Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-21
FOR ONE WEEK.

Is anything L can 10 lOf you, please uOn .
hesitate to tell me-"
Elsie shivcred slightly, and keston Eyre
asked her:
'Are you sure you are not in trouble?"
I'll hardly know how to tell you, how
to ask you," she faltered incoherently.
"You will think me so strange, so un-
womanly, and yet If you only knew by
what stress of need I appeal to you you
would not, you could not blame me-
"Miss Raynor, you are making me hate
myself to feel that you have so little trust
in me. What have l done that you cannot
conide in me as you would in an elder
brother? Child, l am more than ten years
older than you. Don't you know I will
never betray your confidence, whatever 1t
may be?'
She hesitated, grew very white, then
turned to him with a movement of pas
sionate abandon.
at is this: Can Twill you-at least
may l be engaged to you for just n
week."
Engaged to mel But-but"-
"Oh, I know, I knowr' feverishly.
"You think me bold, hateful to have spo-
ken so! But If you only knew
"Hush! Don't cryl I could not think
such thoughts of you, child, and 1 know
you must have some good reason for your
Notwithstanding somewhat over the
words. Suppose you tell me the whole
story and let me see if we cannot manage
to arrange something between US. They
say two heads are better than one, you
know"
"Six months ago my aunt left me a for
tune, with only one condition attached to
it-that was that l should become engaged
to some good, trustworthy man on or be-
fore my nineteenth birthday. She was an
eccentric old lady, very kindly and ro-
mantle, believing in love and early mar
riage almost as a creed. She knew me
only very slightly, and l had not the least
idea that she had willed the whole of her
fortune to me until the lawyers wrote me.
Before then we had been dreadfully,
grudgingly poor-such poverty as you car
have little idea of. l gave lessons in mu-
sic, while my three other sisters did what
little they could.
"Then Lady Layne asked me to join
this house party, and I came, hoping IL
could fulfill the condition there.
"But my birthday is just II week from
tonight, and unless something happens
we shall lose everything, and the old,
weary life will begin again."
"And supposing you did me so much
honor-what them"
"It need only be for just n week, un-
til my birthday is over. Then we could
20 back to our old footing and no n need
be any the wiser"
"Will you honor me by becoming en-
gagged to me2" he asked her, In a courte-
Gus, gentlemanly way, and Elsie turned
toward him with outstretched hands, her
erstwhile pale face flushed and glowing.
"Mr. Eyre, you have done me an ines
Unable service, and l cannot find words
to thank you. Now, shall we-shall we
90 indoorsp"
Two days had passed, and the surprise
which Elsie's engagement had caused had
almost died away, though curious and
often envious, glances were cast at the
diamond which sparkled on the girls third
finger. The female portion of Lady Layne's
house party had come to look upon kestor
Eyre as a confirmed woman hater.
The remaining days fled swiftly, and
the morning Of Elsie's nineteenth birth
day dawned. A little pile Of letters and
presents lay beside her plate as she took
her seat at the breakfast table.
She opened them merrily, with much
laughter and thanks, yet with q dull pain
at her heart the while, for among all her
gifts there was not one from Keston Eyre.
All, we'll, how could she expect differently
She had sent the ~viscount on some er-
rand and was standing alone In the big,
curtained window, when Eyre Joined her.
II have not added my good wishes to
theirs as yet" he said quietly, shut they
are nevertheless sincere. Will you accept
| this as a slight remembrance Of the day.
"This'' was an exquisite bangle with
the name "Elsie'' across it in diamonds,
and the girl flushed hotly with pleasure.
"Thank you very much. will accept
it for the present. l must speak to you
today, but there is no time now. Will you
meet me on the balcony after dinner to.
| nightp"
Eyre was standing motionless on the bal
oony, his eyes fixed IN the ground. He
started as Elsie's light footstep sounded
beside him.
II think you guess what I have to say
to you, Keston," Elsie began steadily.
"You have made it possible for me to full
fill the condition Of the will, and l thank
you from the bottom of my heart. YOU
have been very good, very kind, n
shall be grateful to you all my life. But
but it is no longer necessary that you
should help me, and 80, and so l return
you these and will say goodby."
She drew off her engagement ring witt
steady fingers, and, together with the dia
mond bangle, laid it on the balustrade be
side him. Then she turned silently away
but he caught her hands in q quick, fri
clasp.
"You are very anxious to be free from
me, Elsie. Have I proved such q very
careless loverf Have I bored you SO utter
lys"
Elsie clinched her hands tightly. Oh,
this was too much.
"Oh, hush, hushl Why need we speal
Of this nowP 1t Is all over. Let US forget.
"Forget!" he repeated, the passion he
had held so sternly in check overmaster
ing him at last. Forget! Do you think
/ shall ever forget you as long as l live
and breathe2 Don't you know that you
have crept into my heart until I can think
Of nothing, dream Of nothing but YOU
my sweetheart, my darlingl Give me
some hope, some promise that in the flu
ture I may be something more than a mert
business arrangement to you. Elsie
sweetheart"
"This is not pity?" Elsie faltered.
PITY! 1t Is the one love of my life
Elsie. Don't torture me-"
"Keston, Keston, 1t was breaking m!
hearth IL could not bear to let you go
for II love you. Oh, / do love you'll
Exchange.
English Jockeys Msals.