Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-05
LOVE AND DEBT.

Mr. Rhodes was the high sheriff of -
county, Mass, and his good name, inner
tied from the father and cherished by the
son, made him not only popular as an
officer, but rather wealthy as q man. Why
Mr.. Rhodes had never got married the
ladies could not ascertain, though they
talked the matter over and over very often,
but almost all said there must have been
some cause in his youth-Mr. Rhodes was
35 at least-which was known only to
himself and perhaps one other.
"Some disappointment, said Miss
Anna, young lady who thought it wrong
that gentlemen should be disappointed
some fatal disappointment
"not at all Nobody ever thought that Mr..
Rhodes had courage enough to offer him.
self to lady. He is so modest that I
should like to see him make proposal"
"No doubt of it, aunt; no doubt of it.
And to hear him, too" said Anna
"Your father and l." said Annals
mother, "once thought that Mr.. Rhodes
would certainly marry Miss Susan Nor
gan, who then lived in the neighborhood.
"Was he accepted by Miss Morgan?"
asked Anna
IT don't believe she ever had an Offer"
said Aunt Arabella.
"Perhaps not" said Mrs. Wilton, "but
she certainly deserved one from Mr..
Rhodes, and have frequently thought
that during services in church he was
about to make proposals before the con-
gregation, as he kept his eyes continually
on her."
"Do you think" asked Anna, "that
Miss Morgan was as fond of him as he ap-
peared to be of herr"
"She certainly did not take the same
means Of showing her feelings" said Mrs.
Wilton, "for she never looked at him in
church and seemed to blush when, by any
means, she discovered that others had no
ticed his gazing upon her.
II should think" said Anna partly
aside, "that man like Mr.. Rhodes would
not lack confidence to address lady, es-
pecially if she was conscious of her own
feelings and Of his infir,nity."
Mrs. ". smiled, and Aunt Arabella was
about to say that no lady should ever
evince her feelings under such circum-
stances, when Mrs. Wilton remarked that
once when she had joked Miss Morgan
upon her conquest she rather pettishly re-
piled "that she may have subdued him,
but he had never acknowledged her pow
err"
conquest and possession did not go to-
gether, then," said Anna.
"Well, is this attachment the cause Of
Mr.. Rhodes single condition? Was there
no one else at whom he could look in
church who would be likely to look at him
alsop" said Anna, nodding toward her
aunt
"No," said Aunt A., with hearty
smile, "none in the pew to which you al
lude. at least was too strongly impressed
with the force Of the tenth commandment,
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours OK,
nor his ass ever to be looking over Miss
Morgan at Mr.. Rhodes"
One morning Mr.. Rhodes was sitting in
his Office when one of the deputies read off
a list of executions and attachments. which
he had in hand to serve, and among them
was one against lady at short distance.
The amount was not great, but enough to
bring distress upon q family.
"Let me take that said the sheriff,
with some feeling "It lis out of your walk,
and will drive to the residence of the per-
son tomorrow morning"
The modest vehicle Of the officer stopped
at the door Of neat dwelling house in a
retired, delightful situation, where all
things told Of taste and economy. The
sheriff opened the gate, assembled the steps
Of the house and asked If Miss Morgan
was at home.
4v,f no off ,ofi VIC
As Mr.. Rhodes passed along the hall he
thought over the part he had to perform
how he should introduce the subject; how,
II the debt should prove to be onerous, he
should contrive to tighten the burden by
his own abilities. And when he reached the
door he had conned his salutation to the
lady and his opening speech on the subject
Of his official call.
The servant opened the door, MI. Rhodes
entered with bow. He blushed, hesitated
and at length took seat, to which Miss
Morgan directed him BY graceful turn of
her hand. =,
After few moments hesitancy Mr..
Rhodes felt that it was his business to open
a conversation that would explain the sub
ject Of his visit, SO he offered, by way Of
preface, a few remarks upon the GOODNESS
Of the spring.
Eyes, said Miss Morgan, "but yet, cold
a. the weather has been, and even notwith-
standing few frosts, you see the trees
have their richest foliage, and the flowers
are luxuriant
"True, said Mr.. Rhdoes, sit seems that,
though there may be great deal of cold
ness, nature will have her own way and
". t3,oo acuoy.f hny. Ioko ,,ov.