Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-03-20
BENEATH THE ROUGE

A woman sat at her dressing table, in
front of the mirror, and dabbed cheeks
that were livid with patches to pink
color. Her maid folded and put away
some drapery that had been flung down
on the bed and watched her mistress
furtively. Down stairs there were prep
arations for a big party, and the daylight
shone on the silver and orchids on the
dinner table much as it shone on the
face of the master of the house, with
the odd quicker Of discomfort between
his brows, ready and waiting in the
pretty drawing room. 1t shone on those
obstinate blotches Of color, which had
to be renewed SO often, in order to hide
the wife's ashen skin.
Mrs. Marston had run away from her
first husband and been tho subject for a
famous divorce case. The companion OF
her flight, Lewis Marston, had married
her directly the divorce was made, and
a certain less particular section OF soci-
ETY. consented to overlook her lack OF
morals so long as she had a good chef
and gave amusing parties.
There was one child Of her first mar
riage left in it's fathers care, and this
little girl of ten summers was lying
dangerously ill. The glass reflected eyes
that were stained and wild. She pen.
ciled black line under the lower lid,
and she thought as she did so:
"They ought at least to let me see
her. To be turned away from the house
was cruel, nut Charles was always hard.
He will never forgive, and then that
other woman will be bending over hel
bed, will listen to her poor little weak
voice, will nurse her and will make
much of her, will take my place. ="
She blackened one eyebrow, and q
tear fell splash on to one Of the silve,
brushes.
"Only just to have seen her for one
minute-crept in like stranger and
looked at her face. Three years ago
Only three years since she saw me, and
yet they will have taught her to forget.
My darling little girl, my own little
girl! o God, help mev'
She began on the other eyebrow, but
her hand shook.
"What fright I shall look tonight
Marie, bring me all my diamonds.
can't do without them, my eyes look sc
dull. Bother this'rouge; it won't stick
on. There, I'll make it somehow.
She thought as the maid fastened a
glittering tiara in her hair that if the
child died that night she could have nc
means of hearing, and she suddenly
started up and sat down at writing ta'
BILE. She wrote to an old friend, man
who had stuck to her first husband and
cut her dead when she passed him in
the street, and the letter ran thus:
DEAR SIR JoHN-For PHYS sake, let me
know how Daisy is. am half mad with anx
iety. Please let the pain am suffering ex
cuse the liberty take in troubling you.
DOROTHY MARsTON.
She sent the maid with the letter al
once, with command to find Sir John
Deane and get an answer If possible.
Then, with a walk like queen, in 9
dress from Worth, with her bediamond.
ed head and the roses on her cheeks, she
descended to the drawing room to re-
ceive her guests.
my dear, you're late, /" said her hus
band.
She had long ceased to expect any
companionship or sympathy from him,
so she answered carelessly:
Gam I? It doesn't matter, as no one
has arrived !"
"But it does matter - he began, wher
the door opened to admit guest.
There was young guardsman with
fair face who thought Mrs. Marstor
good sort" and firted with her des
perately in an elementary fashion.
There was society doctor, with 8
plausible manner, gray hairs and keer
enjoyment Vt the sympathy and inter
est Of pretty women. Hesat next stout
lady with q contented smile and placid
blue eyes. She was Mrs. Marston's best
friend and little deaf. Most Of the
women were fast, and most Of the mer
were horsy, and they all agreed at din
ner that they had never seen their host
ess looking so we'll.
"We shall meet at birmingham TO-
morrow" whispered the guardsman.
He was nice boy. and he defended
Dorothy Marston when her own sex re-
viled her.
She thought ITO Nottingham and
Daisy perhaps dying" Aloud she said
"I'll come can drive You down, If you
like. You had better lunch here first. .
Charmed, Of course, " he murmured.
The man on her right asked her II she
had won money on the Derby. She
fancied she heard her maids voice II
the hall, and she wondered IL she had re.
turned with any news as she answered
II made little. Lewis was horribly
unlucky. He insisted on backing some
beastly outsider.
Then she laughed, slipped her cham.
pagns and glanced At an old admirse,