Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-27
LOOKING FOR RICHES

LOOKING FOR RICHES
There was silence between them.
Wilson Shardeloe had performed the
duties of a host. He had given his
friend the best chair and himself had
taken the one whose wicker had cracked
at the back SO as to make it a little
creaky, little dangerous and little
uncomfortable. He had passed the Gig
arettes and the whisky and had un-
wired the soda water. 1t was o clock.
The temple is very quiet at that hour.
Even the rumble Of the hurrying ham
som in Fleet street or the-Strand only
comes with soft murmur as Of green
woods in summer time.
The hour and its stiffness, the soil
tude deux, all invited condolences.
Yet the men sat silently smoking. Jack
Tyrwhitt spoke first.
"You're poor host, Shardeloe. You
care for the vile body with cigars and
things, but you leave my intellect un-
fed. For goodness sake, man, talk Of
something, if it is only the odds about
the Leger."
Shardeloe heaved sigh and came
out Of his absorption with an obvious
ttlort.
Its generally I who talk most, " he
said, reproachfully. "You have grown
as silent as an owl, Jack, lately. I don't
know what's the matter with you.
Have you been committing murder, or
getting married, Or running away with
your neighbours wife, or what is it!
I'm sure you have some guilty secret. "
The other laughed with little en-
barrassment.
"I'm as innocent as the babe un-
born," he said. "But, seriously, there
is something should like to tell you,
only I promised not to mention it to
any one."
Holy Moses!' cried the host, with
sudden and complete enlightenment. 81
see it all now-you're engaged :"
"It's true" said Jack, after a mo-
ment' Substitution. "There can't be any
harm in my telling you that much. The
fact is, she doesn't want the engagement
talked of at present for family reasons. y
"Yes, know" said Wilson, encour-
agingly; "they are like that sometimes.
l don't believe it's really family reasons.
It's only because they like to make a
fuss about nothing. We must humor
them, you know. Is she pretty?"
"She's divineH'
"Any money!"
"Oh, yes, should think SO! Her
people are very we'll off. But I ought
not to he talking about her. -
$50 you're caught at last!"
II wish you wouldn't chatf about
it," said his friend. "I'm sorry said
anything about it. -
"I'm not chatting In fact"-the
need Of a confidant was strong within
him-"I'm engaged, too, and mine il
just the same as yours. She will have
this stupid little mystery. Only it isn't
family reasons with her. It's because =
He pulled himself up short Oh the brink
Of repeating her words, which had beer
to the effect that she must get used tt
her strange new happiness before she
could share her holy secret with the
hard, unsympathetic world.
''And is she beautiful too?"
my dear boy" said Shardelot
warmly, "she's an angel-so clever
too, and so noble and high minded.
never feel that I can live up to her. She
makes me feel a low, base, sordid crea
ture, sometimes. assure you, when
have been spending the evening viii
her, / come home quite worn out The
moral atmosphere is so''- He paused.
II mean," he added, cts SO difficult
to keep up-that sort Of high pressure
business.
II know, said his friend, with sym
pathy. Mines just the same. know
/ what you mean. I'm glad we have tolt
each other, old man." Tyrwhitt wen
on after another pause, "because wal
beginning to wonder what had come
over you, and now, of course, I under
stand it"
II only wish ! could tell you hel
name. You'll be best man, won't your
"Of course I will, if am not put OF
the shelf before you"
"Oh, Tyrwhitt, when I think Of tina
girl you don't know how terrible al
sorts Of things look that I never saw
any harm in beforel Hello, we are get
4 ting sentimental Have another 60 O
whisky"
The next day Shardeloe went out o.
town, and the two men did not NEE
for nearly three weeks. Then, as be
fore, they sat drinking whisky and soda
and silence was between them.
i You're looking rather chippy, ole
I man, said the host.
i II dare say do. The fact is dom
know what to do with myself. I daren'
look in at ball or take any one ont t,
\, dinner or do anything amusing because
4 she-you know who l mean--is q,
dreadfully down on anything Of tina
sort, and, upon my word, I never knew
the time 60 10 slowly. except when
am with her, and then, Of course, it,
all right. Why, you've no idea how
bored am. / was actually thinking to
day I would answer one Of those matri
monial agency advertisements Itmigh
be lark.
sBut suppose she found outr''
. ii -r-