Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-19
FRANKS SISTER.

pCtllilS Dlli OllG'
II I'M expecting Lord Steeplechase."
"Hc would be awfully ilattered."
"No, he wouldn't. | came here to make
him feel ashamed of himself-to have my
revenge. He taught our Frank to bet
led him to destruction. He can get out Of
it because he is a millionaire. How dare
he mcddle with our only boy"
II don't think he is SO bad. 1 know
him, and''-
81 do not know him. l have never seen
him. / don't want to know him."
"But'-
"There isn't the ghost of a but Ruin
Is the only word in the language. There
is auntie looking for me, and l will have
to go home without seeing Lord Steeple-
chase. Here is auntie, and / shall have to
say good night to you. 1t was very good
of you to listen to my scolding and not to
be cross about losing your dance. And l
don't even know your name"
My name is of no consequence, and l
don't mind the dance. I've been awfully
interested in what you've been saying"
Il suppose you don't want to be ao-
quainted with such an i'll tempered person.
Auntie says that when | get on that sub
ject I'm a perfect shrew. And it's worse
of course when it's to a stranger. How
ever, I'm going home to the country to-
morrow, and so it does not matter about
ballroom acquaintance and what London
people think of me. All the same, you've
been very patient and kind"
''Will you give me a spray of your flow
ers as a reward? A lily of the valley.
Thanks. Most typical and sweet. l swear
on this blossom to have it out with Lord
Steeplechase."
Franks sister has been three weeks at
home, and the day is a mellow day in
June. She is alone, and hem thoughts are
running on her imprudent conduct at
that ball on the eve of her coming home
from London.
81 hope you did not really say all that
to your partner, my DEAR said auntie,
''and l am thankful you did not meet Lord
Steeplechase."
A maid crosses the lawn with a letter
and hands it to her.
"From Frank !" she opens and reads:
"Dear Old Girl-You will be so jolly
glad to hear some good news at last of
your ne'er do well. Lord Steeplechase has
got me an awfully swell appointment,
which will make the people sit up who
have been down on me. Not only that,
but he has paid all my debts, because he
says he is responsible, as having been the
cause of my imprudence! But don't be-
lieve a word of that, for he had really
nothing to do with it. He seems to be
awfully fond of me. By the way, he says
he met you somewhere and he asks me to
take him down with me to shire, and
introduce him properly. 1 may ask him
to come some day, and | hope you will re-
ceiye him decently. And that reminds me,
l am coming at once with a mutual friend
of his and mine. You may expect us at
any moment. Tell the mater to cheer up"
Franks sister folds the letter and stands
listening to a blackbird which sends forth
an occasional soft whistle from the flower
ing chestnut trees.
ut is a world Of miracles, " she reflects.
Lord Steeplechase turning out our bene-
factor. Where did he meet me, 1 wonder?
I suppose he was afraid to get introduced.
Wheelsl Can Frank be arriving?" Two
masculine figures emerge from the trees.
"Why, it is the friend of Lord Steeplechase
whom I talked to at the ball. l am SO
glad"
"Dear old Frank"
"Dear old woman! How's the mater9
Did you get my letter? This is my best
friend and also the friend of Lord Steeple-
chase
She looked deprecatingly at the friend
while giving her hand.
II hope you have forgotten all 1 said to
you that night. l was unpardonably
severe, it seems, on a third person. He
has been shockingly treated-at least if he
knew-but unless you told him-did your"
II always keep my own secrets.
"But that was hardly your owu."
II made it a personal matter"
II am deeply Obliged to you. He has
done wonderful things for Frank"
"Hello," said Frank, ''here is the mater.
Dear old mater, your prodigal son has
come back. I am going to make the for
tune of the family. Lord Steeplechase''-
His mother shrieks: "That monster
do not name him! Only for him my son
would hold an honored position"
Franks sister puts her hand lightly on
her mothers lips.
Mother, there is a stranger present.
Take her aside and talk to her, Frank, and
make her understand"
"And leave you to entertain Lord Stee-
plechase? Excellent Ta-ta! I'm off.
Mother, take my arm and let me take you
for a quiet turn"
"Steeplechase!" She looks after the re-
treating mother and son, and then at the
mutual friend" who has drawn q step
nearer to her.
"You are Lord Steeplechase?"
"Forgive''-
"Ohl"
She struggled with her confusion for a
few moments.
"You said you were only Lord Steeple-
chase's friend"
mot only his friend. Sometimes a man
is his own worst enemy. But Lord Steeple-
chase has come to Franks sister to say
that he feels as she wished him to feel,
ashamed of himself, for he had some in
voluntary share in Franks delinquencies."
II am glad it was involuntary. You are
older than Frank"
"And to allow her to have revenge"
"How2"
"By sending him out of her presence"
"You ought be glad to go-or you ought
to be-"
6OlO& Will U0 DdUlbHIu0u1 lrOIu d ucW
found Joy and hope."
Silence. Then she Gays:
But even If I were inhospitable you
could not start at once on so warm a day
without a cup of tea" The maid appears,
bearing the tea e~quipage. and it is SO
far to the railway station, and your horses
must be tired"
He produces, handling it very tenderly,
a faded spray Of lily Of the valley. Rosa
Gilbert in Buffalo News.