Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-07

II should be delighted, I replied,
and he hurried off.
AS soon as he had disappeared l turn
ed to Mrs. Fordyce.
"It's all very odd," remarked.
"What?" she queried. "That you
should turn out to be the friend Mr.. ST.
Croix has been talking to me about?"
smiled, the quaintness of the whole
matter seeming infinitely amusing to
me.
"No," said; "that you should be
the lady whose charms he has been de-
scribing to me"
She blushed. gazed at her critically
Pom my word" I exclaimed at
length, lit is positively marvellous to
think that it is close upon
"That is just what don't want you
to think, doctor" she interrupted.
"But, my dear Mrs. Fordyce, you &C.
tually look younger and more beautiful
than you did when we were together at
SimlaP'
She laughed.
''We have always been in the habit Of
speaking plainly to one another. 4"
Eyes" agreed. SIT saves time"
She gave me nervous little glance.
"Oh," I said reassuringly, IT am
your friend!"
She was playing with the edge of her
fan.
A woman is only as old as she
looks" she observed, land was mar
ried at an extremely early age"
est. Croix was perfectly justified in
his estimate-25 he told me, said,
with a laugh. "But that is detail.
The thing that will surprise him most
will be the fact that Glare exists!'
She looked at me with smile
"Ah, you have met her at the Ros-
coes'?"
eyes; found my little 1O-year-old
sweetheart of Simla had grown into a
dainty young lady of 1S! How is it,"
continued, "that St. Croix is ignorant
Of her existence?''
We'll, he assumed I had no children,
and II could not summon up enough
courage to tell him afterward. You see
what difficult position I am in!" she
added plaintively.
Eyes, it is difficult" I agreed "The
unexpected appearance Of full grown
daughter upon the scene might prove too
heavy strain at this critical stage Of
his love. A girl of IS is responsible
ity," I added.
All this time | had been hugging to
myself some special intelligence. I
thought it was about time to bring mat
tiers to a head
"Mrs. Fordyce," said, "do you real
ly care for st. Croix?" She did not re-
ply for moment.
Yes, she said simply. II really
love him. Oh, can't you suggest some
thing?" and she looked at me pleading
ly.
"Yes," I said quietly. "We will help
one another. Have you heard from Glare
today?" continued.
Her hand went to her pocket.
"Why, yes, she said "A letter came
as was going out. have not read it
yet"
would you oblige me by doing SO, as
you have it with you?"
She drew an envelope from her pocket,
opened it and smoothed the letter out.
As she read it smile came over her
face.
my dear doctor, /" she exclaimed, "do
you think one so young as Glare will
make you happy?"
"Did she not settle it in Simla years
ago that she would marry nobody but
the 'doc?' I replied. "Have NAM
mas CONSENT"
She laughed happily.
"Really," said, CHANGING at her, II
hardly know whether I'm talking to
Glare OF her mother
St. Croix rejoined us.
"St. Croix," l said to him quietly,
after minute or SO, II have been med
ding in your affairs-with a good re-
suit, I added.
He turned with glad look of surprise
to Mrs. Fordyce.
is it 'Yes?' " he murmured.
Its for you to say, after hearing the
DOCTOR" she replied softly.
1.-THE one condition is" said abrupt
", that you agree to become my fa-
Their -law!'
He seemed to be quite surprised. I
rendered few simple words Of explana-
ton.
st. Croix glanced at Mrs Fordyce-
she was looking radiantly beautiful
and then did the most intelligent thing
he ever did in his life-accepted my pro-
posal. Magnet Magazine.