Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-23
NOT 10 KISS.

spray that scurritd for a momena in the
shadow of the oak boughs and then fresh
ened the lawn. The elaHibering rose vine,
with its matted bloom, sent up a perfume
that greeted the senses for an instant and
then hurried on. Mr.. Bennington sent up
his card. The roomy, shadowy porch, the
lounging chairs anil the Idle, breeze SWING
hammock pleased him. So did b eIeirI
and the white duck gown and the eyes
that spoke him greeting.
"Good evening, Summer, /" he said. 81
feared l might not find you" g
"You owe this pleasure" she replied,
"to a broken shoe lace. 1t gave way just
as l was stepping into the drag, so l told
them not to wait"
Sand you lost yonr dripeP'Ah e gperied.
"Oh," she exclaimed, "they were only
going to a hop at the hotel, and l told
them I would walk over"
MAY l take youf" he asked in a disap-
pointed tone.
"No; l have decided not to 60. will
give you the pleasure Of my company
here"
The way Mr.. Bennington relaxed into a
rocking chair told more than his reply.
"You might have sat in the hammock
with me had you asked It," she said,
laughing; "that is, provided you sat on
| the other side and let me have the view"
ooh, | seop' he exclaimed. "You like
the 'S' chair positions and expect me to
get the impressions of the landscape from
your face"
at isn't paint she laughed. cts
sun. You know l burn"
Mr.. Bennington, after laying his hat and
stick OH the floor, took the place offered
him. A nodding rose marked several Sec
onds before the girl exclaimed: "Oh, MI.
Bennington, ] heard this evening that you
were going back to town tomorrow, and
you haven't taken me to see that wonder
full boiling spring. Are you going to break
your promise?"
sob, no." he replied; "only postponed
it a year"
"That won't do" she said, with gray
ity. "Summer friendships are never BIZ
ennial. Next year you will choose a
younger bud and l a younger thorn. Old
boys like young girls, and young boys
prefer seasoned maidens."
"That may be true" he admitted, "but
with you and me it is different. We have
been so much to each other-so c%ongenial.
We have found so many tastes and pleas
ures in common that l feel confident that
we could carry our friendship through the
remainder of time"
Eyes" she assented, "you think that
now, of course, but l am sure you thought
tho same thing of some other girl at this
time last year. l fancy that the seasons
have much to do with our likes
!"But our candor," he continued. "We
have never deceived II another. 1t would
have been useless, l admit, understanding
each other as we do, but can such perfect
companionship be forgotten? Can it ever
become a neglected toy?"
awe have been great friends" she said
frankly, "and l cannot know how much
I shall miss you till tomorrow"
"And doesn't 1T amuse you," he said,
"to remember what formal, ceremonious
acquaintance we have been9 Although
we have come so close in thought and
heart, we have always observed the most
rigid rules of etiquette"
"Do you think that is the case tonight"
she laughed, when I sit here in the ham,
mock with you and no one else aboutS"
81 am glad you have learned to trust
me" he murmured. "You could not pay
me a higher compliment. l was thinking
how strange it is that we blindly follow
! the laws of custom even though we are
better able to understand our own motives
and impulses.
THAT custom is a woman's greatest
safeguard, " she contested. "She can ap.
peal to it when her own will wavers."
"Take you and me, for instance" he
argued. "Many, many times l have watch
ed your face, your eyes; I have watched
your lips as they curled in scorn, pursed
in surprise or dropped in disgust. Many,
many times in thought I have pressed my
lips to yours. But it was all in thought.
In reality l have talked evenly on, master
ing tho impulse that dared me-"
You have been stealing" she pouted.
81 did not give you the right to kiss me
even in thought"
81 felt like u thief," he admitted. II
wished to confess, but your look restrained
me. I have waited my opportunity, for I
felt that in a friendship like ours there
would come a time when the oaresses per-
mitted in thought would clamor for other
existence. l felt that the time would bring
itself about when such a realization would
be neither a surprise nor a concession to
either of us. l felt that 1t would become
a necessity to ripen our confidence"
She was looking at the floor. A quiet
breeze rustled the oak leaves, and the roses
nodded. As she did not answer, he put
his hand over to her side of the hammock
and slowly, very slowly, he leaned for
ward till his mustache lightly touched her
cheek. She started-stood up. The notes
Of a coach horn, mellow with distance,
floated up to them.
"Why," she exclaimed, "that is our
horn They must be coming back for
me-" Reaching up, she pulled one of the
nodding roses and, turning to Bennington,
said, "Will you take this as a pledge to do
something I shall ask your" He arose
and, leaning over her, took the hand that
held the flower. Ia,
Anything you wish, darling" he whis-
pered. She looked straight into his eyes
and said slowly:
"When you are telling summer idyls at
the club next winter, don't forget the girl
you couldn't kiss. Chicago Tribune.
A Historical Firearm.
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