Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-13
THE GOLD CROSS.
"Helloi What's this2''

great daily paper.
He had studiously avoided the other resi-
dents of the house, and perhaps it was for
that reason that he scorned the elevator,
preferring to bound up the marble stairs
to his cozy rooms on the third floor. This
habit greatly amused his young brother,
Elliott, who shared his home and any 9TH
er comforts that the gods Of John provided.
Elliott was lazy, happy go lucky artist,
whose profession had not as yet brought
him an income.
When John entered the pretty sitting
room that evening, he found his brother
putting the finishing touches to what he
was pleased to call an ''ideal head.
John walked to the easel and glanced
carelessly at the sketch, rather bored to be
forced to spend time on one of Elliott's
many daubs. But for once his attention
was arrested. Something in the light
brown eyes appealed to him, and as no
studied the face it seemed more and more
to beseech his friendliness at least
"Elliott, you rascal, you have stolen
this! BY Jove, it's the best you have
done!"
"Thank you, Jack, and to tell you the
truth, it's face I've seen and dreamed
about, but painted entirely from memory"
"Where did you see herr If you have
really portrayed some living girl, she must
be indeed beauty!"
Elliott seemed we'll pleased that an an
swcr was not expected.
The next morning when John put his
hand in his pocket for his car fare he ran
against something unusual, and pulling it
out recognized the little golden cross. He
looked at it carefully and saw the inscrip-
ton "Muriel" upon 1t.
When he raised his head, he blushed to
watching him demurely, even appealingly,
1t seemed to him. Yes, 1t must be she, the
same brow, the waving hair, the dainty
lips, and, best of all, the wonderful eyesl
Now, John Ainsworth had reached the
sober age of 35, and II any one had told
him that pair of hazel eyes would set his
heart to beating like steam pump or
cause crimson hue to suffuse his manly
face he would have secuted at the idea.
But that was just what was going on this
very morning, and as the sensation was
so new and SO alarming the only idea that
came to him was flight
So he made his way to the door of the
car and dropped off, only to regret it, as
he had voluntarily given up the only
chance of finding out who she was or
where she was going.
Following his first impulse, he started
at lively pace to pursue the car, but
stopped short when he heard familiar
voice calling:
Hold on there, Jack, old mani What's
thn oh 1C A,ro pxnv,
a SCOOP
well, you here9 I managed to get off
at the wrong corner and thought to regain
the car"
"Your supper last night must have been
too much for you, though should have
supposed you would have slept off the ef-
fects. Let us walk on down town. I'd
like to take you in to see some water oolors
at Browns"
Speaking about water colors what are
you going to do with that headp You
won't sell 1t, will your
"Will II Won't I, If can find any
patron of art who appreciates it to the
tune Of 500 or soS This art for arts sake
is all very poetical, but the time is COM
ing, my boy, when must earn my living.
You know, I can't always expect to live
OH your bounty, Jack. You may be wish
ing to marry some day yourself"
II don't know about that. We are all
liable to succumb, but don't send that
head to Browns anyway. want it, and
if take it you can show 1t at the spring
exhibition and perhaps gain glory, if not
wealth."
The mind Of John Ainsworth was full
Of but one subject all that week, and
street car riding became steady habit,
his hope being to catch another glimpse Of
the hazel eyes. But fortune did not seem
to favor him.
One morning he remembered the golden
cross and bethought himself that some
effort should DO made to find it's rightful
owner. Suiting the action to the word, he
wrote description of it and inserted it in
the advertisement column of the paper.
The following day brought an answer,
stating that the owner would DO very
grateful if the finder would return the
cross to her home, giving the very apart
ment house where John lived.
That evening John called at rs and
asked for Miss Muriel Marigold, but when
sho did glide softly into the room she glid-
but the possessor of the hazel eyes!
THANK you SO much, Mr.. Ainsworth,
for bringing my little cross. 1t is an old
keepsake and was given to me when was
child. regretted its loss exceedingly,
but when saw you had it," she added
mischievously, 81 knew it was safe. Let
me thank you again warmly. hope now
that we have met we may be friends. Your
brother and often meet in the elevator,
and though we only nod and smile feel
that we are old acquaintance.
Two months later at the spring exhibit
ton of water colors three people stood be-
fore a painting which was catalogued as
All "Ideal Head"
cit is very like-yes, very like" said
the elder Of tho two young men. "There
is only one thing laoking-the golden
cross, for that, you know, is what brought
me my sweet
"Hush, John, dear" whispered the girl
who looked SO like the picture.
News
/, The Causes Of vagabondags.
The principal causes or sources Of vaga-
bondage, as understand them, may he
briefly recapitulated
First.--The love of liquor.
Second. -Wanderlust-the love of wan
dering.
Third,-The county jail, owing to the
promiscaous herding Of boys and homeless
wanderers with criminals.
Fourth.-The tough and rough element
in villages and towns
Fifth.-The comparatively innocent but
misguided pupils Of the reform school.
Though not, properly speaking, cause
of vagabondage, the nonenforcement of
law is its nursing mother, and misguided
and misapplicd charity its base Of opera
lions. The tramp evil is not 90 much
disease as symptom o. public i'll health.