Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-07-01
SHE WAS TO OBEY.

"Nora."
The girl bushes a bright pink, but does
not appear to resent his familiarity.
Mora" he repeats, taking hold of the
little hand in his, "you know already
what would say, do you not, my darlingS
Nora, 1 love you; love you more think,
than ever man loved before Nora, will
you DO my wife2"
The blue eyes were raised for one second,
and in their misty radiance Jack Dalton
read his answer.
"Nora,' broke in a voice in tones of
measured severity, which made Nora start
like guilty creature, II have been look
ing for you everywhere. Nora, Mr.. Pom
tifex has arrived unexpectedly at home
and apparently from what can gather
does not wish to meet you first here So
of course you will at once leave and'-
81 do not see why, Gladys" said Nora,
but her voice trembled, and her fair face
was very white
"Then allow others to judge of what Is
right and fitting under the circumstances,
said Mrs. Hastings sharply 81 have
made your apologies to Mrs. Pelham. She
quite understands the circumstances. Run
quickly ana get your CLOAK.
AS the girl goes reluctantly forward
Jack Dalton makes a hasty step toward
her, but Mrs. Hastings gently detains him.
pardon me-" she said in soft voice
in which there Is a slight ring of pity,
"but cannot but fear you do not quite
know the facts about my little sister. If
you have been led to think anything from
her manner, am sorry, but it happens SO
often. Naughty child She is "a sad fiirt."
Mrs. Hastings gave a gentle, amused
laugh, which died suddenly as her eyes fell
on Jacks white, stern face.
excuse me-" he said in q naughty
tone, "but do not understand what you
are endeavoring to convey to me. Why
does the advent of this gentleman appear
so important to her, and"-
"Ah, it is as said. You do not under
stand the facts" laughed Mrs. Hastings.
"They are briefly these: Nora Is engaged
to Mr.. Pontifex, has been since the end Of
the season, and they are to be married in
the autumn"
The place seemed to swim round Jacks
eyes, but, with firm resolve not to be
beaten, he set his teeth hard, and, with
absolute composure, surveyed Nora as she
returned to her sisters side.
as this truep" he demanded, and his
voice to himself sounded far away. SIS
it true that you are now going to meet
your affianced husband?' Nora looked
up, startled, into his white, stern face.
CLIP she faltered, but her voice
broke, and she turned away.
"That is answer sufficient" he returned.
~ fully indorse your sisters sentiment,
Miss Carew-you are sad flirt!'
With harsh laugh he turned away as
Nora, white and trembling, followed Mrs.
standing alone, desolate amid the wealth
of flowers and sweet SCENTS bitter, bro
ken hearted man.
II have come for my answer, Nora, !"
said Mr.. Pontifex in his calm, measured
voice.
Something in his assured confidence
made the girl flush with sudden anger.
"By what right do you call me by my
namep' she asked passionately, and as her
eyes dwell on his complacent, uninterest-
ing face the girl tells herself she hates him.
"By what right? My dear Nora, surely
your future husband may He ends
abruptly, for Noras eyes are flashing with
unconcealed rage.
"My future husbandn' she exclaimed
"Never By what right have you followed
me about, tortured me so the last few
months? never liked YOU never said
would marry you. How dare you try to
imply that you were ever treated by me
with more than ordinary civility!"
"Your sister, he says but with more
tn Is
'My sister is not me, Mr.. Pontifex.
She apparently thinks she can dispose Of
me as she chooses. claim the right to
choose for myself in the most important,
holiest act of a woman's life. Mr. Ponti-
fex, l have chosen and may ask you to
be generous enough to in future when we
meet, abstain from remarks save those Of
ordinary civility?"
With bow young empress might have
given, Nora swept from the room.
She felt choked, suffocating with con-
ficting emotions.
"Oh for some ARP she cried, and catch
ing up her hat she ran from the house
down the gordon to the downs beyond,
where she paused, exhausted, by large
clump of trees
As she raised her head at sudden rus
Ting man came quickly from within the
thicket and Nora confronted Jack Dalton.
Haggard, white, unshaven he looked aged
by many years from the handsome Jack
Dalton Of the night before.
He raised his hat mechanically and was
passing Oh, but Nora spoke.
"Mr. Dalton" she said in trembling
voice, which reached Jacks ears.
He raised his eyebrows slightly.
~ am at your service, Miss Carew," he
said ioily.
Nora looked nervously at him. Would
he not help her? No; he was gazing be-
fore him with blank, set expression.
"I-I don't know how to say it," Nora
broke out impetuously, 'but heard you
were going away today, and-oh, Jack,
don't look away from me; listen to me
first. IL was never engaged to him. !
never even liked him, but Gladys wanted
me to marry him, and-and 1 cared for no
one else. And one day before we came
here, when he had wearied me out, I said I
would give him an answer three months
later. The three months aren't up yet,
Jack, but he came down yesterday, and
Il told him today that could never be
his wife. Oh, Jack, If you are going away
today, say goodby to me kindly, for-I
love you, JackP
There was an instant's pause, and then,
ah, Jacks strong arms were round the lit
tie weeping figure, and her wet face was
pressed to his.-Forget Me Not.
Bicycle Not Cause For Divorce.
The bicycle az q cause of divorce Ia soma.