Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-23

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And don't want to have it on my con-
science that begged you into it, What do
you think of it, Miss Mary EllenS''
II don't know what to think of it., she
said, scarcely opening her lips to speak.
Don't you mind about disappointing
me. What is one disappointment, more or
less, in this uncertain world?" A short,
involuntary groan escaped him, but he
coughed and went on with elaborate cheer
fnlness. "And 'twon't be your disap-
pointing me. It'll be all my doing, don t
you seer If you feel like you oughtn't to
break your word and all that, I'll just
give right up myself, here and now I'm
giving you up, not you giving me up"
His face was radiant with the glory of
renunciation.
She stared down at the carpet and spoke
not word.
"And now, if you amt happy it won t
be any fault of mine" He wiped his
brow and drew deep breath with an air
almost of triumph. "That was mighty
short engagement, want it?" he added,
with an unsteady little chuckle
He glanced about him with sprightly
air. Speaking of crocuses, - he remarked
casually, they had striped kind at our
house last year that was mighty pretty.
wish now I'd thought to get you some
roots, but the yellow ones are mighty pret-
ty too. Did you ever see the striped kind,
Miss Mary Ellens"
II don't remember" she said briefly.
The subject so obviously failed to inter-
est her that he cast around in his mind for
another. "I'm glad the fruit trees have
not been blooming SO early this year." he
observed. ''If they hold back little Ion
ger, we'll have good chance Of crop.
Last year certainly was bad year You
amt feeling very well today, are you,
Miss Mary EllenP" he inquired, with ten
der solicitude. ~ reckon you didn't t sleep
very well last night" he suggested, wait
ing for her answer
She did not speak.
~ was mighty troubled myself" he
continued. "But don't you worry about
that now. That is all over. There ain It
a sparrow hopping out yonder in the trees
that's any freer than you are. And as for
taking back your word''-
The muscles around her mouth worked
for a moment. II haven't taken back my
word" she said.
mo, of course not" he assented COR
daily. 'Tain't your way to take back
your word. That's the reason take the
back track in it myself" He arose and
offered her his hand.
"Well, reckon I'd better be getting
on" His hand closed convulsiveIy over
her limp fingers, and pang of pain shot
over the thin face that betrayed his emo
tion. He looked at her wistfully. II ain It
saying that amt sorry it couldn't be, -
he said.
The household wondered at the cessa-
tion of the visits of "Aunt Mary Ellen s
beau," but no explanation was forthcom-
ing.
Where's Mr.. Haskins, Mary Elem"
her sister ventured. Don't you reckon
he's sick or something's"
Mary Ellen WINGED. II haven't heard
anything about his being sick, she said
She was standing at the window look
ing down the street. She drew back with
little flush on her face, but with studied
deliberation. "There he is now, she said,
but maybe he's just passing" She cast
an eye on the glass and touched her hair
with agitated fingers. "You let him in
Fanny Belle" she said to her young niece
who regarded her in silence II amt
quite ready"
She paused moment at the foot of the
stairs, as if to catch her breath before she
entered
He was standing, looking eagerly at the
door. They shook hands in solemn silence
Have you got real we'll, Miss Mary
Ellen?'
II haven't been siok,' she said.
Tho c,1hiact od, Of M ,,,oro .l;o
cussion.
Fanny Belle is getting to be a mighty
pretty girl" he began again. "Don t
these young ones grow up fast? She'll
play the wild with these young fellows
before long. She's mighty like what you
used to be.
"Ahp' she said.
"How's Mrs. Waggoner, Miss Mary
Ellen2"
Sister Mely is very we'll, thank you,"
she answered.
He pondered for awhile in silence. II
haven't seen you all for right long," he
observed in an offhand manner.
She made no reply.
~ thought maybe somebody had been
sick or something had been bothering
you," he suggested.
She said nothing for moment. "Ev-
erybody's been pretty well, )" she finally
responded.
He looked mildly at her, evidently at the
end Of his conversational resources.
She laid the hem Of her handkerchief in
folds.
Speaking Of Sister Mely," she went on
suddenly, II don't know what I'd do but
for Sister Nelly. There's nobody to be de-
pended on like your own born relations. l
don't know whether you ever do get to un-
derstand people You wa mt raised with.
eyes, that's so, he assented, not with
out perplexity.
Some people are SO excitable, P" she pro-
ceeded, THAT you never know just where
to find em. If Sister Nelly says thing
today, she'll stick to it tomorrow.
"You are nightly that way yourself"
he said.
She flushed over her face and neck.
The blood rushed to his own face as he
saw the drift Of her thoughts. "Nobody's
any stricter about a promise than you
are, he said in reassuring manner.
you'd stand up to it if it killed you--if
you want let off
She glanced at him and looked away.
II don't know how you know all that"
she said.
He seemed little bewildered, as If ho
had lost his bearing; in the conversation.
Her glance again turned to him for an
Instant II don't generally make prom.
ises 'twould kill me to keep"
A sort of flash passed over his face as he
looked at her. 1T seemed mighty hard
on you the other night-that promise
did," he began unsteadily. Want it
hard on you, Miss Mary Ellenr'
With the eagerness Of the drowning man
who sees straw he cutohed the arms Of
his chair so that his knuckles whitened.
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