Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-19
A MODERN LOVE.

"A MUUEhN IUN u.
Mrs. Martha Domain, known before
marriage as Martha Sprigg was feet in
height, had feet that required broad sevens
to shod them, moved the atmosphere like a
hurricane as she swept out of the drawing
room of the old country house at Henley
and had voice that could not whisper
words Of love-it was loud, powerful
voice, like all auctioneer's.
"She's u fine woman, isn't she9" re-
marked her husband, lighting cigar be-
tween the assertion and the question, and
then putting contentedly, as he gazed in
reverie across the richly hued rug and the
new tangled tiled hearth into the fire.
"Yes, ye-s-s! She is a fine woman"
answered, scarcely able to repress a laugh.
She WAS altogether too fine for me- and /
was amazed that Frank, who was pretty
man, fair, petite, with an aristocratic face
and languid manner, should ally himself
for life to such looking woman.
"She's taken complete possession of
me, murmured Frank. "I'm like good
boy-I never go anywhere without her
and like the bondage" he added tender
ly, "beca1se I love her."
Where did you meet herr" I asked,
noting the touch of real feeling in his
voice. Il had been away ranching in Amer
lea for couple of years and did not know
the story Of his courtship)
"Oh, in the most ordinary way" he
said, deity making smoke ring over the
end of his nose. II was paired to play
with her in q golf match on the Peak
Links. She was quite astranger-visitor
at Buxton. All knew about her was that
her people were from Manchester; her ia
Their was in calico prints. She strobe and
drove like an amazon. She alternately
terrified and amused me. The caddies,
when we stood at the tee, could not keep
their impudent faces straight at our dis
proportion. Martha-or, as 1 addressed
her at the time, Miss Sprigg-has sense
of the grotesque, too, and as l struggled
over the rough ground and fooled the
drive at the third hole she gave sonorous
chuckle indicative Of suppressed amuse.
ment, and hated her."
What" calculated in surprise.
II detested her he continued. "Her
skill with the driver, her towering form,
deep voice and superiority of manner made
me feel SO mean and small Little did /
think that was destined to worship her"
at must have been a sharp conversion,
hazarded.
ut was" he replied, "a sharp and
dramatic conversion. The ground, as you
know, is strangely riyen in the Peak.
Near the far hole the golf course was bro
ken by stream. A bridge had been flung
across the brook for the use of the players,
but unfortunately my cleel stroke did not
clear it. The ball fell short and rolled into
the water. 1t was a picturesque river,
flowing through the limestone formation,
and it was made up of such swift cratic
currents that to recover the ball needed
sharp work Of eye and hand. 1 was savage
and reckless and in rashly endeavoring to
net the ball oyerbalanced and plunged
with sharp cry into the current
Els tumbled 1T mine rum shouted
the caddie in dismay and whirled his arms
about like maniac.
Meanwhile, struggle as / might, the
brook which appeared insignificant when
viewed from the bank, carried me rapidly
away from help. The limestone banks
grew higher. l saw the golfers gesticulat-
ing above me, but they were unable to
give me succor. The water was icy, and
no longer wondered how it was possible to
petrify. Twas becoming petritied myself,
except in mind. My brain was in tu-
multi of fear, for now the stream, bearing
me ON it's dark bosom, had entered
strange subterranean gulf, the walls of
which were here black as Ercbus, there
dazzling with spar or cleaning with lead
vein. The air was clamnly and yet sitting.
A fetid mist lowered on the breast of the
underground stream, and beyond in the
recesses of the cave was the surge and roar
Of water as If it was descending into some
abyss"
you're romancing bit, aren't youa'
asked incredulously.
"No, he gravely asserted, shuddering
1t the remembrance of his peril. 'The
caves there yet; 30 is the insidious brook
In the interior Of tho cavern the stream
grew in volume and power, and it whirled
NE onward in its arctic grasp to what
seemed speedy death. The darkness was
'or few moments chaotic. Then no.
iced to the left shaft of light and gray
rag standing, like the King rock at Flam-
,ro, out Of the foam and spray the rushing
lorrent made.
You caught hold of the stone pinnacle
md were rescued" blurtcd out, rudely |
tho climax.
ooh, no." lie said, "benumbed with
odd, I failed to grasp it, and then 1
My stars, this is getting exciting"
,urst out. How ever did you escape?"
II could not escape-Martha saved me-"
le said gently.
"Never!" retor,cd, in amazement.
"Oh, yes, she did--and that's why l
married. her, he continued, after few
puffs as {, lesson in patience.
But, how ever did she manage ito
escue you, not to marry your"
"Oh, with comparative ease, and yet
With splendid daring. She knew the coun-
~ and the curve of the stream. When
he heard the caddie's cry, she crossed the
inks swiftly, seized o coil Of rope at the
cad miners hut and climbed down the
hasm till she reached the surface Of the
'rook. At this point the stream had
merged from tho cave and was flowing
trough the Devils ravine, a grewsome
lace, associated with many dark deed
nd strange tradition. Here, gaining per-
ous hand grasp and foothold, she crept,
nee downward on the narrow ledge that
atted from the limestone crag and waited
a suspense. She had not long to wait. A
owerless, helpless thing, was swept to-
7ard her on the torrents breast, and she
ragged ME, with magnificent strength,
pom the ledge. Then, amid the fierce
wish Of water, and tho toss of spray, she
laced the rope around me, tied it securely
. the sinking rope the mine masters gang
ad thrown down, and I was drawn to the
rink of the cliff, Martha following, step
Y step at every pull, to steady my uncon-
,ious FORM