Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-01-12
LIZA-A SKETCH.

She was thin slip of girl, with
pale, sallow cheeks and figure as fragile
as the flowers she carried in her basket.
1t was her eyes and her hands which
marked her off from the common herd.
Had these been of regulation pattern,
there would have been nothing to dis
tinguish her from any dozen Of her COM
panions. But her eyes, which were brown
in color, were large and lustrous and
had provoking habit Of dropping the
lashes when she looked at one. Whether
calculated coquetry or native born man
ner chiefly concerned would have puz-
zled an expert to decide. That it was
fetching" few men would have ven
tured to deny. Her hand, small and
we'll shaped, boasted the taper fingers
and filbert nails generally associated
with birth and breeding.
She sold flowers in Cheapside. Her
station was the steps Of the Peel statue,
and every morning, week in and week
out, as the clocks Of the city were strik-
ing 10 she would deposit her basket at
the foot Of the column and prepare for
the business Of the day.
From 10 to she piled her wares dill
igently, pushing the sale with all the
tact which life experience had taught
her and all the wiles which woman's
wit could suggest. But each evening,
when the weary city was fast emptying
and the bell Of the great cathedral was
still eohoing overhead, her eye would
sweep the long length of crowded as
phalt with searching glances, and as
she scanned the teeming multitude
pouring westward a spot Of crimson
would suddenly show in the wan, white
cheeks and the dark brown orbs would
flash and kindle with a curious mystic
light
He always contrived to be in Cheap
side between 6 and 8 80. 1t was their
custom to walk together down Queen
Victoria street to Blackfriars bridge. At
this point t4.ey separated-she crossing
to the Surrey side, he taking a turn"
through Fle IT street and the Strand be-
fore following in the same direction.
They had commenced the practice in
midWinter, had continued it throughout
the spring, and now they had reached
midsummer.
From afar she could distinguish his
barrow among the throng of vehicles
which filled the thoroughfare. When he
had doubled" the corner and got into
tho comparative "slack water" OF the
churchyard, she crossed over and joined
him. A nod that was almost impercepti-
BILE, answered by smile that was bright,
and sunny, was all the recognition that
passed between them.
The girls glance wandered involun-
tarily to the barrow. Tt was the season
for cherries, and she noticed the long
array Of empty baskets.
"Been 'avin a good day, Joe, amt
yer?''
"Middlin like /"
"w'y y'ain't only one molly left. !"
"P'raps I been givin 'em away" The
tone was Enthusiastically surly.
For the next 60 yards they walked on
in silence, the girl watching the man
furtively, the man pushing the barrow
languidly and staring strenuously at
nothing.
''Ha' yet thort on wot tole yer?" he
said presently, as the girl stepped on
the pavement to avoid collision with a
parcels boy. Tho light that had light
ensd them died out Of her eyes, the
color which had come into her cheeks
forsook them, her mouth grew hard, and
her face lost at once its youth and ami
nation.
The man continued to stare into va
cancy and walk mechanically after his
barrow.
II can't do ut. joe cant do ut.
stint got no rest these two nights--but
I can't do ut. !"
The words came with difficulty and
the voice palpitated with emotion.
The man shrugged his shoulders i'm
patiently.
"wot's the good Nv i'm, eh? A
dod'rin ole lunatic. Wot's the use nv
I'M ter anybody? He orter been dead
years ago.
Hes me father, Joe," she murmur-
cd reproachfully.
"Father be blowedl He's dun lot
for yer, amt he? Y'ort ter feel proud
Nv i'm, didn't yer? Pinchin his gals
money-drinkin till he's got the devils
an talkin tommy rot bout bein gen.
Gilman an the son nv = genelman. WY
be amt got no more decency AN pig.
When he can't gorge hisself no longer,
4 pig Ill lie in the swill trough, Al
when your genelman fathers had q
skinful he'll snore by thehour 'longside
: quart pot. "
He stole : glance at the girl out Of
the corner Of his eye. The busy, busting
life Of London eddied round them; the
toar Of tho great Babylon was in theil