Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-01-11
AN APOLOGY.

/ was quite a little alarmed when ]
found myself in the room, but after my
behavior on the previous evening it was
absolutely necessary that I should SET
Miss Power. began bluntly. II have
come" I said, "to offer an apology fol
for what happened last night.
She opened her eyes and regarded me
with an innocent stare, in which, how.
ever, some haughtiness mingled. II dc
not understand, said she. "Did you
trip on my dress? Well, at any rate,
hate apologies. Willyou have some tea?''
"Thank you, said I, seating myself
and putting my hat on the floor. "You
see, when we came out Of the hall and
there was that rush, had no idea"-
eyes, it was an abominable crush, "
put in Miss Power hastily. II wonder,
Mr.. Radcliff, if you would mind ring
ing the bell?"
"You remember" explained, as
returned from the bell, chow just as
we reached the door
"Oh, dear mel" cried Miss Power
suddenly. "This teapot is such a silly
thing! I hope nothing went over you. :"
"Not at all, ~ said politely.
She examined her dress carefully, and
I waited in patience. ri think tea
stain is worse than wine stain, don t
you, Mr.. Radcliffe" she went on. And
one can t put salt on it either"
"No," I assented cautiously. "But
when we were being pressed so hard
against the door and trying to get out,
you were on my right, and the rush sent
me-
"You do take sugar. don't your" in
terposed Miss Power abruptly. "How
hot the weather is''
Zone lump, please" said I. "And
then some one pushed me, aud I suppose
some one pushed you, and the next thing
I knew was that our cheeks were'-
"Mr. Radcliffe" interrupted Miss
Power quickly, her cheeks flaming, II
think we had better forget silly things
and go on with our tea !" She spoke
with some dignity and even with an air
Of rebuke.
''That's what want to do" ex-
planned eagerly. "But I have had it on
my conscience to explain to you. You
see, couldn't help our cheeks touch
ing" Mr.. Radcliff, ~ said Miss Power,
rising, "if you will not leave stupid ao-
cidents alone''- "No, no." said I
quickly. sThat is what I wanted to
I owe you an apology. You see, it
wasn't that. Wasn't what?" asked
Miss Power after pause, and as If she
did not want to ask it. cit WASH IT an
accident" murmured in ashamefaced
way. felt she was looking at me, and
I felt, too, that her cheeks were Grim
son, and then she laughed an uneasy,
discordant sort Of laugh. "You can
make yourself extremely ridiculous, !"
she said suavely. "But please don t in
vent nonsense like that, and let us both
forget very unpleasant episode. = II
suppose It was unpleasant, " said I du-
biously. Highly" she said, with as
RC34UyS 0Au VulA1A8 away OO8AA W al
range some flowers in vase.
"But you see" I began i'll shutting
manner, IT can't rest-I mean ! want
you to say you forgive me. /" II don't
think" observed Miss Power tranquil
ly, "that there is anything to forgive,
seeing that it was entirely accidental. "
I will confess that her persistence baf-
fled me. Ialmost began to think it must
have been an accident. Still, perse-
vered. It was my duty. "But it wasn't
all accident" I cried dolefully. "Mr.
Radcliff, you are intolerable, said she
quickly. "You yourself have just ex-
planned that it was the crowd, and
Eyes" put in eagerly, that was
when our cheeks-when we"- eyes,
yer, she exclaimed impatiently. "But
that was not all, I added. Miss Power
elevated her eyebrows, but did not face
me. Really" she said indifferently,
but I could have sworn that she was
Hurried. "You don't know what hap
pened, them" I asked meekly. "We
came away, ! suppose, said Miss Pow
or, with the assumption Of carelessness
still upon her. Eyes," I said meaning
", latter something else" Upon my
word, You are very tedious" said She
II neither understand you nor wish to
understand you" am sure she was
agitated. Were you not aware, ask
ed, that THAT IT, Miss Power
made no remark, but was much occu-
pied with her lowers that I-well--
I thought you must have known" Still
! got no help, and her back was toward
me now. IT took advantage Of the jux-
Imposition to''-I heaved sigh and
got 1t over-"kiss you!'
Miss Power turned round abruptly,
and her eyes were full Of honest anger.
She surveyed me with great dignity,
and then, in very cold tones, said, You
seem determined to use the cap and
bells today "Indeed, /" said earnest
y, "this tone and How dared
your" said Miss Power fiercely. Now,
TO say the truth, did not think she
would have made this fuss about IL, be-
PAUSE ! imagined that she had known,
And-well, she had been polite enough
when Icame In. But she was obviously
very angry indeed, and this COMPOUNDED
me, ! stammered more apologies. "I-
you-the temptationl" I murmured.
Temptation r she echoed, with scorn.
"A man il poor creature who cannot,
who has no self restraint and must in