Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-01
A FEMININE IMPULSE,

of the existence Of Miss Dorothy Max
we'll were divided into two sections.
There were those who considered her
life most enviable; there were others
who deemed it highly reprehensible.
But as Dorothy herself was ignorant
alike of envy or condemnation she con-
tinued to live in the charming and ad-
mirably appointed Georgian house in
Kensington, and in pleasant environ
ment created by lavish but intelligent
expenditure on the part of the Marquis
of Bewdavon. For some years she had
been mistress of Belper Lodge, yet her
life was extremely dull. Lord Bew-
davon was busy man both socially and
politically, and close friend Of his
father, the aged Duke Of Strathwayte-
a circumstance so singular that it was
a constant source of comment among
his contemporaries. Consequently, at
first he was frequently away from Lon
don for weeks together, either filling
political or social engagements, or stay
ing with his father, who never left the
country, and as Dorothy had no friends
and no companions save the faded
widow of a military officer whom Bew-
davon had engaged as her chaperon to
accompany her to the play when he
was otherwise engaged, the comfort and
pleasure of her life were marred by its
loneliness
Dorothy had an overwhelming re-
spect for Lord Bewdavon, but she did
not love him, and this in the earlier
days of her conquest had given her sin
a blacker tinge in her own eyes. A ma
tive cleverness, added to acute feminine
perception. had shown her that Bew
davon had none of the characteristics Of
the average man who enters lightly
upon irregular unions. Morally, per-
haps, he was neither better nor worse;
mentally he was incomparably superior
Mere beauty and platitudes wearied
him, and when Dorothy discovered the
gulf that lay between their intelligences
she set herself diligently to bridge it
over. Bewdavons devotion to politics
"a devotion he had inherited from
long line Of ancestors-gave' Dorothy
her opportunity, and during his many
absences string of masters occupied
her days, hard study her solitary even
ings. One day, by the merest chance,
Bewdavon stumbled upon a pile Of
books dealing with abstruse questions,
with history, philosophy and political
economy, their margins covered with
notes in Dorothy's neat handwriting
a handwriting that bore evidence of the
class from which she had sprung.
"How this woman loves mel" he said
to himself, his eyes growing dim as he
turned over volume after volume. At
that moment Dorothy entered the room,
and, seeing the books strewed around
him, hesitated. II have never pene-
trated into your sanotum before" he
said, pointing to the many evidences of
her plodding. ~ sincerely wish had
Have you been wading through all
these books to please me?"
Dorothy faltered. His imm ediate con-
clusion that she had been educating
herself for his sole benefit filled her
with a vague irritation.
ell wished to understand you bet
ter" she stammered.
"You have succeeded in making me
understand you," he answered, kissing
her reverently.
From that day they insensibly drift
ed into close friendship. and often as
Dorothy sat by Bewdavon, steadily
helping him with his many researches,
and filled with admiration for his
marvellous sympathy and broad outlook
upon life. she would cry bitterly to her.
self: "Why cannot l love this man?
Why cannot love him?' And so the
days passed, the woman endeavoring to
stifie the impulses of her heart by Sc
we're study, the man glorying in her
beauty and her intelligence, until the
Duke Of Strathwayte fell dangerously
i'll.
"This illness may last for months, =
said Bewdavon, as he was leaving
Belper Lodge, ''and I cannot be away
from him. Go abroad, Dorothy, with
Mrs. Vane."
"How could help you then?" she
asked, terror Of strange places and
peoples suddenly taking possession Of
her. There is much I can do for you
if stay here"
'But it will do you good. You need
a change" he protested.
1--WE will compromise, she said,
smiling. "I will go to Brighton
"And be thoroughly idle," he con-
oluded, patting her cheek. 'You have
been working too hard"
At the end Of a fortnight Dorothy re-
turned, hurrying the meek Mrs. Vane
protestingly from the delights Of the
hotel, the victim Of q restlessness that
left her no peace Soon after her return
to Belper Lodge she was one afternoon
idly scanning the pages Of a magazine,
when her eye fell upon an illustration
Of the interior Of large draper's shop.
She rose abruptly, filled with sudden
desire for her old life--to smell the
aerial scent Of new calico, to see the
long line Of flaring lights over each
counter, to hear the ripping Of cloth,
the conversation Of the tired shopgirls.
Memories Of her girlhood surged through
her brain as she leaned against the
mantelpiece, and an incurable longing
to see the great drapery establishment
where she had worked took possession
Of her. She picked up the magazine,
and then, with mrfled cry, threw it
down and ran to her bedroom. The
tea gown Of diaphanous lace and silk
was torn off, and few moments later
Dorothy slipped out Of The house, q sad
colored cloak and thick veil shroud-