Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-03-01

most of her strength by day and crowd
her already wearied brain by night.
The glamour was already wearing off at
the edges under the homely spell of the
lilacs
Paul stood before her, as she had last
seen him, calm, gentle and sympathetic.
She remembered all the kindnesses which
she had valued SO little then, and her
heart was filled with queer pain. What
cared she for the world, or what did the
world care for her? The best fame could
offer was not worth home wherein one
could rest, protected by love. When her
youth and beauty wore off, when she be-
came wornout in body and mind, when she
became old and sick, what would the
world do thenp 1t would leave her to die
alone and would seek new celebrities.
She remembered Paul's words and said
them again softly to herself "Should you
grow tired Of the world or should you find
it disappointing, send for me. You will
find me waiting and faithful, though it DO
years."
The smell of the lilacs had brought her
to her senses, and she realized the empti
ness of her3ife.
CUdu ohU WlUu uor lCtlu UOW6u upOu WIG
table for long time. When she raised it
again, her eyes were wet with tears, and
her face was filled with a soft light. She
kissed the crushed lilacs and placed them
in the vase again, all save one little spray.
Then she glided softly to the escritoire
and seized a pen. She wrote hurriedly for
ten minutes and slipped the letter and the
bit of lilac into the envelope. Sealing and
addressing it nervously, she drew long
breath.
"How they will talk" she said, with
soft little laugh. "And how happy we
shall be-Paul and 1! 1t has been fight
between ambition and love, but love has
won. shall mail the letter myself in the
morning. Dear Paul''
She went over and aroused the sleeping
maid and sent her off to bed, then drew
the armchair before the crate and dreamed
happy dreams until ray of daylight
stole beneath the shade.
1t was noon when Jean came from her
bedroom clad in her business costume
She smiled as she saw the Iilacs on the
stand and crossed to the escritoire to get
her letter.
TN post it myself" she said. "You
darling flowers, you have given me my
life"
There was businesslike letter on the
top of her desk. She picked it up and read
Dear Madam-We will pay you S10,-
600 in cash, with a royalty, for volume
from your pen, to be finished Sept. l."
and the signature was that of well
known publishing house whose name was
synonymous with success.
jeans face flushed, and she gave glad
cry: "Ten thousand dollars, with royalty
besides! l shall DO able to spend two years
abroad. What bliss I shall write at once
and accept it"
Something rustled at her feet. 1t was
Paul's letter. She drew hard breath and
looked first at the letter in her hand and
then at the one at her feet. Love or fames
Which should she choose?
Jean s faco hardened. She felt like the
to be on the scene Of action. Tho MONDAY
sun filled the room with it's glare.
Slowly picking up the letter at her feet
she hesitated but moment; then, cross
ing quickly to the crate, dropped 1t on the
glowing GOALS. She did not wait to see it
burn, but sat ct her desk and hastily
wrote her letter to the publishers. A tear
fell on the page, but Jean brushed it away
1ercely.
last night you were romantic fool"
she said. Your work lies before you, and
you have no place nor time for a heart.
You have talents that you have no right
to bury and glorious future before you,
and you shall not give it up"
Arising hastily from her chair, there
was a crash, and the vase of lilacs lay
shattered at her feet. Jean caught the
flowers and threw them into the CRATE;
then, womanliko, leaned her head upon
the mantel and sobbed bitterly for few
minutes. Presently she grew quieter and
wiped tho traces of tears from her eyes.
Soon she was ready for the street and
dropped tho letter into the mailbox at the
corner. Her hand trembled as she thought
of the letter she had intended to post, but
tho battle had been fought, and she was
determined to enjoy the fruits of the vic
toy.-Queen of Fashion.