Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-22
p V

There come moments to every SEN
tient being when the souls crying need
for sympathy, its demand for audience
of a nearer and more palpable ear than
the ear OF the invisible One, presses with
imperious importantly, when the temp
tation to examine the workings and the
conclusions Of ones own conscience by
the light of outside criticism wakes too
strong to be withstood.
That being is fortunate who in the
moment of the hearts indiscretion finds
an auditor at once discreet and coura-
geous.
Strong Martins moment of tempta-
ton came to him when to the impene-
trable darkness Of his doubt Swallowed
and perplexed consciousness was super
added the dense physical darkness Of a
starless midnight, when he and Seth
apparently had the whole world to
themselves, without in the least know
ing what to do with it. When Campus,
all its spirit blue and diamond bright
ness eclipsed, stretched black and limit
less over their unsheltered heads, SEEM
ing to touch the dark crowns of the tall
trees that closed in about them, erect
and shadowy sentinels guarding the
small clearing known as Nevitt's Land
ing.
He and Seth were waiting for the
boat that was to bring Liza home.
Much anxious thought and careful
preparation had been expended in antic-
ipation OF that momentous event. Mrs.
Strong had gone the length Of %proffering
her own horses and carriage, with Dol.
bear, the highly accomplished coachman
at the mansion, thrown in. The offer
had travelled from the big house to the
overseer's house in company with a
huge bunch of heliotrope in fragrant
bloom.
Strong, as spokesman for the family,
had declined the offer with a prompt
ness that bordered on righteousness.
By reason Of his college training and
consequent superior knowledge Of the
world Strong had stepped Immediately
into a sort Of domestic dictatorship
pressed upon him by the loving suffrages
of the whole family. That matter of the
governors coach he had settled crisply.
mo, we do not want it, mother. Let
my sister begin Alright. She is coming
home to us, not to the people up at the
mansion. She has been kent in the dark
long enough. The wagon that takes you
into town is quite good enough to bring
your daughter out of it. She might as
well learn from the word go that she
belongs to an entirely different class of
people from the Strongs."
Seth nodded his shaggy head approx
ingly at each period. "Barrin a sort of
savage snap in your voice, Strong, I'm
with you, boy, straight through. I like
to hear such good, hard horse sense
from the lips Of him we was feared
would come home spilled for ev'rything
but books. You're gettin holt NV things
by the right end, boy, and I'll back you
up in it.
He further signifed his entire ap-
proval Of Strong's independent attitude
by a vigorous slap on his shoulders,
then went off whistling softly to see
that the two mule wagon was nicely
swept out and to select a pair of reliable
animals.
The longer he pondcred Strong's
peculiarly acrid way Of talking about
the people at the big house the more
perplexed he grew. He mentally re-
solved to "get it all out of the boy"
while they should be waiting for the
boat, which was sure to be late that