Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-10-18

afraid don't want any of these high fl
ers Miss Grants the most desirable per-
son, after ALL Old Grants bank account
is one very satisfactory feature about the
transaction When she gets back, Ill
speak to her about it and have the thing
off my mind"
Miss Grant came back the next week.
and Jack wendell his way to her home
shortly after her return to inform her of
the decision he had arrived at during her
absence.
Miss Grant was rather cool.
"She's miffed to think haven't spoken
on the important subject before" thought
Jack.
good chance presenting itself, Jack
proceeded to offer his heart and hand to
Miss Grant after the most genteel manner
possible.
He expected her to burst into flood of
thankful tears or perform some other
equally original feat to demonstrate the
gladness Of her emotions, but she did not
do anything of the kind.
"You do me a great deal of honor,
suppose, +" said she in a tone which seemed
to imply that she hardly considered that
she was speaking truthfully, "but don't
feel like accepting it. would refer you
to Miss Graham"
Jack was thunderstruok.
He had never dreamed of anything like
this. 1t fustered his wits up terribly for
a minute or two. Then he rallied them
and tried to explain matters, but Miss
Grant was obstinate as a woman ever was
and would not listen to word from him.
$50 to Miss Graham, was all she said,
and Jack at last Withdrew from the field
discounted.
''Its plain as the nose on my face that
she's heard something about my flirting
with Miss Graham, and she's mad about
it, Confound Miss GrahamW
But after sober second thought on the
matter he concluded to accept Miss Grants
advice and go to Miss Graham.
Accordingly he set off to inform Miss
Graham that he had concluded to marry
her.
Miss Graham was all smiles and pretty
words, and Jack felt that he had but to
say the word and the thing was settled.
And by and by he proceeded to inform
her Of the honor he had decided to confer
upon her.
Marry your exclaimed Miss Graham.
"Why, couldn't think of such thingp'>
And she laughed as if it was the best joke
Of the season.
Jack began to feel scared.
"Why not?" he demanded.
"Because I'm engaged to one man al
ready, and the law objects to our marry
ing two, you know!" And thereupon Miss
| Graham laughed again as if it were i'm
mensely funny.
For the life Of him Jack could not see
the point.
Chow long have you been engaged?"
stammered Jack, feeling cold and hot,
and, to use handy old phrase which is
very expressive if not strictly elegant "de-
cidedly streaked.''
"For as much as-let me see''-eoolly-
"as much as a year, fancy. Yes. Tt was
in October that it happened. just about
year ago."
"And you never told me!' groaned
Jack.
"You never asked me-" said Miss
Graham.
Poor Jack! He gathered up his lacerat-
ed heart and withdrew from his second
battlefield completely routed.
II won't give it up!' he decided.
"There's Lucy Brown. She'll have me
and jump at the chance, and she's worth
40 Miss Grants and trainload of Miss
Grahams! I'll write to her and ask her
this very afternoon.
And write to her he did.
He had not answered her last letter, re-
ceived three months before, but he put in
page of excuses for his negligence and
smoothed the matter over to his satisfac-
ton, if not to Lucy's.
The letter was sent, and he awaited a
reply with considerable anxiety.
At last 1T came.
"It's favorable, of course, he said as he
tore open the letter. "Lucys always
thought her eyes Of me-"
But his opinion as to its being favorable
changed somewhat as he read it.
Mr.. JACK EDsoN-I am very thankful for
the honor, ETC., but / don't take up with
second hand articles when can get thetu at
first hand. John Smith says: 'Tell him
have something to say about it now, and I'm
not going to forego my claim on Lucy Brown
for all the Jack Edsons in the world, and it
isn't quite the thing down in Dayton to pro,
pose to other mems wives. F."
| Love to Miss Grant, also to Miss Graham.
Yours, Lucy BROWN SMITH,
"Good gracious Lucy married."
Jacks eyes were like saucers when he
read that name.
Then he suddenly dropped into the near
| est chair.
"Well, I've gone and done it this time"
he groaned. "Jack Edison, you re fool!'
Poor Jack He is in the market yet.
Who bids?-Spare Moments.