Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-11
only arranged for her dress and the


"But now" she said, "that that is
settled, we come to-you must please
name your
"Pardon me-" Errington interposed,
with resolute quietude that in itself
gave her fresh surety Of her ground,
"but you must do me the great favor to
let that part rest until the work is fin
ished You are not like a stranger
''Indeed, hope not" Isbel said gen.
tly. "Well, be it as you please, then"
"Thank you very much, Miss Bran
DON"
He rose
She, too, stood up. The moment had
come. The woman's heart stood still for
moment that was agony. Two lives
happiness or misery hung on her cour-
age Or failure.
"Well, L suppose your time is valua-
ble?' she said, turning to him, but her
eyes did not fully meet his. "By the
bye, Mr.. Errington, believe-if am
rightly informed-that I have come to
congratulate you'll
Congratulate mel" repeated the art
ist in genuine surprise. "For what?
On what ACCOUNT"
His surprise and, oddly enough, the
very comedy Of the position gave her
new courage. "Why, 7 heard that you
are engaged to an heiress," she said.
The Rubicon was crossed. There was
no going back now, come what would.
Errington flushed to the brow, then
paled again.
lit is absolutely untrue" he said in
strained way and drew back step.
SIT never could be true Of meP'
"But why not?" persisted Isbel, now
standing to her colors with true femi-
nine stanchness, her eyes aglow, her
soft tones steady IF, as I heard, you
are attached to her, why should your
engagement be an impossibility, as you
imply?"
Had some one-Glyn perhaps-dared
to tell her this, meaning herself, but
without naming her, flashed across Eric.
in naughty wrath and pain.
"Why impossible?" he repeated, stung
to sort Of desperation. Because am
poor, struggling man who holds his
honor dearer even than love, If the
story were true. Neither the world nor
any woman born should have the right
to believe me dishonored fortune
hunter"
"The worlds judgment!' she said,
and now her breath came quickly, her
eyes flashed like diamonds "You are
not such a coward, / know, as to fear
that. But is it much less cowardly to be
afraid of even the risk of the woman 8
mistaking your motive-the woman you
love, remember" She was speaking
with strangely passionate if suppress
ed force that sent sudden vague thrill
through the mana dim sense of some
thing that dazzled him, Of personali-
ty beneath the overt meaning, an as
sertion Of his love for the heiress as a
fact, not u mere figure Of argument
"The woman you love, remember, and
whose happiness perhaps your pride
may wreck as well as your own, who
doubtless knows your hearts secret and
curses the miserable gold and cruel pride
that stands between your lives.
"Isbelp' Errington sprang to her side,
caught her hands in his own. "My
darling, my love from the flrstl For
give, il you can, worse than fool that
have been. All, my poor Isbel!"
Fol. the girl burst into tears as he
locked her to his heart. The tension
must needs give way at last, brave girl
though she was.
ooh, why were you SO cruel? Why
did you force me toto Oh, EricP'
"My darling, forgive mel Because
loved SO much I feared your scornful
refusal. Why should you think me diff
ferent from other wooers? And never
dreamed Of this happiness, dearest" he
said passionately Zone word-tell me
you forgive your lover"
ERIC, I love you" she whispered
and lifted her face for his kiss.
What matter if some of the world did
say, when the marriage did take place,
that it was the money the painter had
sought? He cared not, and those who
knew him and his wife knew we'll il
was love match entirely. The picture
NOT mere portrait-of beautiful Mrs.
Errington, when seen the next May al
the academy, made a sensation and sent
up the rising artists name at once.
$50, after all, you see, Eric" his
wife says, arch and tender in tone, "you
will win the best in the end, fortune
and fame"
"And the priceless treasure that
neither gold nor fame could buy" hi
answers, smiling down on the dear face
"my wife. Folks at Home.