Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-10


The shades of night were falling when
| entered the old vehicle for Ajaccio
The driver came to me and humblv
asked:
Would you yield any one of the seats to
lady?"
what LADY," brusquely demanded
1.-THE wife of an officer going to Ajacco
to join her husband. y
Certainly. Tell the lady gladly offer
her seat"
My travelling companion soon appeared,
laughingly said she had been asleep all the
afternoon preparing for the night trip
across the mountains, thanked me for my
kindness and entered the carriage.
This old vehicle was like Theoretically
closed box-no openings except door on
each side, with little glass windows above.
We were sitting face to face, opposite each
other, and away we started, the horses 60
ing on quick trot until we reached the
mountains.
The fresh, pungent odor of aromatic
herbs came through the lowered glass of
the doors-that delicious fragrance that
Corsica spreads around her, Us if tho
ground was impregnated with perfume
which the hot sun drew forth and scattered
on every passing breeze.
Again l began to talk of Paris-bright,
beautiful, bewildering Paris. She listened
with keen attention.
BY now the night had grown SO dark
could scarcely distinguish the face of my
companion. 1t appeared like a whitsh
spot in thesurrounding gloom. Tho horses
were slowly walking up the steep ascent,
tho carriage lanterns tho only light to
show the road Every now and then the
sound of a torrent dashing over tho rocks
would come to U.s. Then it would be lost
in the distance.
My companion had been very quiet for
some time, breathing softly, with now and
then a gentle sigh. The darkness and 81
lence emboldened me. l softly laid my
hand on hers. 1t was not withdrawn.
Growing still bolder Invent on whispering
lot of sentimental rubbish; talked of
Glove at first sight, kindred spirits, !"
etc., with my lips very near her EARN
truth, dangerously near her mouth She
was still silent. I fancied could hear the
beatings of her heart, mingled with her
gentle signs.
At last softly placed my lips upon her
cheek. She started as if just aroused from
sleep. But such start! 1t hurled me to
the far side of the carriage Then, before
l had time to comprehend, consider or
even think, received five or six frightful
slaps full in the face, then a perfect hail Of
hsticuffs, hard and sharp, falling every
where, on my head, my face, my neck,
quick and fast as summer rain.
In the thick darkness that surrounded
us vainly tried to parry the blows, to
seize her hands. Impossible! So turned
around and presented my back to her furi-
Gus attacks, and hid my head in the corner
of the vehicle
She seemed to comprehend (by the sound
of the blows, no doubt) this movement of
despair and suddenly ceased to beat me-
and throwing herself back in the corner
of the carriage she burst into wild par
oxysm of sobs and tears, which continued
for an hour or so shrinking back in my
corner, distressed and very much ashamed
wanted to speak but what could l say?
Excuse me?" That would have been
tame and absurd. What would you have
said? Nothing-just as did.
She continued to weep, every now and
then uttering great signs which nearly
broke my heart. l wanted to console her,
to take her in my arms and soothe her as
you would crying child, to beg her par
don, to fall on my knees and entreat her
to forgive me, but dared not. These sit
uations are very embarrassing.
Finally she grew calm. We both re-
manned in our separate corners, mute and
motionless, the diligence moving steadily
on, only stopping now and then for relay
of horses. When the light of the stable
lanterns would flash into the carriage we
would both close our eyes and pretend to
be asleep
We sped on through the night, the aro-
matte odor Of the Corsican mountains Ca
ressing our cheeks and lips, sweet and ex-
hilarating as wine.
Christie, what lovely trip-if-if my
neighbor had not been SO foolish
The day begins to break. AS the first
pale rays OF dawn begin to glide into the
carriage I look at my neighbor. She seems
fast asleep.
The sun coming up from behind the
mountains discloses an immense blue gulf,
streaked with gold and surrounded by
enormous peaks of granite On the far
side of this gulf white city, stepped in
the shading light of the carly morning,
appears.
My neighbor starts up as if just aroused
from sleep, opens her eyes. They arc very
red. She yawns as if she had slept a long
time, bushes, hesitates moment then
stammers:
'Will we be there soon?''
Yes, madam, in less than an hour"
"Oh, wish we were there
I could well understand that wish. Her
voice was q little tremulous, her manner
little confused; otherwise she seemed to
have forgotten everything.
Oh, what diplomatists women are-di-
plomatists by instinct as well as by birth!
How envied her her savoir faire!
In about an hour we arrived at Ajaccio
A great dragon-a kind of Hercules-was
standing at the office door waving his
handkerchief as the diligence appeared
The driver had scarcely brought his horses
to standstill before my neighbor leaped
into his arms with bound, embracing
him again and again, as she exclaimed:
"Oh, am so glad to see you! How l
longed to be with you again!'
My trunk had been taken down from
the imperial. was about to retire dis
oroetly when she called out:
On, monsieur, you are not going With
out bidding me adieu."
stammered, II leave you to your hap
piness, madam"
Then she turned to her husband, saying:
My dear, you must thank monsieur for
his kindness to me. He has been charm
ing, even Offering me a seat in the dill
gence which he had engaged entirely for
himself 1t Is delightful to meet with
such an agreeable travelling companion"
The husband warmly olasped my hand
and thanked me with the greatest effusion.
His wife, standing by, regarded us with a
malicious, hooking smile, while felt and
looked very foolish, assure you.-Guy de
Maupassant.
The Morning Star.
The morning star, an iron ball studded