Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-09-10

said Abercrombie coldly, for he was an
noyed at being found out and vexed at the
allusion to Miss Vernon.
Abercrombie vouchsafed no explanation
of the cause of his wetting, and even the
lively hostess had sufficient tact to not
again refer to the mishap when he returned
to the company in dry attire
1t is curious how these things get about
but the next morning nearly all Henley
had heard of the gallant rescue of the
night before The local purveyor of eggs
told the Skimpleys' man, and he told his
master, and much speculation was in
dulged in DIS to the identity of the heroic
unknown, whose modesty seemed on par
with his courage
After breakfast stroll along the banks
was proposed, and Abercrombie took care
to secure Miss Vernon for companion.
They chatted idly about the regatta for
awhile, and then Miss Vernon referred to
the rescue.
"What noble thing to dor she said.
Chow should like to meet the man that
did itp' (Abercrombie felt thrill at the
words.) cit would have been brave deed
in daylight, but at night, when the river
looks SO terribly dark and deep and mystic
rious, it was splendid act indeed. Don't
you think so, Mr. Abercrombie?"
II think the gentleman probably caught
bad cold, " responded Abercrombie, land,
after all, it's only question of being able
to swim, and there's not much in that.
'Swim, indeed!' retorted Miss Vernon.
"And do you suppose that every person that
could swim would have done what that
man did,"
"Quite q subject for poem," CALCULATED
Abercrombie sententiously, but looking
with admiration at the flushed cheeks and
glistening eyes of his fair companion.
''Well, Mr. Abercrombie," she said,
"you may not mean all you say, and I hope
you are not $3.50 puerile as you choose to
appear. don't suppose that my opinion
is anything to you and of course poetry Is
all very well in its way, but if it were a
a brother Of mine would rather that he
did one such deed as that Of last night than
write 80 prize poems
The color had faded from her cheeks, and
her eyes flashed as she spoke. AS Aber-
crombie looked into their depths his own
ordinarily impossible face showed signs OF
emotion. He uttered happy little laugh
and Strengthened himself up with an I'M
conscious gesture.
They had walked on and on, while the
others had turned back and were now quite
| near the scene Of the previous nights cpl
sode. As they approached it they saw q
group on the bank eagerly talking.
Among the colloquists were man and g
woman holding little girl between them.
Abercrombie recognized them in mo
ment. The child looked pale enough, but
the man appeared none the worse for his
narrow escape As Abercrombie and his
companion slowly passed, the woman look
ed earnestly in his face and then ran for
ward and seized his arm.
"You're the gentleman who saved IN.
man and little girl" she cried. II know
you are, for saw you plain in the moon
light Tom, Tom And her voice brok
I Historically
The man stepped forward and took of
his cap and the others gathered around.
stWas it you, sirp'' he said, Selling Aber
crombie's disengaged hand and looking
him earnestly In the face. "Yes, am sur
it was. Oh, sir, take fathers blessing
she's our only one, sir, and it'd "a brok
i our hearts to lose her."
Abercrombie stood the picture Of EN-
barrassment Had he really been poe
he would doubtless have been charme
with the situation, but being mere att
lete 1t was rather too much for him.
"Don't say another word" he manage
to remark "I'm as happy as you are
, have been able to help you. After ALL
and he smiled at the recollection the word
called up-"it's only a matter Of bein
able to swim. And how are you, my deal
after your duckingp" And he bent dow
to kiss the child pale forehead.
They reluctantly let him go with fe
y vent "God bless you, sir, and as he an
, his companion began to retrace their stel
an excited member Of the family grou
), called for a cheer for him, and its echo
followed the pair as they walked away.
, As for Miss Vernon, she was in pitt
. bic state. She had seen and heard al
!. :. and her mind was filled with nothing b.
: the thought of the CHASTITY, egregious mi
take she had made.
q "Mr Abercrombie," she said in cho
ing voice, "you have treated me sham
a fully, and I'll never forgive you.
!. "Do not say that" he rejoined, with
earnestness that seemed to make 1T qui
right and proper for him to take her han
= II assure you It's not my fault. 1t is ju
an absurd misunder standing from begi
ming to end. Mrs. Skimpley mixed !
50 Wedgewood and me, and Twas silly enout
- to humor her mistake.
- "But you have deceived me, said MI
~ Vernon.
"If you will forgive me, swear to y
:, that will never do it again, plead
=. Abercrombie, still prisoning the hand tn
sought to be free
AZ More than year has flown since Il
al little episode occurred but II you chanc
to be at Henley last July and happened
1 pass Mrs. Skimpley's houseboat, q tastef
Al thing in green and gold, with strip
4. awning and q profusion OF flowers, y
q may have noticed on 1t tall and swe
looking girl with delicate complexi
- and golden brown hair.
- II she was ungloved, you will have
70 ticed on the third finger of her left hand
le' diamond ring, and in all probability y
q also Jaw near ct hand the donor thereof
~ pale fellow in most immaculate danne
Il Temple Bar.
,r. .
,sa
,st sent IL to His Mother In Germany
ey MI. Jacob Esbensen, who 10 In the o.
it. rlov ~ Aha (lhioAro Lumber Co., at D