Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-22

touching by accident the hidden spring
of some secret door which opened into
new atmosphere new fairyland. We
were more like old friends than chance
acquaintance, and it seemed as if
neither could tell the other too much
Points of agreement and disagreement
were noted eagerly. We had read the
same books, visited the same places, and
wherever we turned there was new
ground Of sympathy.
She had only been in London week
and had not visited any place of amuse-
ment. l wondered if I could find a
chance here of pushing my advantage
and approached the subject with deli
cacy and caution.
But at this point it seemed that the
mutual confidence stopped, for she de-
clined to understand my tactics and re-
marked that her time was too fully &C.
cupied to 60 about much.
Only too soon we reached the place
where I had decided to alight We
shook hands warmly and thanked each
other rather vaguely and nervously,
and then found myself once more on
nasty, wet London pavement.
had had glimpse Of fairyland, but
it was only a glimpse. I was back
again in the practical, uncomfortable
world, with living to be earned and a
will to make.
The gates Of fairyland were closed,
for, like a donkey, had omitted to
find out the fairy's name and where she
lived.
1t seemed impossible to bring ones
mind back to the legal subtleties Of
willmaking, but it had to be done, and
trudged heavily on my way to our
clients house, finding, to my infinite
disgust, that I had got out Of the omni-
bus much sooner than need have DONE
Imagine my surprise when, on reach
ing the house and being shown into the
dining room, found there the heroine
of the lost shoe.
That settled it.
l felt that heaven had decided I was
to marry that young lady, and formed
the pious intention then and there OF
giving heaven every possible assistance
and made such a delightful hash Of her
aunt's will that it required some six or
seven visits to put matters straight.
Curiously enough, though, from the
moment we met in the house her friend
illness ceased. Every time l came she
was more cold and distant, and I was
almost in despair. The conversation
which had flowed SO merrily in an I'M
comfortable omnibus seemed impossible
over the dining room fire, and she re-
fused to 60 beyond the most common
place civilities
She calmly ignored that drive, which
had found SO delightful, and treated
me with ordinary politeness due to the
representative Of her aunt's solicitors.
The position grew desperate, because
couldn't continue to make blunders
over the old lady will forever. Already
the firm had reprimanded me for stu
pidity, though, to be sure, the old lady
herself bore with me with wonderful
patience and good temper
The crisis came.
1t was my last visit about the will,
which was now ready-absolutely cor
rect-and the dear old creature had ap-
proved of every word Of it.
1t only required to be executed. She
said she would like her niece and me to
be the witnesses, and as she was much
better and able to get up we assembled
solemnly in the library. But she was a
funny old character and secuted the
idea Of solemnity, ringing the bell for
the servant to bring up some champagne,
so that we might drink "success to her
will"
I'm thankful to say that, though
was by this time helplessly in love with
the niece, I had sufficient presence Of
mind to say, Success to the will, and
may it never have to be provedP' which
pleased her immensely, and before
left I was invited to dinner the follow
ing Sunday.
From that moment things went pretty
smoothly, though it was only last even
ing that in talking over our counting
days in the far away past my wife ex-
planned the meaning Of her extraordi-
nary GOODNESS to me.
It seems that when, after the drive in
what she is pleased to call the "fairy
omnibus" I walked into her aunt's
dining room, she quite recognized that
must be her destiny, and SO, with fem
mime perversity, she felt called upon to
struggle against fate az much as posi-
BILE.
but you ought to be very thankful
to me for one thing" she added. at
was who-but never mind.
"Nonsense!" I said. go on. We are
too old fashioned to be romantic any
longer. T"
"Well," she said, cit was who sug-
gested you should be invited to dinner. !"
Which just shows what contradictory
creatures women are. = Household