Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-17
HIS TEMPTATION.

Walter Macpherson, medical student,
who was thus emphatically addressed,
finished the verse of the music hall
melody he was singing in his musical,
if rather boisterous voice, and then
turned toward his companion.
whats up, old MANI" he asked, re-
garding him with comical look of con-
Germ on his good natured face. ''You
don't look as happy as I've seen you.
To quote Glabrio in "The Sign of the
Cross" whether is it your liver or
your heart that troubles you? If the
former, send for the doctor; if the lat
ter, send for the woman" That advice
is invaluable, my dear fellow, and
ought to be acted upon at once.
Frank Ross pushed the book he had
been porting over away from him impa-
tiently and rose from the table. He was
tall, slightly made lad, very different
in appearance from the stalwart Mac
pherson, with whom he had shared his
lodgings for the last two sessions. They
were both medical students and in their
second last year.
II wish you'd keep your advice to
yourself, Macpherson, he said. II find
it difficult enough to study just now;
when you are in the room it's impossi-
BILE. I cannot imagine how you ever
manage to get through your exams, and
with honors too. !"
"You see, Pm not in love, Ross, and
that makes difference. My dear boy"
he continued, changing his bantering
tone, 81 wish you would not worry
yourself SO much over trifes. You will
make yourself i'll before the end Of the
session -
''Triflesp' Ross exclaimed. ''Do you
call it trifle that have not seen her
for nearly three weeks and that, al
though I know she is in town, she has
not even written to let me know her adj
dress? tell you, it is enough to drive
fellow mad to be engaged to a girl like
that!'
Walter Macpherson glanced at Ross
panied, angry face with look Of sym
pathy on his own handsome one. Then
dark flush crept gradually over it and
be busted himself in lighting his pipe.
"Have you not seen Miss Wilson late
ly, then?" he asked kindly. He had a
disagreeable feeling of disloyalty to his
friend in his honest heart as he thought
Of how only few nights ago he had
met, quite by accident on his part, the
young lady in question, and as he had
had nothing special to do walked part of
the way with her to where she was stay
ing with friends. Somehow he had omit
ted to mention the meeting to Ross, and
Of course took it for granted that he
knew where she was living and had seen
her himself. Macpherson had known
Lily Wilson for some time and was on
friendly terms with her, as being
Franks intended. She and Frank came
from the same town, some distance out
Of Glasgow, and had known each other
all their lives It was an understood
thing that the marriage would take
place whenever Ross was through. He
made no secret to Macpherson of his all
absorbing love for Lily, and Walter,
who had never been in love as yet, lis
tened good naturally, wondering some
times il any girl was worth troubling SO
much over, and invariably coming to
the conclusion that if such one existed
it was Lily Wilson-Lily, with her yell
low hair and tall, willowy figure.
For moment he hesitated whether
to tell Ross Of the chance encounter or
not. then he made up his mind to say
nothing about it. He would try to see
her again and tell her how much pain
she was causing Frank by her silence.
Macpherson had grown very fond OF his
companion within the last two sessions,
and in his own blunt, good natured way
would have done almost anything to
save him trouble or pain.
"Don't fret over her, Frank" he
said, laying his hand on his shoulder.
"You will see her soon, I'm convinced
Of that, and then you will laugh at all
your fears and doubts about her.
And Ross dependency, as usual.
gave way before his friends cheerful
ness and unfailing influence.
That night Walter Macpherson, after
his classes were over, went round in the
direction Of where Lily had told him
she was staying in the hopes Of seeing
her. It was beginning to get dark as he
sauntered slowly along toward the gates
Of the park, where he had met her the
previous evening. He had almost given
up hope Of meeting her, when he saw
her slim. figure come slowly toward him
with . book under her arm. He stopped
and raised his hat. There seemed an un-
usual glow on Lily's fair face as she
gave him her hand.
II have been enjoying the park and
book all afternoon, she said. 1--WE
seem destined to meet, Mr. Macpher-
son.
I was in hopes Of doing so," Walter
said in his blunt way, looking from his
great height at her gracefully poised
head and soft blue eyes, which looked
almost black in the gathering dusk. 1t
is too late for you to be wandering
about alone. But since we have met I
want to have talk with you. Let US