Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-28
A WOMAN'S WAY.

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FURNISHED mirror; nearly all the mar
ried officers were there with their wives
and daughters, and Of course not a
bachelor was missing; the gold lace on
the uniforms glittered in the blaze of
many lights; women who in the day
time were merely ordinary mortals had
taken on with their evening gowns an
air of spirituelle beauty a waltz had
just ended, and the dancers were col.
lected in groups, talking and laughing;
the ~cornetist Of the band was playing a
solo, when Captain and Mrs. Kingsley
came into the room.
The oornetist caught his breath and
lost a note, but no one noticed. The
talking and laughing ceased. Every mi
knew that Mrs. Kingsley was the most
beautiful woman in the army, but no
one had ever seen her as beautiful as
she was that night.
She was very tall, with a full yet
slender figure Of surprising grace. Her
hair and eyes were dark. Her skin was
creamy white, with a real rose tinge in
her cheeks. She wore a black gown,
and her shoulders cleaned above the
chiffon that draped the bodice.
The simile is hackneyed, but her eyes
were indeed as bright as the diamonds
in her hair. Agreat red rose burned over
her heart, and as she stood in the door,
way beside her husband she made a pic
ture that could not be ignored.
Every n looked at her, but she
looked at Captain Howard only, who
was standing alone, and who, after gaz-
ing at her a moment rs if spellbound,
went toward her.
Her eyes were solemn, her mouth IN.
smiling, as she gave him her hand.
"Well, Howard" said Captain
Kingsley cordially, laying his hand on
Captain Howard's shoulder. They had
been roommates at West Point and firm
friends from that time OH.
"How are you, Rob?" said Captain
Howard constrainedly.
why, what's the matter?' said Cap
tain Kingsley. "You look as solemn as
an owl"
II feel just as I look" said Captain
Howard. "Mrs. Kingsley, may I have
the next dancer"
II hope it isn't the thought of dane
ing with me that depresses you," Mrs.
Kingsley said, making an effort to speak
lightly.
~ need not answer that said Cap.
tain Howard.
The music began, and Mrs. Kingsley
nodded and smiled to her husband as
she danced away with Captain Howard.
For a few moments neither spoke.
Then his arm grew tense around her,
but he did not draw her closer.
"Great heavens! This is terrible"
Mrs. Kingsley whispered.
II wonder If you can imagine how
like q traitor l feel?" said Captain
Howard. II am devoted to Rob, yet
here I am, trying to steal his wife"
"But you cannot feel as much like q
traitor as I do, for after all his goodness
to me-his unfailing love--I want to
be stolen"
He stopped dancing and offered her
his arm. They went out OF to the porch.
At the farther end Of it he turned to.
ward her, and she stepped back from
6im q little way.
"This cannot COON forever, he said.
"Do you really love me?" she asked.
"You know it,"
"And do you know how I love yau?''
eyes"
For u moment she looked into his
eyes, then she held out her hands to his.
"No," be said firmly, taking them,
but holding her away from him, ~
still have some sense Of honor. If Rob
were not my friend, it would be differ.
emit. but as it is you must either 60
away with mi and be mine altogether
or you must stay here and be only his. +"
"But II I 60 away with you it will
break Rob's heart
II can break his heart without COM
Function, but I cannot kiss his wife out
here in the dark and then 60 back into
the hoproom and speak to him as a
trusted friend"
She looked at him scrutinisingly.
"What a curious thing q man Il"
she said. my sense Of honor would be
satisfied il I could keep him from know.
ing, for I would hate to hurt his feel.
ingA"
"Then I am afraid that you have no
sense Of honor = he said smiling.
Eyes, I haye," she said, without the
slightest resentment in her voice. II
wouldn't do anything il he we're away,
but when he is here to take care Of me
and 70 defend his own honor l really
don't think that u ID very wrong for
me 70 do anything J nan without his
finding out"
"What I curious thing q woman is"
10 said mockingly, but l~eniently.
However, it IL easy for q man to over
look q great many weaknesses and short
oomings in the woman hs loves"
"And when q woman loves . man
no overlooks nothing" said Mrs.
sKingalsy. ct would grieve me to
death Il you were willing TO deceive
Rob. / am happy in my love for you be-
cause I believe that il ! did run away
with you ycu would be ~ true to me a.
you sss to Elm"