Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-12
HER BLUNDER.

Carolyn Vernet was of that order Of
women to whom their admirers are won't
to apply such adjectives as regal, mag
niticent," 'imperial."
Many lovers sought to win her, and
many were disappointed when m an
nounced her engagement to young Frank
| Reade.
To be sure, Frank wa handsome rs q
| prince and brilliant as to wit and talents;
was poor, t,adn' It even "expectations.'
Early orphaned of both his parents, he
was educated for the law by a rich uncle,
who made 1t understood that said educa-
ton was all he meant to give Frank.
His presumptive heir was another neph-
ew, Franks cousin.
Well, these considerations had their
weight with Miss Vernet, and she had
hesitated before accepting the young law
yer, but his attractions of mind and per-
son proved too much for her worldly wis
dom. and it was an engagement.
Only She stipulated that it should be no
more until Frank should have sufficient
income to support her in good style.
Of course Frank must needs go away to
bCCh HE i ~ "OIiV " AIuASPS.
There was a tender parting between tho
lovers, at which Carolyn was fearful and
respondent, Frank brave and hopeful.
"Don't think of my absence, dearest, -
he urged cheerful. "Think Of the time
when l shall return with fortune to offer
you."
Return when you will, Frank" sobbed
Carolyn, "you shall find me true. I will
wait for you faithfully, dear Frank"
Frank Reade went to Europe, and for a
month Carolyn was inconsolable.
However, this did not last long, and at
the end of a month Carolyn had SO far re-
covered from her grief as to accept an in
v~itation to Mrs. De Smiths soiree.
At that soiree she met Albert Reade,
that fortunate cousin of Franks. No..
Mr.. Reade was a rather good looking
young man. She saw at onoe that be was
destined to become her adorer. Besides,
he was Franks cousin, reason enough
why she should like him. p
Still she did not speak to him of Frank;
neither did Mr.. Reade allude to his cousin,
but Albert was ignorant of Miss Vernot's
engagement to Frank. He began from
their first meeting to devote himself to
her, and Miss Vernet, not being blind,
especially to such attentions, did not mis-
take it, yet she did not discourage him.
And when occasionally she heard some
comment from ','society'' not 1attering to
her consistency she said Indignantly:
"Of course she must 60 about with
some one, and who could be a more proper
escort than Franks cousin?"
So she continued to "go about with
Albert Reade. OF course you see the Sc
quel. Carolyn loved Frank. Under the
fascination Of his presence she had yielded
her selfshness, but now that be was gone
worldliness had resumed its sway, and
ambition began to suggest that Albert was
a better match than Frank.
"Society," that astute and considerable
body, had long foreseen the event and was
not in the least surprised when Miss Yer
net authorized the information that she
was soon to marry Albert Reade, and So
ciety thought it a very sensible proceeding.
And Carolyn married Albert Reade.
They went to live with Uncle jenkins,
who gave the bride a set of diamonds and
did the handsome thing generally, and
somebody was good enough to send to
Frank in Europe a paper containing the
marriage notice. What a crushing blow
to all his hopes that notice wal he never
/ told any one. He did not return home,
/ and society was left to forget or bsr
him as it would.
1t chose to remember him, for Carolyn,
riding on a ferryboat about two years aft
or her marriage, heard a lady and gentle
man at her side conyersing as follows:
II suppose Maria told you about her
friend Frank Reade's good %fortune?''
queried the lady. ~
"No. What about him? I understand
time"
"You mean about his engagement to
that Miss-Vincent, was i'll suppose.
Yes, he did take her Inconsistency very
badly, Maria says. They say she was a
great beauty. and men are silly about a
pretty face-begging your pardon, mon
anil"
"Granted," laughed the gentleman.
"Proceed."
"Well, you know, as soon as he was
safely out Of the way she married a rich
man, some relation to Frank Reade, l be
lieve."
eyes, I have heard all about that"
"Well, now comes the sequel. Frank
went to Switzerland on some wild goose
chase, and while there saved the life of a
certain rich, benevolent, ohildless gentle.
man. Well, the benevolent old gentleman
insisted OH taking his brave young pre-
server home to England with him. Then
he adopted him, and now he has capped
the climax by dying and leaving his i'm
mense fortune Internationally to Frank.
Now, won't that be- a bitter pill to the
faithless beautyT'
Carolyn heard no more, but she had
heard enough, and later the story had
plenty of confirmation. 1t was a bitter
pill to her. But the worst was not yet.
In the course Of nature Uncle Jenkins
died and was buried, and his lawyer came
to read the will to the heir presumptive.
With serene satisfaction Mr.. and Mrs.
Reade listened to the following:
IT give and bequeaths to my nephew,
Albert Reade, all the property of which
| die possessed, amounting
! Here the lawyer paused to wipe hia
| spectacles.
Amounting to e5, 900, invested in'-
etc.
That was all. Uncle Jenkins apparent
wealth had been all a sham, and Carolyn
had sold herself for IS, 900! She had lost
not only a true, loving heart. but what
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