Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-15
makes me think perhaps I have--I do love

makes me think perhaps l navel Go love
my mother"
"Yes, that is true, " Gates admitted. IT
have often been touched by it. | had no
right to say you were heartless.
Then he sighed, and neither spoke again
till they parted.
So the fall passed and winter came,
McCIintock's attentions to Miss Delan
had become SO marked by this time that
they were O matter of comment to every
one in tho office and not a few out of it.
''She seems to have found your right
man, !" Gates blurted out to Jameson one
day, nodding toward McClintock, who
was leaning on Miss Deland's desk.
"Humph! You don't think she cares
anything about that fellow"
"She encourages him, returned Gates
doggedly.
81 don't think So" said Jameson, ''and
it is only his thick skinned persistence
that makes it look that way"
But Gates was not convinced. He had
grown thin since ummer and his temper
was not improved. Gates, however, even
though glum and quick of temper, was
universally liked, while as for McClintock,
no one excepting Miss Deland seemed to
like him at all. Gle talks too much, has
too high all opinion Of himself and is none
too honest" was the general opinion.
One afternoon in January Jameson
came over to Gates, %ostensibly to borrow
a knife. "Oh, that fool McClintockr' he
groaned under his breath.
"What has he been doing now?' asked
Gates, with assumed carelessness.
sob, he's the same as told Doddridge
that he intends proposing to Miss Deland
this evening"" answered Jameson, look
ing critically at the knife. "He's going to
take tea there-invited himself probably.
Is positive she'll have him too. And l
swear he continued, still intent on the
knife, "I'm most afraid she will myself.
There's no knowing what a woman will
do, especially if she is unhappy.
"What makes you think she is unhap-
py?" demanded Gates hoarsely. II
Thought she had seemed to be in excellent
spirits"
"Those excellent spirits are all put on.
You just catch her unaware, as l have
once or twice lately"
After Jameson had left him Gates leaned
his face on his hand and thought. If be
could only get the start of McClintock
| lne CIuIlCGS WtEC 800 u VI ltoop thoo ~
would do no good, but there was the one
chance. He looked at the clock. Miss
Deland would leave the office in about ~
minutes, and McClintock would be on
hand to 60 with her.
As he sat there his glance fell on his left
hand, which rested on the desk in front OF
him. On the little finger was a ring
which his only sister had given him just
before she died, and which he had worn
ever since. An idea came to him. With
considerable difficulty he drew off the ring
and folded it in a half sheet of paper.
Then, drawing a fresh sheet toward him,
he dipped his pen in ink and wrote hastily
MY DEAR MISS DELAND-If you can accept
the inclosed article, an engagement ring, II
will afford me intense happiness. If not ac'
ceptable, please return. Very sincerely yours,
J. ALBERT GATES.
Then he put the ring and what he had
written in an envelope and addressed it.
There was no messenger handy, SO he de
livered it himself. Miss Deland looked al
him with cold indifference as he approach
ed. He laid the letter before her. please
read it now,' he said. Then he went bach
to his work.
After a few minutes Gates gained cour
age to look toward Miss Deland. She was
calmly unfolding a typewriter manu-
script, and he watched her while she reat
the first page, a part of the last and a par
agraph here and there between, then, re
folding it, put in an envelope, together
with q rejection slip, sealed it and as calm
ly went on to the next.
In about ten minutes more she tidiet
lo. JoaJr o,,1 Rr,o ~,sr,,{oc alton that CHI
had on her outside garments and in thu
company of McClintock was leaving thu
office.
In going out they passed near Gates
Miss Deland, however, did not SO much a.
glance in his direction. She carried her
self proudly, her eyes were bright, hel
cheeks tinged with color, her lips smiling
Gates held his hand against his face in
way to shield it from observation. Thert
was a tight feeling in his throat, a mart
ing sensation in his eyes.
Some one touched him on the arm. HI
started angrily and looked around. 1t wa'
McClintock, who thrust an envelope into
his hand. "Miss Deland asked me to CONF
back and give you this" he said and hur
ried away.
Gates face grew hot. How like {
woman to send her refusal by the hand o
his rival and so enhance its bitterness
He held 1t in his hand and looked at TIN
address for a full minute. Then, setting
his lips together, he slowly opened the en-
velope and unfolded the letter. 1t wa
very brief:
MY DEAR Mr.. GATEs-Your article, an en-
gagement ring, is accepted. Very truly yours
ELINoR BERTRAM DELAND.
Elizabeth Robbins in Woman's Hom'
Companion.