Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-26
A WOMAN SCORNED.

You mean that you wish me to release
you from your promise--to give you back
what you are pleased to call your free.
DOM"
'"There's no need for you to take it like
that, Betty. You know 1t has been very
pleasant, but
"But it cannot last? I see. 1t seems a
pity you didn't think of that sooner"
SWELL, to tell you the truth, 1 thought
of it some weeks ago, but I was under the
impression that you-well, that you had
money, you know, and'-
But Leonard Bryng quailed before the
flashing scorn Of the blue eyes.
$50 on" said tho girl coldly. "Please
finish"
He wasn't gifted with a very keen in
telligence, this debonair young ourate, SO
he went on, laundering, to his doom.
"Well, you see, if there had been money
in the case my brother couldn't have OBJ
jected. We should he independent of his
allowance; but, considering that he's an
old bachelor and never likely to marry, he
naturally looks to me lowell, to place a
suitable woman at the head of the family,
you know. No doubt if she had money
he would overlook the lack of birth and
position, butt
"Stop!' cried Betty t%iercely. "You ask
me to marry you; then, because you see in
me n pcnniless girl, with neither father
nor brother to ayenge the wrong, you not
only break your given word and talk
about freedom but you add insult to in
jury and tell me that if I had sufficient
money to pay your price you would have
condescended to marry me COZ she
cried. 1T will not hear another word! l
thank heaven I know you as you arel
And you, coward that you are, will know
when you stand in the pulpit that there Is
at least one woman in the world who
knows that you dare not preach as you
practice! Don't speak to me again! l will
not hear another word!'
Rev. Leonard turned away with a sheep
ish expression Oh his handsome face.
"What a little fiend she is" he mutter-
cd; "a perfect little vixen, for all her
pretty face! Who'd ever have thought she
could go on like that? And thought her
SO sweet and gentle too!'
Betty stood with her little quivering
form drawn to its full height in a very
paroxyslm of passion and wounded love
till he was out of sight. Then she flung
herself on the ground and gave way to q
storm Of grief.
They had been engaged three months,
and Betty had thought him perfect in
spite of the fact that no insisted on keep
ing their engagement secret. They must
wait, he declared, till his elder brother re-
turned from abroad; to tell him by letter
would spoil all. Raymond was such an
old bachelor he would have no sympathy
with lovers hopes. So Betty waited,
There was no n to be humored or de.
oeived by her, but Betty had her secret.
In six months she would be Is and
would come into her estate. In the meai-
time che was too old to stay at school. Her
guardian was crusty and took little trou-
BILE. Betty didn't care for society, so she
was sent to rusticate with her old nurse
and foster mother till the time arrived for
the king to enjoy his own.
Often the child had pictured to herself
how Leonard would tell her his brother
had refused his consent, that there was
nothing before them but poverty, which
he dared not let her share, and yet he
could not give her up. How the clouds
would lift and his dear eyes brighten when
she told him that soon she would have q
thousand a year Of her own! It was sweet
to think that he knew her only as Betty,
Mrs. Browns niece. She had always
called the old woman "Auntio," and he
never suspected she was an heiress in her
own right and no relative of her humble
friend.
But a day had come when Leonard met
her in the primrose glen and told her OF
his brothers. return, and instead of telling
him Of their engagement he had asked
Betty to give him back his freedom. 1t
wouldn't be honorable to ask any girl
to share his poverty, and the squire would
never consent to marriage with a farmers
niece.
'tThe man who asks q ONT to share
his riches has some love for her; the man
who asks her to share his poverty has
more"
The words fitted through Betty's mind
before she took in the full force of Leon
ards words and recognized the great. un-
p%ardonable insult he offered her. Then,
as the truth was driven home, she forgot
al else in the binding pain of a woman
scorned.
"Is anything the mattera My child, are
you hurt?"
Betty raised her tear stained face and
met the glance of two steadfsst brown
eyes; then the speaker swung himself
from the saddle and led his horse across
the messy sward to where she lay. With
a stiAed sob the girl sprang to her feet,
but her bosom was heaving, her breath
coming In gasps, and she oouldn't speak
may, she could scarcely Standard the
stranger slipped q strong arm round her
for support.
"You have had an accident. MOI" as
che shook her head. "Then you've had
bad news9 All, whom we're young, trou-
bles are apt to feel very heavy, and clouds
look very black.
Betty freed herself from the protecting
arm and leaned against the horses shin
ing coat, her white fingers playing idly
with the pommel Of the saddle.
"You will think me very foolish, she
said. GIVE had no accident, no bad news
at least
"Only a lovers quarrel, that will cone
right In the morning. n.
ut will never come right, the girl said