Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-15
ACCEPTED.

l read one of your stories last evening,
Miss Deland," said Jameson.
Gates looked up quickly. "Do you
writer" he asked. "What is the story in,
please?"
II don't know. Where did you see it,
Mr.. JAMESON"
"In the last Pacific Monthly"
"Oh, that one!'' said Miss Deland. II
didn't know it was out yet"
"'Tis a good enough story of it's kind"
said Jameson bluntly, "but 1 haven't
much opinion Of the kind. What 1 want
to see you write is a love story"
81 dare say it would amuse you i'm
mensely."
But why have you never tried it?" per-
sisted Jameson.
81 will tell you. 1t is because I have
never been able to imagine a mans max
ing love or proposing in a way that would
not disgust or ~antagonize or forfeit the
respect Of any woman with a grain of
sense"
Gates laughed.
"That's pretty severe" said Jameson.
"It hits me and my wife both"
''I'm very sorry, but l can't take it
back. / haven't a doubt that you inspired
one or all of the sentiments have indi-
Gated. Mrs. Jameson must have overcome
them by a tremendous effort of the will.
Many sensible women To-"
"And if the right man came along you
would overcome them also, Miss Deland.
"Never! AS soon as he began to show
signs of softening of the brain he would
cease to be the right man-for me-"
perhaps and perhaps not. We shall
see."
At intervals during the afternoon and
on the way home at night Gates unused
over what Miss Deland had said about
lovemaking and imagined different ways
Of doing it.
IT believe she is more than half right"
he concluded as he went up stairs to his
room after supper.
He had bought q copy Of The Pacific
Monthly that he might see her story, and
when he had read it he laid aside the mag
azine and fell to thinking of the writer.
"Perhaps l have not been quite just to
her, 4" he soliloquized. "This little story
shows that there is more to her than I
thought. There's a tender human interest
in it and a hint Of deep religious feeling.
i WISH Suo WOuAu Wy w ~ u AAVuAo AuOA0
feminine"
1t was two or three weeks after this, in
the latter part of February, that Gates for
got one night to speak to Miss Deland
about some small but important detail
that had to do with her work the next
day. He was not to be at the office in the
morning. SO could not repair the omission
then. At first he thought of sending her
a note, then decided to call around and
tell her. He had never before been inside
the large apartment house in which she
lived on one Of the upper flats.
Come up" she called through the
speaking tube when he had given his
name.
So Gates went up. He gave a percepti-
BILE start when he had been shown into the
pleasantest of sitting rooms and confront
ed Miss Deland. She seemed a different
person, in a dress of soft gray ornament
ed by ribbon bows, a film Of white lace
about the neck, with a pink flower or two
at the throat and her hair done in a way
that did not do violence to a natural wavi-
ness.
She saw his look of surprise and laughed.
"Perhaps / ought to be introduced, ~
she said. CAT The Weekly Recorder office
I am Miss Deland, reader of manuscripts
"a mere business woman. Here l am
myself. I like to keep the two PERSONAL
ties distinctly separate"
II am most happy to meet Miss Deland
herself" said Gates, with a smile and a
low bow.
Then he was presented to Mrs. Deland,
who looked very like her daughter, only
that she was smaller, more delicate and,
of course, older. Gates felt drawn to her
at once, and they fell into an easy CONVEX.
~sation, SOMEWHAT to his amazement, for
he usually found talking difficult.
Altogether it was SO pleasant that near
ly an hour had passed before Gates reool-
lected that he had come On a mere bust
ness errand and took his leave.
It was summer now. Gates had taken
more work upon himself and always out
staid Miss Deland at the office. One day,
however, he planned his work SO they
should leave together.
ut seems quite like old times, doesn't
its" she said. 4tg
eyes" he answered absently. Then,
abruptly, "Do you remember, Miss De
land, something you said once to Jameson
RUOuU pIUHObttlo huN AoNOAihhAu6
He looked straight before him as he
spoke, angry with himself that he could
not keep the restraint out Of his tone nor
the color from coming into his face.
She gave him a quick glance and then
looked away. II remember" she said.
you were the business when
you made those remarks. l have often
wondered II you yourself held the same
opinion"
"Oh, yes. The business woman and ]
disagree on some things, but that is not
one Of them"
~ don't think you ought to feel that
way" he exclaimed irritably.
"Why, Of course ! oughtn't. 1t is a per.
fectly abominable way to feel. But how
can I help 1T"
"You do not believe in marriage, thena''
"Why, certainly I do. l think q happy
marriage il the most beautiful thing IN
this world, and 1t improves people SO
much. / know several who were simply
uncomfortable while single, but after q year
or two of married life they had become
charming men and women whom 1t was a
pleasure to be with. 1t sort of humanizes
q person."
"But vet no man could show he wished
to marry you without exciting your dis
| gust, turning you against him and insur-
| Ing his refusalp"
Exactly"
1T is fortunate that all women do not
tecl that way
"Isn't itY'
Miss Deland, have you a hearth"
~ don't know. l have asked myself
t..- AA-k