Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-19

You're prejudiced American with
French blood in your veins, and you'll
never appreciate the Germans.
II think more of them than did ten
minutes ago" said I, gazing at her adj
miringly Her color had risen with her
excitement and with the heel of that lit
tie tan slipper she was vehemently beat
ing the floor.
Thank you," she said, recovering
her good humor. (There's nothing
fetches woman like a compliment.
"And after all, Mr.. Legend, it's mat
ter of perfect Indifference to me what
you think about the Germans. "
'Quite So" said !. But l like to
get at the truth on any subject I investi-
gate, and as you seem we'll posted per-
haps you'll let me come around this
evening and get some more information
from you"
81 don't know about that on such
short acquaintance, she said. "No-
bodys vouched to me for your respect
ability and one meets all kinds of queer
people at the seaside. !"
pointed to Mrs. Richbody, who was
on the floor just below us, anxiously
watching her only boy take a swimming
lesson.
eff that lady vouches for me, will
you let me Gomez"
"Of course; I'm staying at her cot
tage"
"Mrs. Richbody!" called I.
eyes" replied the anxious mother,
with one eye on her darling.
Am respectable?'
"What?"
cam respectable?"
Little Algernon Richbody gave a yell
as he lost his footing in two feet of wa
ter and disappeared. His mother scream
ed also, only louder, and could get 10
attention until Algernon had been haul
ed up from the bottom and carried off
bowling to his dressing room.
I hate small boys. What they were
ever made for can't imagine. Small
girls have some ''raison d etre." They
may grow up to be pretty women.
Mrs. Richbody came painting up the
stairs, and l repeated my question.
Respectable? Why, yes, as much SO
as any of my cousins, suppose" she
said.
Caroline turned her head away quick
ly. l thought she even blushed, but she
has such deuced fine color anyway that
I couldn't be positive Of this.
"May come to dinner this EVENING""
asked humbly.
Mrs. Richbody glanced at Caroline
and smiled Caroline gazed steadily at
the tank below, and believe Stultzwur-
eel thought she was smitten with him,
for he Immediately attempted double
somersault dive and landed fiat on his
stomach. This idiotic caper splashed
the green water all over the new coat he
had just made for me, and vowed l
wouldn't pay him for year.
'You told me yesterday you were 60
ing to Oakland this afternoon to attend
Mrs. Moneyton's garden party" said
my cousin.
"That was yesterday" said I.
"Then my chef is away for week S
holiday, and no dinner that Bridget
could cook would be any attraction to
you"
"You seem to think it's chiefly the
dinner that brings me to your house, !"
said I Grossly, for by this time I was
aware that Caroline was smiling, and
not at the tailor.
you've often said so yourself, Val
entine," replied my cousin in plain
tive tone. "I'm sure whenever you come
I always try to have that white soup
you like so much. But Bridget can t
make it.
ooh. confound-excuse me-bother
your dinner" said I, now desperate
II can get white soup-such as it is-at
the hotel. I want to come to dine with
you toto study German.
"Get grammar, suggested Caro-
line.
Zone can't get the pronunciation from
a book" said l. TO catch the true i'll
spiration Of that glorious tongue one
must have the living teacher. +"
II don't know" said Mrs. Richbody
doubtfully. "You certainly don't de-
serve to come, but I'll leave it to Caro-
line. What do you think, my dear?"
Caroline hesitated. My heart sank to
my boots, and felt the queerest little
dryness in my throat. The human seals
stopped barking as if by prearrange-
ment, and there came moment of COM
plete quiet such as sometimes occurs
amid the noisiest scene. In the silence
heard Caroline say softly, but very dis
tinctly, II think we might let him
come"
As said before, that was five days
ago. And she now calls me Valentine.
IL. Du Pont Syle in Short Stories