Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-20
TWO FOOLS.

"Why, I'd rather marry her myself, u
said l. Nothing, in truth, WAS further
from my thoughts.
Amanda's mother regarded me curious
ly. "Of course" said she, 'if that were
the case, 1t would make a difference"
but l don't really mean it," l cried
hastily. Why, the idea was absurd! Just
when l was in the middle of the book on
the Cerebral Conyolutions' too!
"Then," said her mother, closing her
hard, thin mouth with u snap, amanda
will marry Mr.. Plutus. There is no one
but you who has any right to a voice in
the matter.
"There is Amanda, " l suggested.
amanda! She is far too young to de,
eide. l an the judge for her. Amanda
shall do as | bid her and marry Fir. Plu.
tus."
Il shall do my best to stop her"
"She shall not SEQ you" l knew she
would try to be as good as her word, and
my heart went out in a great pity for poor
little Amanda, who was so like her father
and had been a pet Of mine ever since she
was a child.
"If / weren't too old"-I said, half to
myself.
"Nonsense! Why, you're no older than
l." She is 43.
81 could never make the child happy
l sighed.
"Nonsense! She's devoted to you"
Every we'll, l will speak to Amanda
about it." | said slowly, "but there must
be no drawing back on your part"
had a sudden inspiration, being u mar
of quick thought, 81 should like to have
your consent in writing. 10 be candid, ]
do not trust you"
Every we'll" She sat down to her es.
| o~ritoire. What shall | writer"
~ consent to the marriage of my daugh-
ter to Mr.. Frank Austen" ! dictated. She
wrote it accordingly and signed it with q
flourish.
My name is the same as my nephew's.
I'll have him up to town, and il he doesn't
fall in love with Amanda he's a fool. Tha,
| was my idea.
"Well, now I'll talk to Amanda"
| said, feeling rather uncomfortable. And
I did.
Amanda is Is and stands 5 feet 2.
Amanda has golden brown hair that will
get loose and tumble about her cheeks and
| forehead.
"Oh, Cousin Frank she cried-cousin
Is my brcvet rank-"you won't let her
make me-marry that horrible man!'
"No," said l. MANDY, my dear,
won't" Then l kissed her. II only I were
sure that she wouldn't disarrange my
study!
you kind old Frank" She took hold
Of my arm and squeezed 1t.
"But your mother insists upon your
getting engaged to some one, my DEAR"
said ruefully: 'somebody who is fairly
well off. Are you in love with anybody,
Mandya Tell me, there's q good little
girl"
She opened her eyes wide and looked at
me honestly. "Oh, no, Cousin Frank
O~nly-only-I think perhaps | should like
to be-some day.
SWELL, look here, Mandy" l said sheep
ishly, "your mother insists that you shall
be engaged to some one, and I can only
find one person."
"Not Mr.. Plutus! l WON'T" she cried
vehemently.
AOy III NoV uhy oiO ~ VIVA oiiioy
you, dear, or whom you dislike"
"Whoever''- She looked up at me
quickly and half lot go my arm.
"Juht till you find some one you like
I apologized, turning as red as a poppy.
She held Oh to my arm again and looked
down OH the ground. Then she laughed
"How very FUNNY"
"Would you mind, Mandyg'
"No-o," she laughed again. 81 thinl
II would be rather-fun. You would hay,
to take me out "A lot, wouldn't you? II
pretend properly
"Ye-es. oh, yes, Of coursel' Whatever
would become Of the Cerebral Conyolu
tions?"
"But wouldn't it be rather a bother t.
your"
"Not more than to you"
"Oh, 1t wouldn't be any bother to met
she cried excitedly. "We'd go to the Tow
or, and the stores, and the Crystal palace
and the zoo, and the exhibition and hav,
tea In the gardens, and the opera, and
She saw my face fall. II only meant t
some Of them,'' she explained. you al
ways do take me to the academy and ont
or two places, don't your"
II shall like to take you to some, IN.
DEAR" ! assured. 81 always enjoy mysel
when l do"
"Ye-es," said she thoughtfully, "bu
-oh, Cousin Frank, suppose l didn't flnt
any n else?"
"Then | shall have to marry you myself
II would be better than old Plutus
wouldn't ~"
"Oh, yes, but / shouldn't like,
oouldn't bear to think that you had sacri
foed yourself to me! I should be such
bother, shouldn't n"
looked down ~a1ectionately on the rum
pied hair and inquiring eyes. 81 thinl
Il think, Mandy y" l said gently, q.
could put up with you very well, but VI
have been 80 used to look upon one anoth
or in q different light that it's rather lat
to change. You sec, dear, l have grow
into q fidgety old bachelor"
you're not really old, and you're new
or fldgety with mo, and l 1--WE you 9,
much"
I'd merely paid for her schooling ant
pocket money and so on. l promised oil
T0m-poor old Tom!-that I'd take car,
Of his girl.
"That's nothing to do with it, Mandy
! said slowly. "You see, I've a lot Of in
terests which you could never share" Sh'
shook her head doubtfully. And I hk'
to rush of when I'm not working to men
recreations-to play cricket, to watch foot
ball orr
~ like watching football, " she observes
eagerly.
HTm used to having meals when ! plesa