Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-22
A FOOL + THE FOREST

Miranda ran lightly through the green
corn down upon the little wood below.
Here shallow brook fretted over tiny
falls and curled in eddies round large,
smooth pebbles. The morning sun struck
ashanti through the willows, and patches
Of blue sky beamed up from the depths Of
the shallow water. Miranda stepped upon
the frail bridge and leaned over the hand
rail. The mirror below her was full Of
waving shadows and gray light. The
stream trickled coolly in that secluded
dell, and Miranda's face was flushed and
hot with her haste. The breeze went soft
ly through the tresses of her hair. Miriam
da glanced along the shelving banks to
where grassy knoll jutted forth upon a
corner of the brook. She left the bridge,
and walking to the spot looked down upon
the water. The dell was silent.
Her eyes flew swiftly this way and that
in furtive diffidence, and then, fast as q
flash, she slipped her shoes from under
her feet and flung her hosen down. and
dropping upon the knoll dabbled her white
feet In the current. The water washed
about her ankles gently, and she watched
the curves in her high arches dissolve and
change and waver in the eddies How
translucent was the stream! How still
and sweet the air! She bent forward and
regarded her face in the deep pool Sud-
denly, and with little gasp of terror, she
found the earth slipping from her She
threw herself back and clutched wildly at
Cbn ho ton ,;,,rs
above her ankles. A cry escaped her, and
on the next instant two hands were clasp
ed beneath her arms, and she was swiftly
drawn into safety and laid high upon the
grass upon her back. Miranda sat up,
and looking round met the bashful eyes
of a youth. At once his gaze dropped, and
he fumbled his hands together, shifting
from foot to foot.
II beg your pardon" said he; "but
you'-
"Oh, you are very kind" said Miranda
earnestly. II thank you, sir. Another
moment and had been lost
"Itis but shallow" he mumbled, snlil-
ing. and bit his nail.
Miranda laughed awkwardly. "Oh,
but thank you, sir!" she said. "You are
very good"
g Twas but my duty" he stammered
and looked away, frowning at the trees.
"Any one would have done moro for you,
he added, blushing.
Miranda's gaze went down her gown,
and hastily she plucked her bare feet un-
der her skirt There fell q long silence,
during which he fldgeted with tho stalks
of the braoken, and Miranda beat her fin
gers impatiently upon her knee.
Heavens VIII the man never speak or
goS'' thought Miranda 1.-The sun shines
bright and the birds sing sweet, says
she. ''We shall soon be in full spring.
"Very bright, said he, starting. Every
SWEET he added, land twill rain by
nightfall," he ventured, cooking his eye at
the sky.
"Ahp' said Miranda, tanning herself
with her hat.
Again pause ensued. The young man
shuf1led on his feet. He whistled gently.
Miranda yawned and drummed her fin
gers faster on her knee. She gavo little
cough. 9
II fear" he suffered, "you will grow
cold upon the moist slope. The sun has
little power upon the dews within this
shade. If might beg"- ..
Approaching, he held out vague hand.
Miranda shut her mouth with snap.
II thank you,' she said, with soorn,
shut the dew delights mo. am never
content save upon damp grass
i'll crave your pardon" he besought
her."
"I-I-fancied"--
II hate fool" quoth Miranda to hsr-
self in anger.
His eyes wandered to the stream.
"Why, there are your Shoes" says he,
Frightening land your hosen. Pray'-
He made a hasty movement forward.
II beg you will be at no trouble for
me-" cried Miranda, flaming Suffer
me at least, pray you, the liberty to dis
pose of my own apparel. I am no child
at nurse. /"
He drew back, red and frightened, and
Miranda, breathless, curled her feet closer
beneath her gown. He watched her face
askance. She bit her lips.
HE Is only fool, but hate fool"
said she.
Miranda sighed, He glanced at her
anxiously.
''And you think 1T will rainp" she ask
ed.
"I'll swear 1T will" he cried eagerly
and waited, open mouthed upon her con-
desoension.
II wonder, said Miranda thoughtfully.
But the sky is red, - he painted.
II have nv doubts, - said Miranda sage
~, shaking her head. 'The wood OBJ
scures the heaven. How ia it possible to
tells"
Indeed he began.
Nay" she interrupted, "but from the
cornfleld yonder you could descry with
certainty, and should be reassured."
~ can see the cornfleld through the
trees" he answered, land the sun shines
red above the hedges"
Miranda shrugged her shoulders petu.
lantly.
'What sound was thatsn she said.
"Surely some animal. Ihato q cow" she
exclaimed "Oh, sir, pray run and see!''
g TITS no cow" he replied stolidly. II
know the fields by heart, and there is new,
or cow within two miles,"
There Ia many fool, said Miranda
bitterly.
"Aye to be sure" he assented gravely,
land many a sinner, moreover" he added
thoughtfully.
II think prefer sinner, /" said Miriam
da vehemently
"The sinner for me, too," he agreed
cheerfully.
Miranda put out her tongue at the grass.
Idly he broke the bark Of a silver birch.
Miranda uttered an exclamation Of anger.
He turned.
u ~f1 r. 1 =