Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-09-15
A WEDDING PRESENT.

NOW LUZ III Sdlu W lily sell IA
undid the Irvine binding my precious
volumes together and prepared to ex-
anime them more carefully than I had
had time to do since unearthed them
from the little, dark, secondhand book
shop that afternoon. There was nothing
remarkable about Them no rare editions
Of we'll known classics, no long for.
gotten books, valuable from their very
obscurity, merely few bound. volumes
Of old magazines and couple of the
novels which had delighted me as a
boy, and which from old association
were more precious in their original
type and polished leather binding than
in the spruce modern editions. Best of
all was copy of Dickens "Master
Humphrey Clock, with t he woodcuts
that cannot now be reproduced.
When I had gone more than half
through the second volume, came up
on large sheet Of thin paper, covered
with neat, cramped writing. took it
out and looked at it. A moments in
spection showed me that it was a will,
written throughout in the handwriting
of the testator, Michael Darcy, and dat
ed two years before. 1t left interest in
the farm of Carrignalea, with stock and
implements, to the testator's brother,
Patrick Darcy, who was also named
residuary legatee, while the sum of 3d.
900 in railway stock and other invest
ments was bequeathed to "my late
wife's niece, Anastasia French" It
was, as far as could judge, and I had
had some experience in matters of the
kind, properly executed, signed and
witnessed.
1t was odd to find an important docu-
ment Of this sort hidden away between
the leaves of book. Had Patrick Darcy
and Anastasia Ffrench been left with
out their inheritance in consequence? I
wondered. I would make some inquiries
about the matter next day. It would be
easy to find out all about Michael Darcy
of Carrignalea Meantime, the will
could remain between the leaves Of
master Humphreys Clock"
But the morrow found me flying along
by express train to the bedside Of my
only son, who had met with danger
GUS accident. And for many weeks I
could think of nothing but him and Of
the best means Of snatching him from
the extended arms Of death. And when,
by Gods mercy, he was once more as
safe from those clutches as any one of
us can ever be, Michael Darcy, his will,
heirs and executors, had faded out Of
my mind as completely as if they had
never entered it, and the will was rest.
ing undisturbed in it's hiding place
among my books.
Some 10 months later I went in a
regular course of my practice to visit
an old friend, who was suffering from
an acute attack of pneumonia. She was
an elderly lady, living alone some two
or three miles outside the city. Her serv-
ants were faithful and attached, but in
the absence Of relatives I thought it
better to insist OH the services Of a
trained nurse. As the patient grew
better and I had time to notice less i'm
portant details, perceived that Sister
Anna, besides being tsi excellent nurse,
was very attractive young woman.
She had pretty brown hair with golden
lights in it waving and ripping all over
a we'll shaped, we'll set head; her eyes
were dark brown, and her complexion,
though pale, clear and healthy looking.
She was fairly tall and we'll built, with
look Of strength and vitality pleasant
to see. Her voice was low toned and
pleasant, while her choice of words and
manner Of speaking showed her to be
an educated woman.
Late one October afternoon, after a
hard days work. I drove down to Lis
fallen to visit my patient, whom l had
not seen for two or three days.
Where is the sister," I asked during
a pause in the gossip with my old friend
which succeeded our brief professional
interview.
Look out Of the window" was the
reply.
I went over to the deep bay window
which formed one end Of the room, and
looking across the long garden, stretch.
ing behind the house, beheld Sister An
no, her prim cap laid aside, her pretty
head showing above the soft gray shawl
| in which she had wrapped herself, and
walking by her side a tall figure which
did not at first recognize. This was
Laurence, Mrs. Powers nephew. He
was clerk in a bauk and hoped soon to
be made manager Of country branch.
The young people were by this time
coming up the steps leading from the
garden. and presently they entered the
room. Sister Anna came forward to
speak to me, pink flush on her usually
pale cheek, new light in her pretty
brown eyes. Laurence Moore stood be-
hind her, an expression Of supreme con.
tent on his handsome face, while Mrs.
Power looked on, quiet and keen eyed.
II am afraid it has to be a long en-.
gagemept, +" said Mrs. Power. ''They
cannot think Of marrying until Laurence
is q manager, and even then it would be
wiser to wait until he has saved some.
thing. You know mine is but life in.
come, 20 that beyond some plate or an
outfit Of table linen ! can do nothing tc
help"
Sister Anna made it clear that she
did not mind waiting. Then the CONVEX.
sation drifted to the subject Of a former
| talk about artificial hearts made Of in
dia rubber, which were warranted, 90