When
I left the train at Alton. intended to tell
him all about H. but the Thought of see-
ing the expression on his face when he met
me TODAY kent me from IT. That's all.
Edith. II was lust one of nv awful prac-
tical Jokes. Forgive me, dear, but really
1 couid not HELM to-
Jack had Strengthened up when she be-
gan her tale. and when she had finished
added emphatically; "Yes. by George,
that's all. Edith. was going to fell Won
all about it TONIGHT myseif.n
Edith looked from one to the other
doubtfullv. and when she Thought of the
unutterable woe depicted upon the face of
poor Jack and his bad quarter of nm hour
uor senso u huilor oahie W her, anu sho
Mauda ,rho I,od had oraa+ d;f,c,,I.,, Loon,
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