Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-15

ohINo udys, bdlu. DOu o you Gnlnk II
rather late for such questionsp"
''It's never too late to mend" " she re
turned cruelty, "and I've just been think.
ing these last few days, and''-
"Your first effort in that way?" I in
quired revengefully but she took no motto,
and proceeded calmly:
"And I've been wondering if you evel
put your arm round another girls waist
Have your"
Quite unexpected was this terribly direct
question. l had to consider a moment.
"Once," l began gravely, II met &
girl" paused.
"WellP" said Nora impatiently.
"a girl with whom l became so friendly
that one evening"
/ paused again.
edo go on!"
~ met her at a dance
"Oh, Willy, how could your"
81 met her at a dance and danced a
~quadrille with her."
"Yes'-eagerly-"and afterward?"
"There was no 'afterward, DEAR" said I.
I anticipated Nora would be pleased.
She was not.
"Do you mean to say you did not go and
sit on the stairs or in the conservatory orr
neutrality-suspicious."
"No," said l. "Did your"
Mona was rufled.
"Willy, you are trifing with mo-"
II couldn't afford to, dear"
II see you won't be serious, and yet ]
have something very serious to say to you
something that Maud English told me
last night"
II heard her, +" l said.
Nora started.
"Oh, you couldn't hear what she said!''
"Not quite, but you must remember
that the walls of these country cottages are
mostly made of paper. You and she were
talking till nearly 2 o'clock this morning.
I suppose she was treating you to a dis
course on Davidson"
perhaps; but Maud told me also some.
thing about you"
lawfully good of her to mention It'll" l
remarked, with affected cheerfulness, but
I felt desperately uncomfortable. 1t was
too bad Of Maud, especially when she had
just got engaged to Davidson.
''What do you think 1t vast" asked
Nora.
! uuNou v q uOtlOu, 1 Icp446us
"Oh, guess!" But there was no smile
on Nora's face.
swell, maybe she was telling you how
fortunate you were in having such an
adorable individual as l belonging to you"
"Not altogether, said Nora. "She told
me''-and very distinctly the words came
THAT two summers ago, in this very
place, you used to put your arm round her
waist and once you kissed herl That's all
I've got to say, Mr.. Harris"
Nora moved from me, and my arm slip
ped from her waist. 1t was strange IL had
remained there through our conversation.
I became intensely interested in a fat
spider crawling up my sleeve, and a great
bee sat on a spray Of heather hard by, WOO
ing the sweetness out of the bloom. There
was a long, long silence between us, but l
felt that Nora was looking at me. And at
last she spoke.
"Willy."
eyes" was a little surprised.
"Why don't you look at me and say 1t
isn't trueP"
I looked at her but a breath. "It's true
enough" l said briefly.
Silence again. Then, "You're not fright
ened Of me, are your" she asked softly,
and l felt her hand touch my hair. "Oh,
Willy, you can't imagine how glad I am p
"Whatf" I cried, forgetting my man.
ners.
"Glad found you out. Would you
mind putting your arm back where it was
not long ago'"
/ put my arm there, but I was sorely
puzzled.
"You see, Willy" she began, with a
quaint look Of trouble in her eyes, II had
= confession to make to you, and-and 1t
makes 1t easier now" +,
l drew her closer. Thank God women
are not angels!
"Don't bother to tell 1t, dear" I whis-
pered.
"Oh, but / must tell you. When Maudie
told me about you and herself, I had to
tell her about Mr.. Davidson and myself,
for we had just been as bad. And, Willy,
sometimes / felt go dreadful at not having
told you before. Often I tried to speak
and couldn't. And then I was SO glad
when Maudie mentioned you-she didn't
like my story about Mr.. D~avidson-for !
felt that I could at last tell you"
"Were you quite sure / would forgive
you, deari" I asked, looking down into
her eyes,.
"Sinners must forgive sinners" she
whispered very gravely. "Ah, Willy, you
don't care any the less, do your And you
won't think any more Of what I saidP"
II did not think ! cared % much, my
Nora, till ! felt that I had lost you Just
now. And the past is nothing when ]
know that you are mine today"
"And foreverl' she sighed.
Forever and everI'I added, kissing
her.-St. Paul's.