Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-26
A DEBT DANCED OFF,


nected, but having only limited income,
he was just the man who should have mar
rird money, and this Is exactly what he
had not done.
He met his wife in Paris during Holt
day trip She was pretty, vivacious Irish
woman, ladylike and attractive, but she
had no fortune and was of no particular
family.
There could be no doubt that under the
circumstances his marriage was an inn
prudent one. With his $4,000 year Per-
cival had subsisted comfortably enough as
bachelor, but as q married M. p. he
found that his income went simply no way
at all
The natural consequence followed. Per-
cival got into debt.
He already owed nearly $4,000, crush
ing liability to u man with small income
and no capital. Indeed, he did not at
tempt to disguise from himself that unless
something very unexpected turned up he
must soon be hopelessly insolvent.
The house was in committee on q bill
which was being fought tooth and nail by
the opposition, and urgent whips had been
issued to the members of both parties to
be as frequently as possible in their places.
But there were many dreary intervals Of
debate, when no big division was immi
ncnt.
In his worried state Of mind the dull
ness of domestic evening OF the yet
deadlier boredom of political converse
zione was uninviting.
Within mile Of the palace of Westmin-
ster there is, as all the world knows, ia
nous theater of varieties. One evening
during particularly drowsy debate fell
low M. P. had suggested to Percival that
they should run across to the x and see
the rainbow danseuse.
After that night he went to see her pref
ty regularly.
Just before the dance the stage was dark
ened; behind doomed background Of
murky clouds gloomy as the sky before an
impending t. dnderstorm; then a brilliant
blaze of sum-. hit burst upon the Swallowed
scene, and wtirling wildly in it's dazzling
rays appeared the famous rainbow dan
seuse
If it had ended with his merely admir-
ing this ravishing beauty from distance
all might have been we'll. But such in
fatuation as Percival's was not satisfied to
confne itself within those modest limits.
He actually addressed one or two letters
to the young lady. To his great chagrin
she sent him no reply. At last in despera-
ton he procured an introduction to the
manager of the X. and besought that gem
| tleman's aid in his foolish and culpable
project
"Well, Mr.. Percival will communicate
your wishes to the young lady, and will
| than 1at Won know her renlv -
The following night, when he ought to
have been in his place in the house, listen
ing to the ministerial leaders, statements,
the X.
Percival had cab waiting for him at
the corner. He noticed another cab drawn
up opposite the stage door,
In few minutes he saw the girl hurry
out and get into her cab Then he jumped
into his own, having instructed the driver
to follow the other vehicle and keep it
carefully in sight.
When they had driven about mile, his
cab stopped The M. P. got out He saw
the young lady alighting from her cal
about hundred yards away. With beat
| ing heart and trembling steps he followed
her.
Percival realized with certain thrill Of
uneasiness that it was P street, the
street in which his own house was situated
But something worse was in store. The
young lady stopped and appeared to be care.
fully scrutinizing the numbers Then,
after some evident hesitation, she walked
straight up to the door of Percivals house
and rang the bell A minute later she was
admitted.
All at once the truth flashed upon the
unhappy NJ P. There could, Of course
be no doubt upon the subject. This young
lady, annoyed and frightened by his per
sistent attentions, and seeing that silent
disdain had no effect in stopping them
had taken the ready and effective methoo
of reporting him to his wife.
He entered the drawing room. His wife
was now alone She looked up at hin
with cold, altered expression that made
| him vince. But he persevered. He to]t
her all. She averted her face and heart
his confession to the end in ominous 81
lence
"And so, Jim, my make up, my COLDER
wig and my whirling draperies-to say
nothing of the shifting lightsand shadows
thrown upon me-baffled even your pene
| CrttUlOu. Eli, SIT!
Jim was staring at his pretty wife, who
had now risen and stood before him smiling
archly, in evident enjoyment of his obvi
GUS relief and astonishment
"And you fell in love with my make NJ
for that Is what it comes to, doesn't it
Jimp"
"By Jovev' he exclaimed with empha
sis, "that explains it. 1t was your eye
that did it, little girl. They drew me tx
the theater night after night to worship
you. could not resist the spell. l coult
not explain it to myself. To think nevel
guessed! BY Jove, was a duffer
ought to have known that no such othe
eyes were to be found in all England"
COR in all America either" questioned
the rainbow danseuse playfully.
"But l say" asked Jim, an idea strik
ing him, "these social functions which
you have been attending SO assidiously TO
the past few months--have they been sim
pie blinds to dupe your unsuspicious hus
band-oh, Jennie?'
"Not at all, sir. went to them all
But as my turn at the theater lasted onl.
ten minutes or SO, I was able to go there a
we'll Besides" she added with the slight
est tinge Of playful reproach in her tone
"you have not been at home enough latel,
to miss me very much, have you, JimP'
"By Jove,' he cried, II will turn owe
a new leaf in that respect tonight"
"Thcre Dear old Jim!' she exclaimed
"Mr. Y. has paid me-what do yol
thtnkp-$250 week. That is a check TO
ten weeks salary. At this rate your rain
bow goddess will soon dance you clear on
| L. cI,o i,,,ob