Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-29
CHAPTER VI

4A6 A0Plt4y ~ ~ d441s
CHAPTER vi.
By a fortuitous but somewhat unusual
chance the semiweekly mail had reached
the ex-governor's hand before breakfast
, and he was devouring it with an avid
ity born of Unsuitable greed and long
fasting.
Two mails o week was rather slender
provision at any time for a man who
had once been the leading political mo-
tor in his state. 1t was deplorably mad
equate at a time when the country was
convulsed with grave issues for whose
solution finite wisdom was taxed beyond
its utmost powers.
Union or secession? There was moth
ing in life much worth considering out
side Of that stupendous question. The
papers bristled with pro and con The
nation held it's breath. Would sectional
hatred or large idea craftsmanship tip
the beam? Who might say?
With a feverish eagerness the old
man, who had once held the helm him
self, with steady nerve and true, fol-
lowed the wild tossing and pitching of
the ship OF state. Union or secession?
Would the good ship founder or would
she ride the stormy pillows in safety?
Into this rapt frame Of mind Mrs.
Strong's soft, cultured voice penetrated
confusingly.
II think shall have to talk to Eliza
Martin"
They, the people of the big house,
were sitting at the breakfast table in a
pleasant, loftily ceiled room, with a
highly ornate fresco Immediately over
head. Long, large paned windows open
ed upon a low side gallery. Lamarque
roses, big, creamy, fragrant, rioted from
the foot of its steps to the comb of its fan
oiful roof. Through the neal rose festoons
and the farther shining green screen of
the Usage oranges that fringed the prem
Uses vivid flash Of red had caught Mrs.
Strong's disappearing eye. Quick as the
darting Of a swallows wing in upper
ether it had come and gone.
The lady frowned severely. Six weeks
now since Seth and Strong had brought
the girl home through the s~tarless small
hours and only by the flashing of that
red wing, the central ornament Of an
immensely chic riding turban, had her
presence been made known to the mis-
tress Of the big house.
The governor glanced wei the edge
of his paper impatiently. His daughter
in-law's voice was al ~arresting sound
always. Being a woman, she was en-
titled to consideration. But the inter-
ruption was especially untimely just
then.
She had disposed of her share Of the
mail promptly. 1t was a mere scrap Of
a letter from Adrien, who had only re-
manned in the rose scented ribbon fes-
TONED chamber long enough to secure a
suitable travelling companion before
leaving home again OH a supplemental
tour Of all that was best worth seeing
in his own country. When the governor
looked over the edge Of his newspaper,
Adrien's mother was twisting his letter
into a smooth white cylinder.
II beg your pardon, my dear?" Mrs.
Strong repeated her remark with un-
conscious arrogance.
81 said I think / shall have to talk to
Eliza Martin. She is assuming rather
an unbecoming attitude"
Little Eliza2"
The governors right hand went up to
his black velvet skullcap and set it in
rotary motion-a sure sign of perturba-
ton with him. He glanced restlessly
around the room and wistfully at the
pile Of yet unopened papers beside his
plate. What was Eliza Martin or any
other girl in the universe by comparison
with the matter discussed in those coil
ed sheets? Mrs. Strong answered the
question of his eyes
ooh, she is not here in the flesh. /
shall have to send a special messenger
for her, l presume. She has just dashed
by on that little mare Seth has had in
training for her. She spends half her
time on its back"
The governor had been swallowing
his coffee in cold installnents; he now
gulped it by way Of economizing time.
"She is a pretty little thing, he took
time to say.
1.-THE pony or the girl?"
1.-THE girl Dear me, Of course the
girl. Quite q style, my dear. I saw her
standing at the dish shelf on the gallery
at Eben's Trimming lamps, / believe.
Unfortunately pretty, / should say.
Decidedly very unfortunate. Ireally
call it a pity"
Mrs. Strong was emphatic. She was
thinking Of Adrien. She was rather glad
he was away just now. Eliza would
have lost some Of the freshness Of a nov
city by the time he returned.
Il am afraid she is sulking. I am
told she goes off on that pony and is
gone for hours at a time"
II imagine she does not go off the
plantation. I suppose she is renewing
acquaintance with the old place. No
harm in that, my dearl No improperly
that I can perceive.
"No, no HARM.
"Nor danger"
Neither harm nor danger, father, in
the act itself, but it indicates restless.
ness and dissatisfaction with her lot
generally. That is what ! want to Judge
Of for myself" I
ssBut what have you to do with It,
Adslas Have ws not already meddled