Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-11
A PHILOSOPHER.


"Of all mad acts in mad and mistaken
life, this is surely the worst. Because q
woman smiled on you once, or you
thought she did, in the old, dlmly remem-
bered time; because woman's eyes looked
tenderly into yours in the moonlight Of q
quiet garden; because you were fool
enough to be beguiled by half reluctant
promise of waiting faithfulness; because
of all these empty and intangible things,
on the false hope Of which you yet have
lived for the past few years, you come here
now, when you know the woman Is mar
ried and has probably forgotten you, or at
the best regards you merely in the light of
a past episode. Oh, Mark Fraser, Mark
Fraser! Truly your philosophy is as
naught, and your worldly wisdom vain
thingp'
Tho man laughed little bitterly and
paced across the room again and stopped,
leaning his back against the door and
bending forward to contemplate the toes
of his boots.
"You arc not content" he muttered
again to himself modify, "to speed DER
tho foaming main to the possible arms Of
love and beauty-of the constant order-in
England-there to learn, as Others have
learned before you, that beauty waiteth
no5 when eligible man proposeth. No.
you must rush out here, to this abomina-
bic little continental town, filled with bad
smells and invalids and grinning natives,
to track down the woman who never cared
for you and her dotipg husband. Why
YOU do this heaven only knows! It's a
fitting ending to your madness, suppose,
Mark Fraser But you'll go back tomor-
row, my boy, and cure your madness,
which has SO little of method in 1t, by a
large dose of hard work"
He crossed the room again with some
thing of sigh and drew out his cigarette
case and lit one of the little paper things
and seated himself and stretched out his
long legs before him.
"You might have made an abject idiot
of yourself, Mark Fraser" he went on in
lighter vein, "and spoiled your reputa-
ton for complacency. The very idea of
coming to stay in the same hotel! l sup
pose they won't look at the visitors book.
Even if they do, she would say nothing.
Oh, May my May, as used to call you,
with an impertinent and premature at
tempt at appropriation-why did you
marry Frank Owen? You might have
chosen better specimen of the sex. But
1 suppose that's jealousy, tempered by I'M
requited love. shall go away tomorrow.
wish hadn't come today"
He sat there so long alone dreaming of
impossible things-of dear, dead hopes
that had seemed realities but little time
since-that he fell asleep at last, and
slumbered uneasily for some hours. He
was partially awakened by a noise of run
ming feet, Of shouts and cries, but even
then he did not move; the sounds seemed
to be but a part Of half forgotten dream.
When fully awake, he rose at last and
shook himself heavily; tho sounds had
ceased There was only a dull, distant,
hoarse roar, that seemed to drown every
thing else.
''Some factory near at hand, suppose, u
he murmured carelessly, working late"
He walked to the window and flung
aside the curtain and pushed the window
up. From other windows, comparatively
near at hand and at right angles to that al
which he Stood there came a great and
fierce glare of light, and tho dull roar was
more distinct. With momentary quick
ening of his pulses he strobe across the
room and opened the door. He was met
by dense volume Of smoke, which hall
blinded him.
t'Pleasant," he muttered. "Hotel or
fire. and I'm on the top floor. wonder il
they have fire escape in this benightet
place? The idiots have apparently forgot
ten my unimportant existence. "
He was turning back into the room will
uncertain step, when he was startled by {
cry of alarm and fear
Hello! Some one else forgotten? Com
partnership in distress Is sweet. I viii
cen seek it,"
He ran out Of the room and shouted
"Where are you? Can you come this way
Put towel over your mouth and nose
most excellent thing, I assure you. Hurry
upr'
A muffled voice. which, seemed to sug
gest that the other forgotten one had ap
parently followed his advice, cried some
thing in reply, and the next moment ,
figure rushed into his arms, staggered will
him into the room, flung aside the towe
and leaned painting against the wall. Mari
Fraser shut the door quickly and turnet
to look at the figure. Perhaps even at tina
hour he was not altogether surprised t,
see who it was. The woman--for it was
woman-exhibited the most emotion.
MARX" she cried breathlessly, II di,
| not know that you were here!"
II can assure you, my dear Miss Fal
coner-or perhaps I should say Mrs
| Owen" he retorted, with great an,
strange calmness in his tones" that
should not have been here had been per
sonally consulted in regard to the matter
| have been forgotten, as troublesome ba
bies sometimes are on these occasions. An,
your he asked.
CT was forgotten too. was DOING
think"
IA further bond Of sympathy" he re
marked in the same tone. II was sleep
Ing. Won't you sit DOWN"
"Is-is there timer" she said wildly
Qlancing round the room. Is there no.
no chance Of escapep"
"Plenty Of time" he replied; slime 70
many things And your. husband--I hav
heard all about 1t, you see-is he saye'
from tho devouring elementsf"
| "Yes--yes-I expect SO, she said slow
| ly, looking at him curiously. "Ho was II
the salon below. He must have escaped a
the first. He will think am killed.
"Tert BILE blow to him., drawled Mark
: lighting another cigarette. Then he turne'