Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-11
A Y

sit is very unfortunate. l really don't
know how it can have happened. Nos. 20
and 20 are both engaged. If you would
step into the drawing room a moment, ]
will inquire"
The manager Of the Cirque Ports hotel
rubbed his hands together and smiled in
gratiatingly at the couple before him
MI. Thompson, stout, prosperous and
middle aged; Anne, slender, blond and
lovely, with ''bride" written large all over
her attire, from the picture hat, the fawn
travelling cloak lined with white satin and
the watch bracelet in ~turquoises down to
her patent leather shoes.
"Will you 60 up stairs and wait, my
dear?' he said, turning to her.
"Oh, no. This will do" she said in
differently, and pushing open the door OF
the writing room she walked in.
Away from her husbands eyes she drew
her breath hard. Her gray eyes had the look
of a child rudely awakened; she clasped
her hands together with a gesture Of merry
Gus dread. A man, the solitary occupant
of the room, turned his head at the soft
rustic of her silk lined skirts, and as their
eyes met both uttered a cry;
"Charlie! You hcrc?''
Came! My God, is it you? I'm no
too late! Say I'm not!' he cried.
II was married this morning. We've
are on our honeymoon. But what has
that to do with YOU" said she, almost
1iercely. "You-you broke off our en-
no uo,nopt u-o,11I bnvo hoap trI,n tc ypu
in spite of every one"
"Thcn there has been foul play! l was
sure of it. Look, Anne, l had such faith
in you that when there was no answer to
my letters 1 knew they must be tampering
with you. And then came the news of
your engagement-my sister wrote to me;
she always was jealous Of you-and | got
leave somehow. 1t was the colonel who
managed it for me, and I have travelled
day and night to be in time. | left the
boat at Marseilles, and l came straight on
here through Paris. l haven't eaten or
slept since. and l meet you here married. y
He was close to her now, his handsome,
sunburned face flushed and quivering, his
strong hands clinched in Il masculine I'M
patience of suffering.
Anne shrank away from him, white and
trembling. She could hear her husbands
voice speaking to a waiter outside.
canine, haven't you a word for me? Tell
me why you have done this hideous thing.
Was it his money! he demanded.
ellis money? No, no! I never heard
from you. I was SO lonely and miserable, "
she faltered. "Oh, Charlie, Charlie! What
shall we dor"
Skn hold O1v+ 1,,., Ia r,l, ia hit,, mfr a.
little gesture of appeal, but he did not take
them. He vas beginning to see that it
had been better for them both if they had
never met again. What could he do but
harm to Mr.. ~Thompson's wife?
II don't kpow-God help us!' he said
brokenly. "To meet you like this! Is he
does your husband
The door swung open. Mr.. Thompson
was entering.
"Oh, yes, that will do quite as WE'LL"
said Mr.. Thompson, coming briskly in
and speaking over his shoulder to a wait
er. "Anne, my dear, it is all right now.
We have three rooms on the first floor.
They are taking up our things. Why, my
dear, what is the matter?''
II have made a mistake, said Anne,
hardly knowing what she said. "This-
this is Charlie Dacre."
Mr.. Thompson had heard a sketchy out
line Of his wife's previous love affair from
Mrs. Carruthers. "Boy and girl affair"
Mere fancy" ''Quitc unworthy young
man." The phrases seemed to ring in his
brain now. A dull flush rose slowly to his
face. He laid his hand on Anne's arm.
IT have heard of Mr.. Dacre," he said
coldly. II think you had better come
with me-"
you have stolen her from me, you
know best yourself by what means, " said
the younger man sayagely.
The situation was insupportable. A
primitive emotion was out of place in the
commonplace room, with it's writing ia
bles Uttered up with Bradshaws, direc-
tories and hotel stationery.
II gained my wife by no means of which
/ need be ashamed, " said Mr.. Thompson,
with q certain quiet dignity.
But 1t was all o mistake. He wrote,
only I never had his letters. He was COM
ing back to me" said Anne helplessly.
II don't understand. Perhaps 1 am
dense. You mean to say you only married
me believing Mr.. Dacre was false?'' be-
gan the elder man confusedly. The door
swung again. A busy commercial traveller
hustled in, bag in hand, drew q chair
noisily up to a table and began to write.
Mr.. Thompson beckoned imperatively
to Anne. "Come! must speak to you,"
he said sharply. He held the door for her,
and she obcyed him mechanically, leav-
ing her lover standing by the mantel-
piece, powerless to stop her.
Mr.. Thompson led the way up the first
flight Of stairs, u waiter threw open a
door, and Ammo found herself alone with
her husband.
Nov perhaps you will explain. This
man, what Is he doing hereP BY what
right does he address your" he said. There
was q note of sharpness in his voice.
HE did not know l should be here. He
was coming home from India to stop my
marrying you. He thought he would be
in time, " said Anne, almost in the voice
Of q chidden child.
But he is too late! You are my wife
now. No one can take you from me"
The remembrance Of the handsome young
faee below moved him to a touch Of bru-
tality.
"But I cant live with you nowl Don't