Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-05-18
THE OLD MAID.

Thirty-fve and still single. When I
was young, Frank Waldron came and saw
and conquered We were not engaged
that is, Frank had not said in so many
words, "Will you be my wife," and had
not referred him to papa. Sometimes |
Thought of this, but look into his dark
eyes and his reassuring smile charmed
away my every care Everybody said that
he was deeply in love with me but Sallic
Price, and she, just because she couldn' t
get him herself, declared that she didn't
believe he cared one bit about me-
Frank came to me one day, with a cloud
on his handsome face and said
Fanny, am going away. You know
this village is too small to support two
physicians, and DR.. Philips, who has been
here so long, has all the best practice.
cannot stay and brave poverty. l must
seek my fortune elsewhere. If am sue
cessful, you shall hear from me; if not,
forget me-"
And then he loft me- leaving only a
bunch of forgetmenots, which he had
brought in his hand. That was years ago
have still withered bunch of flowers,
but they tell mo no tales of the donor.
that his pride would not allow him to stay
in the village, but Sallie Prico only shrug.
ged her shoulders and remarked, II told
you sol" AS for myself | kept my own
counsel. was still young and had plenty
of offers, but somehow l didn't care to
marry.
Only last year could have married
Jones, but Jerry Is ugly and squints fear.
fully, and won't marry him. People
shan't say that Fanny Emmerson went
through tho woods to pick up with a
crooked stick at last. am not miserable,
if am IN old maid and live alone.
have enough to cat and to drink and tc
wear and nobody to say to me, "You
shall or you shan't" and that's moro than
many married woman can say.
Alice, my Oldest sister, who lives 20
miles away in the city, has just sent me
the following characteristic note by mail
DEAR FANNY-As quick as you receive this
put on your hat and shawl and come to us.
Fanny Chats my namesake-I wish she had
been called Betsy or Susan is very i'll with
some kind Of an infectious fever, and the doc
tor says that, without good care, she will die.
Now you are the only one that can take care
Of her. and you must come You know you
have no one depending on you. Don't stop tc
pack; it won't make any difference about youl
clothes Yours in haste, ALICE.
Humph 1t wouldn't havo made any
difference about mo either, only I was
handy to have around in case of sickness.
After grumbling to myself for awhile
prepared myself and took the first train
for the city. AS whirled along in the
steam cars made up my mind that this
should be tho last bit of nursing that
should do. But how to avoid it? might
sell out and go away to live, but that was
fallacy. l know that l could not exist
away from my kindred. might adopt
two or three orphans, but couldn't stand
their noise, and then how my pets-birds
schemes must DO dismissed as impractical
BILE. Still was determined to rid myself
of the nursing, even If jumped out Of the
frying pan into the fire, even if I was
Obliged to marry in self defense. Alice
met me at the door and kissed mo and said
"Dear Fanny, I knew you would come. "
But responded ungraciously, for al.
most felt that had been betrayed by the
kiss of Judas found my niece very i'll
and Immediately put on my wrapper and
prepared for a hard battle. The doctor
came and left his orders with me- for my
coming was a sign Of relief for Alice. Hel
duty will now merely consist in asking
after the condition of tho sufferer.
The doctor had very pleasing voice.
scarcely glanced at him, for all doctors
are the same to me now. But think hi
is tall and dark. I didn't notice the colol
of his eyes, but don't think he will care
much about the opinion Of the nurse.
The doctor has just been here. looket
at him when he said Fanny was better, ant
me. He has got very beautiful eyes, not
at all like Jerry Jones, squirting ones
= =
Three weeks I nurscd that girl while
she struggled between life and death
But tho crisis was passed safely. was
so tired that lay down on the sofa and
fell fast asleep, and while sleeping
dreamed that Frank had come back. How
odd! have scarcely thought Of him fol-
years. What pity that people are awak
ened from pleasant dreams and forced
back into the hard realities Of life.
awoke and heard Alice say, "Poor thing
she is tired out!' and the Doctors voice
responded: "Leave her to me. l will take
care of her, )" and I opened my eyes and
saw the doctors handsome ones gazing
into mine, and vague remembrance crepl
into my mind.
looked again. When he held out his
hands, my remembrance was a certainty
Frank Waldron stood before me in all the
pride Of his manly strength and beauty
But shook my head. could not forget
that ho had been within 20 miles Of my
home and had not sought me out. HI
came over to me and gently babe me sill
down and listen to his story. He told mt
Of his struggle with sickness and poverty
and finally of his good fortune; how hi
started to come to me and reached the city
and when about to take the cars for thu
village that he met Sallie Price in the dc
pot, and she told him that had married
and left the village long ago; then, fillct
with deep despair, he turned away, ant
for short time gave himself up to every
species of dissipation.
But tho better man triumphed, and hi
commenced practice In the city. All this
and more he told me, and when no finished
decided that would not marry Jerry
Jones. New York News.
The One Difficulty.
With thor usual lack of good subject
for conversation, group of women wer'
- IL. 4 H.. /.