Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-26

have thought, and he tried to shut out thi
fancy, leaning over the parapet to gazl
into tho awful water. There was a greni
darkness underneath, and in it lie could
imagine dead faces rising, eyes wide with
a fixed despair.
Suddenly he started. There was a thing
gliding pasta oma
With a strange, rapid motion she wan
dered to and fro. Her hands were clasped
as If in distress of mind, and her face,
dimly visible In the starlight, looked thin
and haggard-.a woman surely with a
ruined life.
Mr.. Butterfleld could not watch her
calmly. Up till then he had contrived to
believe himself actuated by an impartial
spirit of investigation, but something in
her gait, in her ayerted face, reminded
him of another woman, and that lent a
curious pain to his disturbed regard. At
first he had thought a little whimsically
Of bringing this waif-with a check-to
the Rev. johnson, to be penned in one Of
his institutions. Would the parson feel
remorseful when he saw the man at whom
he had glared reproachfully march up
thus? But the half smile faded, and he
put away the fancy. He could only think
of the woman
She was leaning over the parapet as he
had leaned, and gazing as he had gazed
(but with, alas, how much more horrible
fascination into the lightless water. How
black, how fatal it was, and yet how quiet!
Watching her, he began to fear that any
instant might find her disappearing into
Its awful depths, but if he were to hurry
forward would not alarm and the in
stinotive terror Of being frustrated AUS
the poor, mad, despairing soul to fling
herself into the river?
Anxiously, prudently, he sided along
the wall as If contemplating the rushing
water, with his right hand ready to grip
her arm. He was near at last, and she
lifted her eyes with a wild glance at him.
What should he do If she fought for the
chance of leaving a bitter world? How
could a man unused to violence control a
desperate woman What if she would not
hear him, would not be rescued and led
awayp
There was a sound Of wheels. If only
Providence would send that late cab across
the bridge! Failing the police, who were
all away, he could enlist that driver. But
bC UAO W. thul1 NlI. 11uUVOA oih
felt in his trousers pockets and knew he
had. With straining ears he listened to
hear If the wheels were indeed approaching.
The woman grew agitated. She was
getting her arms free Of her long black
cloak. Mr.. Butterleld started forward,
and then she sprang at him and olutched
him by the coat.
He saw her face clearly then. Her eyes
were glistening, and tears were running
down her cheeks.
"Don't despair" she cried. ooh, don't
despair! Life is worth living if you will
be brave"
Mr.. Butterfield was dumb.
ooh, l am glad I came" she went on,
still holding his coat in a tight clutch, IN
able to see distinctly through her tears.
II thought at first it was one of the
nights when the bridge is deserted, and l
was going back to my maid, and then l
saw you. Poor man! l watched you, and
/ feared-Iknew what you would attempt.
But I stopped you In tilne-in time"
The voice and the daring of the expedi-
ton, without tho sight of her face close to
his in the starlight, would have told him
1t was Miss Lavender. He listened, speech
less, with all his ideas overthrown. He
had been judged, and, though admiring
her, he had Judged her also. In his utter
astonishment a single thought was all
that his brain could hold. After all, she
was the woman a man might want for a
wife.
The wheels had not been idle, and u
carriage oame hurrying up the bridge. 1t
stopped, and a lady got im%petuousiy out
and walked toward the two. Surely Mrs.
Chatterton's eager, excited face!
"Poor souls! Poor souls!' she cried i'm.
pulsively. 81 could not sleep. l knew
there were others houseless in this bitter
night. Life has been hard for you, hard
and cruel, but I will change it. What
money car do-and pity!'
Then Mr.. Butterfield found speech
Windsor Magazine.