Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-17
HIS MISSION.


some repute left his home one fine morn
ing, leaving his little wife in her usual
state of happiness, returning few min
utes after to find her almost as solemn
as the great judge in whose presence he
had been propounding the intricaces Of an
entangled will suit all the afternoon
Anything wrong, dearest?" he inquired
as they sat down to dinner.
Mrs. Newlyn gave start.
ooh, no." she murmured "only-only
I have had visit from Miss Blake this
afternoon"
"Who's Miss Blakep" the embryo O. c.
asked carelessly.
ooh, you must have heard of her, Jack.
She's the president of the Modern Womans
Pioneer Rescue league"
Mr.. Newlyn gaspcd.
"And-and what did she want, sub
scription?"
mo. I'll tell you. don't think
ever mentioned it, but before met you
was Pioneer. Now, one of the rules Of
the society orders that when a member
becmes engaged or married she forfeits her
place. In fact, she is compelled to resign"
Mr.. Newlyn muttered something about
"good job"
"Well, it seems" his wife went on,
"that quite lot of the members have left
lately owing to this cause. There's Lucy
johnson, she's engaged to Mr.. Stone, and
last week Kate Brown was married, and
now there are several more on the point of
leaving"
"Quite an epidemic the barrister re-
marked irreyerently.
$780," his wife continued, with slight
frown, "Miss Blake fears that soon she
will be the only one who has remained
true to the ship
"Why doesn't she get splicedp" Jack
asked "And then the ship would sink"
"She has no desire to get 'spliced, as
you call 1t. She is woman of firm prin
ciples and she has resolved to devote her
life to doing good. Butto return to what
was saying. AS the society has suffered
such losses, she has decided to strike out
the rule which declares engaged girls and
married women ineligible, and she is now
going round to all the old members ask
ing them to rejoin."
The young husbands face bore look
Of the liveliest CONSERVATION.
"And," his wife resumed, IT have
promised to do So"
Mr.. Newlyn's CONSERVATION deepened to
direst dismay.
"But-but what does she want you to
dor" he asked "And what are the Pho
neers?"
"They are little band Of women who
are engaged in the noble work Of rescuing
their unhappy fellow creatures from sin
and wickedness.
"But what are they required to do? Not
mot to dive into filthy dens in the east
end visiting housebreakers9'
emo, not exactly that. We hold meet.
ings for cab drivers, sandwich men and
matohboys. Social evenings they are,
with light refreshment, such as coffee and
buns''--
"C-o-f-f-e-e and BUNS" Mr.. Newlyn
murmured blankly.
Yes, and little music, and we take
them aside and talk seriously to them and
try to bring them to a better frame Of
mind. 1t is noble work, Jack. Miss
Blake says 1t Is wicked for us to lead life
Of luxury and ease when there are thou
sands going to perdition. She says 1t Is
woman's mission to reform man."
"Quite SO, " the young barrister respond
mission admirably"
"I"-
eyes, you are reforming me-
ooh, you don't need reforming, dear"
"And cab drivers and sandwich men dor"
Yes, indeed"
"But, my dear, evening is the only time
that I have you to myself"
"I know" and she sighed. ut is awk-
ward, but quite unavoidable"
"And am to NOPE at homo by myself
while you are talking seriously to oabmen
and matchboys?'
"Now, darling, you mustn't be selfish.
"Selfsh?'
eyes, you must learn to give up some-
thing for your unfortunate fellow men.
"Well, what with subscribing to orphan
ages and homes for destitute children,
give up close on hundred year as 1t is.
"Yes, but that is no proper sacrifice,
his little wife said quickly. "You are
rich, and a100 doesn't mean any real CIV
ing up on your part. You don't deprive
yourself Of any pleasure, you know" Mr..
Newlyn knitted his brow. His wife's
logic was unanswerable.
"And II you spared me for three or four
evenings week you would be doing SO,
and you would know that your dear little
wife was perhaps persuading some poor
sinner to lead better life
"And what am ! to do with myself
while you are persuading?"
well, you can read and smoke or go
and see your old bachelor friends OCCASION
ally"
"And 80 those delightful evenings when
you used to play and sing to me are at an
endY''
I'm afraid so. They were selfish even
ings. see 1t now. We thought Of no
ones happiness but our own. Henceforth,
Jack dear, we live for others. Now must
60 and dress. Miss Blake calls for me at 8.
There Is meeting Of sandwichmen at
half past.
1t was half past 10 when Mrs. Newlyn
came home. She found her husband sit
ting over his cigar and novel.
"Well, how did the meeting GO orr" he
asked.
"splendidly, spiendidly," bic wife ex.