Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-02-28
TWO MOURNERS.

drowned Ill the WTack Oh inc OOtaCumunQ,
and Celia Grey was the most unhappy girl
In Woodbury.. She was forced to keep her
grief to herself because she had not been
officially engaged to Jack. She thought it
might have been little easier to bear if
her friends had known how unhappy sho
was and with what good reason. With
this great secret sorrow in her heart the
ordinary routine of life grew painful. She
had not spirit for tennis parties; she hated
her gay summer fro,ks; she even wished
she need not act as bridesmaid to her
cousin Susie. She used to lie awake at
night, and think about Jack, and wonder
how much he had minded being drowned
However, Celia went to her cousin S
wedding, and spent three days away from
Woodbury.. The news of the wreck was
fortnight old and forgotten by most people
when she came back again. She arrived
by morning train, sent her trunk to
Bcechdcno House with porter and walked
homo through Woodbury. High street,
whore she wished to do some shopping
AS she went into tho stationer's she saw
Fannie Potter there, a girl she knew
slightly and disliked If it had been pos.
siblo she would have escaped from the
shop rather than speak to Fannie, but she
was recognized at once
Good morning, Celia" said Miss Pot
ter putting down packet of black edged
envelopes and coming forward. For a
short time some years ago the two girls
had been in the same class at the high
school, and on the strength of this Fannie
continued to address Celia by her Chris
tian name She did not often get the
chance of doing so. Tho Potters were not
people with whom the Greys wished to DO
OH friendly terms Mr. Potter was an at
torney of doubtful reputation. 1t was
well known that on Fannies behalf he
had threatened u well to do farmer with a
breach of promise case and that the
young man had only got off by paying Il
substantial sum Since that time Fannie
had dressed moro fashionably than ever,
but she had not been asked for her hand
and heart again.
Celia bought what she wanted and was
about to leave the shop when Fannie fol
lowed hor and said that they might as
we'll walk little way together. She was
going past Beechdene
Celia had no excuse on the tip of her
tongue, SO she did as she was asked, al
though she rather objected to be seen in
Miss Potter's society. The two young
women walked through the town together
and were soon in quiet country road 1t
was very hot morning.
"You must find that gown rather
heavy" said Celia, who saw that her COM
panion wore mourning deep enough for
young widow.
''My heart is very heavy" said Fannie,
with an accumulated sigh.
Celia reflected She had not heard Of
Mr.. Potter's demise and Mrs. Potter she
had seen at the station dressed in bright
blue.
~ did not know you were in trouble"
she said civilly
1t was rather difficult to be more than
civil, because Fannie showed her grief in
such an Objectionable way, She had
pulled out pocket handkerchief with
broad black border and was sobbing into
it SO loudly that any they passed stared
after them.
Didn't you know" howled Fannie.
NO." said Celia "What is the mat
ter?''
II thought every one knew, I am stay
Ing Wlbl JNo LeSterS. udb Is WHY baNo
to pass Beechdene.
Celia felt as if her heart stopped for
moment and then went Oh again in a
greater hurry than was comfortable She
laughed rather nervously and said:
~ don't know what you mean. You
are not in mourning because you are stay
ing with tho Testers, supposed
what heartless girl you must be to
make fun of us when we are in suoh trou
blel' sobbed Fannie. She paused while
wave of extra strong emotion shook her
breast, and then she added in sepulchral
tone, Poor Jack Lester is drowned"
II know that, said Celia sharply, "but
l don't sec yet why you should be in
mourning
Jack and were engaged"
Celia turned ashen white Otherwise
she made no sign She walked ahead dog
gedly and kept her open sunshade between
her companion and herself
He gave me this ring" continued
Fannie, pulling off her glove. Look at
It'll From Jack to Fannie is engraved
inside Poor, dear Jackl"
Celia raised her sllnshade little and
glanced at the ring She thought it rather
1t consisted of large emerald surrounded
by coarsely cut diamonds She thought 1t
did not look like Jacks choice
How long =" she began, and then, to
her vexation, she could not 60 OIL Her
heart beat too much.
"How long were we engaged Oh only
just before he sailed No one knew of it,
but when heard that he was drowned
wrote to his father and mother. felt
suro they would be glad, poor, old thingst
am staying with them now"
Realty" said Celia, and then, having
arrived at the gate of Beechdene, she ruth
er abruptly babe goodby.
From her mother Celia learned that the
impossible story was true Woodbury. rang
with the news The Testers were great
people, the Potters very little Ones No
one could understand why Jack Lester
should have made such trumpery choice
or how Fannie with her blowsy beauty
had managed to captivate him. Without
the ring she would hardly have persuaded
any one that she told tho truth. Directly
tho confirmation Of his death arrived she
had put herself into mourning and drawn
down the parlor blinds, while Mr. and
Mrs. Potter, with an air Of great surprise,
spreal the story of her bereavement. They
had 1t known Of any engagement, they
said, until poor, dear Fannie swooned at
the news of the wreck and afterward ex-
hibited her ring. She nearly swooned
again when Colonel Lester called She
said he reminded her SO strongly Of her
beloved Jack.
Colonel Lester and his wife were elderly
people, who led secluded life in their
beautiful old home They saw little Of the
world outside the Langholme gates When
Fanny's letter reached them, they had to
mako inquiries about her, and the answers
they got we're unpleasing But In the
ilrst stress Of their great sorrow they would