Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-09-30
and holding out his hand, "but now

"My dear fellow, 1 must be off. It's
past 2 O'Clock"
His eyes wandered carelessly among the
score of photos that Uttered the mantel- |
piece in company with invitation cards,
cigars, gloves and bric-a-brac.
''By the way, what is the name of your
future-wife9"
He spoke very slowly and drew breath
almost between each word
"Oreacia Dulverton. You'll find her
photo somewhere there, in evening dress
and some flowers in her hand, +" muttered
Charlie, wrestling desperately with an OBJ
stinate bottle Of Soda
Ralph Lamont's fingers seemed by in
stinct to pick out the picutre of Miss Dull
verton.
"Lovely face-divine eyes, hasn't sheS"
gasped Charlie, coming up painting but
triumphant with his guests drink in his
hand.
Lamont took long look at the photo
graph, which was vision of soft curls,
wide, sweet eyes, a tremulous rosebud
mouth and glorious throat and bust.
"Miss Dulverton must be very beauti-
full" he said, laying the portrait down
again. "Good night! We shall meet in
the park tomorrow, as usual"
Chow queer dear old Lamont was to-
night" thought Charlie wonder wheth-
er he's quite right. I've always heard that
there was something wrong with his broth
er Jerry He shot himself or something,
but Lamont's always been as steady a.
Father Time"
A week later smart society had new
sensation, and as usual a man and wom-
an were at the bottom of it. The woman
in question was the lovely Oreacia Dulver-
ton, the bride elect of the rich young
Charlie Marten, and the man-wonders
would never cease-was Major Lamont,
whom all the women had been trying to
subjugate for years in vain, and who-and
here came in the spice of the whole affair
was known to be Charlie Martens
greatest friend.
At first, whether in the park, or at Hur-
bingham, or the lawn at Ascot, or in the
bathrooms Of Mayfair, the party was al
ways a trois But as the days and nights
of the London season whirled by watchful
eyes noted that Miss Dulvertons softest
| chances crossed her lover s lowering face to
lose themselves in Lamont's eyes; that he
| waltzed with her twice to Charles once;
| that he piloted her across the Row and
pulled his chair beneath the shadow of her
| sunshade on the hot afternoons in the
park.
For a fortnight society wondered and
whispered and then began to talk aloud.
Major Lamont and Miss Dulverton had
been recognized punting alone at Maiden
head. They had been seen lunching in a
tender tete-a-tete at Richmond, and then,
emboldened by success, rumor shrieked
about box at the Empire and supper at
the Savoy.
| 1t was this last cutlery that reused Char
lie Marten to action, and one afternoon in
| the club he cut Lamont before 20 men. He
was too young and too chivalrous to carry
Islander and doubt into the sacred presence
of his lady love, but the bitterness must
have vent, and it fell on Lamont's broad
shoulders
Sick at heart and furious with himself,
Charlie went straight from his club to his
rooms He felt as though all the world,
which only the other day had seemed too
desirable and sweet, were out Of joint
Nothing but Oreacia and music-he was
to take her to the opera that night-would
| sOOthe his ruthed feelings.
AS he stepped, dressed for the evening,
into his brougham an urchin tossed a
twisted scrap Of paper into the carriage.
"Private room No. 8; Cafe Royal; to-
night, 11:S0."
The words were in penciled capitals,
and he scarcely glanced at them before
tearing the slip across and tossing it from
the window.
"Cafe Royal Rubbish he muttered.
"Why, I'm going to take Oreacia to Lady
Bedale's ball after the opera. )"
But in that plan he was disappointed.
| Oreacia Dulverton had never looked SC
lovely. Every ripple Of her sun kissed
hair, every fold of lace about her bosom,
enhanced her beauty, and her glorious eyes
outshone the big diamonds in her ears.
Yet she vowed she had a shocking head
ache that could brook neither late hours
nor noise Indeed, so i'll was she that even
as the intermezzo in the "Cavalleria Rus
ticana' sobbed through the opera house
she slipped her cloak about her, and almost
before Charlie grasped the fact had glided
quietly from the box.
'What a nuisancep' he muttered as, q
few minutes later, he lit cigarette under
the portico Shall 60 to the Bedales
or notp Suppose must. Oreacia wants
Lady B. to present her next season. But
it's SO early yet. Better go to the club
no, Lamont will DO there-I don't want te
see him again. Why not stroll up to the
Cafe Royal and see if that scrap Of paper
was joke or intended for some one else9'
He nodded to the doorkeeper Of the cafe
as he strolled in and leisurely mounted
the marble staircase. Equally slowly hi
paced up the narrower stairs SO discreetly
carpeted, and, pushing through the swing
doors, entered the corridor leading to thu
private rooms.
No. was fast closed as he neared it, but
as he faced the door waiter emerged, ant
on the watt of food and champagne rams
woman's light laugh.
; 'You here, and with lamont"
! From Ralph Lamont's encircling arm
, Oreacia Dulverton stared impudontly a
the man who was to be her husband.
. Caught" she said, with little laugh
and turning her head as though she would
have kissed the man by her side.
But Lamont, his dark eyes flaming
: started to his feet and shook the clinginf
woman from him as though she had beer
snake.
, "Thank God, Charlie, that you're her
in timep' he cried, stretching his hand
( across the table to where the younger mai
7 stood, pale as stone. Here to see thi
woman you would have made your wife II
. her true colors.
, "Oreacia Dulverton is the woman who
under the guise Of purity and innocence
, wrecked the life Of my most unhapp.
4 | " Luvr A. II