Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-09-25
DOING A KINDNESS.

DVlNU "A AlN I'M OO.
"Oh, I've had such fright" Esther
said breathlessly as she came in.
Really! Dear meP' said "What was
itp" Esther laid her sketchbook on the ia
Bile and threw off her cape
IA man." she said and stood looking at
me.
"Come, it might have been worse" I
said. at might have been COW or IN
earthquake" Esther unskewered her hat
and sat down.
''But he-followed me-" she said i'm.
pressively.
"He didn't catch your" inquired.
Don't be silly" Esther replied. II tell
you he followed me. I'll never think OF
walking home so late again-alone.
"Why did you tonight" asked.
"Well, you know, I had to do those
sketches at the dress rehearsal, and
couldn't get away until 1920. Then
could only get bus to Oxford circus. And
then waited, and every bus was crowd
ed and felt horrid waiting there. So
determined to walk. And as soon as got
out Of the crowded part I found there was
man following me-"
"Close?"
"No, not very, butt
"How did you know Did you look
around"
"Of course I didn't. But girl can tell
when any one is following her"
"She can tell a policeman" suggested
Esther reflected moment as she drew of
her gloves.
Eyes, of course she said. "But the
poor man wasn't really doing any harm,
you know. So there was nothing to tell
really"
"Then why disturb yourself about himp"
"Oh, you can't understand how girl
feels" said Esther, looking little an
noyed.
But" said after a pause, II thought
you came home in cab. +"
"From the Marble arch, said Esther.
IT couldn't endure it any longer. walk.
ed as fast as could, and he walked just
as fast. When walked slowly to let him
pass, he walked slowly too. Twice cross
ed to the other side Of the street. And
would you believe it-he crossed too" Es-
ther leaned forward in her chair to note
the effect. signifed establishment with
my eyebrows in the usual way.
"And," she continued, "when I was
nearly at the Marble arch, I could feel him
coming up behind me-quite near. sim
ply had to take cab"
sit was close shave" said-"very
close shave indeed" Esther looked at me
rather doubtfully.
"But-do you think he meant to do any.
thing" she asked
"Well," said, II can hardly say, with
out knowing his previous career OF course
he might have been highwayman, and,
on the other hand-hello, Martini Come
in."
II beg your pardon" said Martin, halt
ing in the doorway. II thought you were
alone"
can right said. II was expecting
you. You know my sister. We were just
discussing the possibility
George, don't, said Esther under her
!, breath the possibility, I" 1 continued, tot
assault and battery and highway robbery
upon an unattended young woman in Ok
ford street. What do you think about itp"
"That's rather curious" said Martin,
sitting down. "Only this evening have
benin q sense-protecting a female in
distress I was confronted by problem,
and should like your opinion on 1t, Miss
Matthews"
Martin looked at Esther, who turned
slightly in her chair with an obviously as
sulned air of interest. can never under.
stand why Esther does not like Martin,
though am quite certain she doesn't.
II spotted her." said Martin, "hurrying
along Oxford street just in front of me.
She was lady, and could see she was
very uncomfortable at being out so late
alone 1t really distressed me to see her
edging into the road to make way for po-
lite and inoffensive people When she
heard a couple of men coming along sing
ing, she almost ran, and then almost stood
still to let them get in front of her. Now,
there was problem for me-"
II don't see that there was any problem
at all, +" said Esther, turning her face lit
tie more toward the fire away from Martin.
"Here was a GIRL" said Martin, "who
was frightened though there was really
nothing to be afraid of-so frightened that
she was running backward and forward
across the road whenever she saw any one
within 30 yards. Doubtless she was silly
little goose. But she was q fellow creature,
and as l was going IN the same direction
1t was my obvious duty to assure her OF
safety. The problem was how to assure
her. may smoke, mayn't II" Martin
lit cigar and continued My first idea
was to follow her until l saw her safely at
home. But then 1t struck me that she
wouldn't know was behind, and SO !
should be doing her no good at all and
giving myself lot of trouble. "
"You might" suggested "haye called