Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-03-30
MATED ON LOVE ROCK

"That's the rock, SIR" said the weather
beaten old tar.
Ted Rivers looked up and laughed a
little bitterly.
"a nice place to propose to IA lady," said
he. cit seems to mo that it would not be
SO easy as you think to get up there"
The old fisherman looked shrewdly at
Ted and winked to himself.
"Well, sir, if you'd like to try for your
self
"I'm not thinking about myself at all, I"
burst out Ted with SO much Indignation
that his companion Immediately drew his
conclusion.
"Ineyer thoughtas you were, sir. Twas
only my little bit of a joke But yon's
the rock, and tho gal as is asked there is
had for tho asking. It's gospel truth,
what's more, And it's there got my old
woman, which wouldn't so much as look
at me until | caught her a-sittin on the
rim of that there rock
"Says I, Betsy, I've come to ask you to
marry me, and she looked round sorter
scared like, and l says, 'You'm a-sittin on
the love rock, Betsy, and it's here as I've
follored you, for you're the only gal what
wants, I've set my heart OH marin
yon, says l, and you re on the love rock. )
''Then she locks up as meek as lamb
and she says Yes and falls a-cryin as
always did admire that young scamp Pete.
But she knew us well as me that shed got
to marry me, because asked on the rock
''We was So took up with what hap
pened that we was all caught by the tide,
but we got off in time. The rocks niver
quite covered, but 'twould be an ugly
place to pass night, and next to unpossi-
BILE to be got off. There's nasty breakers
In the best weather, and some sharp bits
of rock around, so as no boat can get
near
Ted had fixed his eyes on the love rock.
He was not listening to the garrulous old
man, and he certainly did not believe the
superstition about it; but, all the same,
he felt inclined to compass tho difficulties
in the way and get Mile Lloyd there. 1t
would be as good place as any he knew
for telling the secret which had been his
felt was impossible to keep to himself even
If the telling of it meant the ruin of his
hopes
He could not endure to see her chatting
by tho hour with old Fielding, who evil
IDENTIFY admired her and was quite equal to
asking her to marry him, old villain that
he was. And Millie-who could guess
what she would do?
cts time to he going back, said Ted,
pulling his watch out. Good morning.
I've i'm idea that this would be rather a
nice spot for picnc-not half bad"
Old Jack Grice bent nearly double with
laughter the moment Teds figure had dis
appeared around the cliffs, and then he
went home to tell Betsy the joke. She
was shrewd old woman and gavo it as
her opinion that Ted was in love.
Meanwhile Ted hurried back to the hotel
in sort of panic. He felt uneasy sudden
ly because he had been absent for several
opportunity.
A set Of tennis WAS being played on the
asphalt court. Mile was not there. He
went and leaned ON the fence that guarded
the cliff and gave sweeping glance from
right to left, taking in the long walk
from the top of the cliff to the shore below,
both visible from this point Neither
Millie nor Fielding was in view.
So he went In and looked for them in
all the public sitting rooms. There was
not sign of either. Until the gong sum-
moned all the visitors down to the table
d'hote he was unable to find her, and then
he heard casually that she had been out
for drive with her mother.
1t was Ted who proposed picnic and
Ted who suggested the best spot for one.
"That's close to the love rock, isn't it?'
asked some one.
"The love rook?" said Ted, with the ut
most innocence. "What's thatp"
With the impatience of young folk the
picnic was fixed for the next day, weather
permitting or not A storm had been pre-
dicted, but the objections Of the elders
were talked down with many arguments
as unanswerable as they were illogical.
"Its not at all the weather for ponies"
growled Mr.. Fielding, following the group
Of enthusiasts and looking sourly on Ted
and Mile, who happened to be talking
together
''We don't mind the weather." said
Millie Her face was radiant, and she en-
tered into the plans with all her heart.
Ted saw her smile and stepped back aghast.
81 should much prefer quiet day on
the shore" said Mr.. Fielding in lower
tone.
Mile glanced ut Ted, and then she slip
ped away. Somehow she now felt out Of
heart with the picnic. As for Ted, there
was nothing he would have liked better
than to take Mr.. Fielding by the throat
and throttle him.
The next morning broke bright and
sunny. A brisk wind that afterward b.
came boisterous was blowing from the sea.
With baskets of provisions and long sticks
which they called their alpenstooks-
party started for the love rock.
They took their lunch IN the shelter of
the cliffs. The tide was out, and the love
rock stood up gaunt and jagged in full
view. They intended to explore 1t that
afternoon.
The tide had turned before the party
reached the rock, and now the wind was
% strong that few less daring spirits
turned back. Ted kept close to Mile,
who refused to give up the object of the
picnic, though Mr.. Fielding advised and
almost commanded her to desist.
The rest were too intent upon the DIM
oulties Of their way to notice that Ted and
Mile had struggled round to the other
aide, and the return party we're already
we'll on their way home. Clouds were
s,athorinu In tina horiv0n and avarv NO.