Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-11-08
RETURN TO NATURE.


Rev. Augustine st. Gregory, Miss
Helen Macintosh Married.
Clear up the wedding cards" inter-
rupted Pris Armstrong. SIT was infatua-
tion-fanaticism. How could a Boston
girl, brought up with every advantage Of
education and association, marry full
bloOded Sioux! / went to the wedding
under protest. As Helen's nearest friend
I sat there under protest, and 1t required
all my self control to refrain from shrek
ing aloud at tho words, If any man can
show just cause why they should not law
fully be joined together -
"You talk as though he had just arrived
from the plains, in wampum and war
paint" returned Annie Chesley indig-
nantly. II met him at Mrs. Cuttings re-
ception and thought him perfectly fas-
cinating. He has the loveliest manners, SO
gentle and subdued, and with his soulful
dark eyes and melancholy face he remind
ed me Of Edwin Booth in The Iron Chest. ;
Such an interesting history as he has too.
He lost his father at the battle of the Lit
tie Big Horn, and after the fight OF Sit
ting Bull and his men into Canada the
poor little fellow was found by a mission
airy and sent to Hampton. Later, by
means of an old lady's bequest, he was
educated for the ministry, preparatory to
going as missionary to his own people. II
you had heard him speak, the last Sunday
in Advent, when the collection is taken for
the domestic mission, you would realize
what religion has done in Transforming q
savage into Christian gentleman and
"Helen was taught from babyhood to
sion.' said Pris slowly. 'In Lent her
childish sacrifices were for the benefit Of
some Indian school, Her castoff toys were
sent to Hampton Her Sunday school
class supported all Indian there. Later
she attended all the meetings for the bene-
at of the Indians, has been an active MEM
Der Of the Dakota league and devoted all
her charitable energies--and a Boston girl
must have some outlet for philanthropy,
as imperatively as for her love Of music,
books and art-to collecting funds and
packing barrels of clothing for the In
dams.
GAS she stood by the altar it seemed the
elimination of a lifelong fad-an earnest
and religious one, If you will, but still
merely fad-in which love bore minor,
If not doubtful, part. There was delay
in getting to the carriage, and waited.
No, not to throw rice, but-but to sec
Helen once more. Captain Carter, Helen's
cousin-he was best man-closed the car
rage door, with gay goodby. He stood,
with uncovered head, in the fog and driz.
zle, and saw the look upon his face"
"They say he has always been in love
with Helen.
SIT was not that Insight gave fore
sight, and on the pavement In Copley
square he saw the future, somewhere on
the western plains"
"You are tired, August"
Helen St. Gregory arose from the piano
the one article of luxury she had permit
ted herself-and leaning over the back Of
her husbands chair played with his hair.
1t had been allowed to grow somewhat
long in the last few weeks.
He had just returned from visit to a
settlement, few miles distant, consisting
of few wretched, scattered huts. His
hand sought his throat and loosened the
stiff, clerical bands with an impatience
that seemed uncomfortable.
"It Is sitting here" he said. "The air
of room makes me cough
II will open tho window"
"Open both windows"
II cannot" returned Helen, with some
surprise at his imperious tone. "The other
window Ia sealed Theoretically with pa
pier mache, manufactured out Of soaked
newspapers after Frank Carter's recipe"
Her husband strobe across the room,
and with one blow Of his clinched fist he
broke away the lower part Of the sash.
"Augustl How could you-oh, your
hand is bleedingl" reproach changing to
commiseration.
She caught up web Of soft linen upon
the work table.
sit is nothing" said her husband, al
most haughtily, drawing himself so quick
ly away that the linen fell beneath his foot.
The next moment there was an exclama-
ton from both, for it was the surplice,
with the circle emblem of Immortality en-
broidcred upon It's front, that lay there,
bloodstained and tralnpled
He sank into the chair again, and she,
who had learned in the last few months
that there were times when 1t was best to
leave him undisturbed, silently closed the
shutters outside the broken window and
pinned closely over it the heavy curtains
Of Mexican blankets. The room was both
sitting room and study. In the corner a
prie dieu, with threadbare cushion, tes-
titled to the length and frequency Of his
devotions.
Presently Helen looked anxiously up
from the altar cloth she was embroiderlng.
II wish you would not watch me in
that covert manner" said her husband,
with new irritability.
He was tired. Hsr woman's heart child
her after that moment Of strange and
chilled misgiving. It was long, cold
walk to tho settlement, and tho people
there were the most degraded Of his pas
toral charge. They consisted only Of old
men, women and children. The young
men were out hunting a euphemism tor
having Joined certain hostile tribes In the
northwest.
II have questioned lately, Helen" he
began presently, whether have not, aft
or all, mistaken my vocation. The fire
has died out Of my utterances; my prayers
no longer ascend as on wings Of light, but
foil crushingly back upon my heart The
meaning has gone out Of the Holy Scrip
ture. It's words are as "a tale told by an
idiot, full Of sound and fury, signifying
nothing"
She spoke gentle, reassuring words and
the strange foreboding vanished from her
heart.
Long after she had gone to bed he was
kncaling at the prize dleu. In the days
that followed she noticed that he was un-
-.-..o- ss-yA 1885, 49, ~~-t.. -~~usssAA AhA