Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-24

ding dress all ready--it's grown yellow
in a chest in the garnet. But after
awhile the lace took up my trouble
drop by drop till it was gone, and /
couldn't tell you today where it is. So
I'll teach you, dear. These are the three
rolls | did in the three years, one for
each. They're yellow now, you see"
Faith opened one and spread it out.
1t was an intricate pattern, very broad.
cts hard to do" she said, 'but that
is all the better for the forgetting. If
I'd been q man, I should have gone
away to Africa. I've often thought it
would do a good deal toward making
a body forget to see the sun falling
down like a ball and the dark come as
if somebody had blown out the light.
But I couldn't very well, SO Learned
to crochet. l never gave the lace away,
you see, because I had worked my trou-
BILE into it, and I was afraid. I thought
a long time about it when Alice was
married, but I was afraid it would
some way make her sad when she wore
it. So it's all here. This is the first
year's-you see I've numbered it one
and this is the seconds and this the
thirds. There's the three"
Faith handled the rolls over and over,
lost for a minute in the associations
which they revived. Her niece seemed
to have forgotten her W grief for the
time and was observing her aunt
curiously as she bent over the lace.
"That's q fern pattern" said Faith.
"lt's very pretty" Faith sat silent for
a time, smoothing out the oreases Of
the lace and drawing it out to its
length. It seemed to have the effect Of
an enchanter's wand, for it summoned
old faces and scenes at will, and Faith
grew blind to the little room and the
needs of her guest. At last Grace moved
impatiently.
eyes, yes" said Faith, like one
awaking, 'to forget. This is the way.
Here is the old pattern. I will teach
you"
She hustled about, finding thread and
needle, seated herself at Grace's side,
drew the thread through her fingers
and began her work.
"There, =" she said after a minute.
"Do you see how it's done? It isn't
hard. Try It,"
Grace took the needle helplessly.
"Do you think I could forget SO, aunt?"
she asked hesitatingly.
II did" said Faith.
Grace had returned to her task and
made one or two awkward motions
with the needle when there came u
ring at the door.
"It'sPhil!" exclaimed Grace, spring.
ing up.
"Grace!" said the recreant lover,
standing awkwardly by the door, after
Aunt Faith had admitted him and had
reiterated toward her chair. There were
shame and pleading in his voice.
Grace caught her hat and went to
him without another word.
"We'll try the crocheting some other
time, Aunt Faith" said Grace. Then
seeing her aunt's half dazed expression,
as if she hardly understood this new de-
velopment Of affairs, she ran back and
kissed her. Grace's face bore no trace
of sadness as she turned to Phil, and
they went out chatting merrily.
Faith listened till the last football OH
the crust had died away, then carefully
rolled up the lace.
"She thinks she's happier" thought
Faith, ''but I'm not SO sure. A mans
heart is uncertain property, but a oro-
Chef needle" as she laid her hand ap-
provingly upon those on the table, "is
always the same. - Springfield Re-
publican.