Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-02

has ever heard can turn the head of any
woman.
The clandestine interviews continued
for several months. Then Hurlburt made
one last attempt at frankness. He went
to Senior Lopez again and renewed his re-
quest to be permitted to pay his daughter
court. The senior had conceived an IN
reasonable and great dislike for him and
refused.
Whereupon Hurlburt arranged another
meeting with Manuela. He began to real.
lie that they were both running terrible
risks. Senior Lopez was quite equal tc
killing one Of them If they should be dis.
covered, but he did not suggest that tc
Manuela. Instead he asked, "Do you love
me. chiquitar"
"Yes, yes. Must I tell you SO always"
"Do you love me enough to leave your
home for mef"
II do not understand" The gentle eyei
looked into his, %perplexed.
"Will you marry me?"
II would, but how can II" she said.
"My father will not consent to It,"
"Do you love me enough to run away
from your father, to disobey him and 20
over to Mexico, across the border, with
me2 We can be married there and then
come back"
Hurlburt was an impassive, unemo.
tional man, but his nerves were upon a
fearful tension as he waited for the answer
Of an irresponsible child. She appeared to
consider and ended by agreeing. Hurl.
burt was beside himself with happiness.
A week later they went across the line
and were married. They returned imme-
diately and had IN interview with Senior
Lopez. The Mexican was enraged. Hurl.
burt, having obtained what he wanted,
was not inclined to be conciliatory, but
Manuela and her mother patched up q
peace. Manuela behaved beautifully, and
Hurlburt was more enamored than ever.
He took her back to his home and foI
three days dreamed Of a lifetime of bliss.
Then Manuela decided that she had had
enough of living on honeycomb and that
she had tired of scented time. With no Ok.
plantations and no reason that she wanted
to 60, she went. Her father, charmed with
Hurlburt's discontinue, refused to make
her return to him and guarded her closely.
Hurlburt begged for n final interview,
and 1t was granted. He vas a sorry sight,
pale and haggard and self abasing. But
Manuela was unmoyed. She stood meekly
before him, her folded hands holding q
rose, her father and mother on either side
of her. She was not in the least unhappy
and no grief had marred her prettiness.
"Manuela," said Hurlburt, 'haye you
not changed your mind2 Will you not
come home with me?"
Gu zL-~I, I~. I,.l EN1 - oIo ,ntS
"Why not? Was l not kind to you? Did
l not love yon?"
eyes, you were very kind. But l like
better to be with my father"
1t was useless to threaten, implore OF
reason. Manuela was gently stubborn.
She would never 20 back to him; she did
not like Americans.
When Hurlburt finally went away, he
decided that his heart was broken. He
thought Of suicide. He could never bear
up under the disgrace, and 1t was not 50
great as his w~retchedness. This frame Of
mind lasted for a year; then he became
resentful; then he obtained a divorce; then
he was ordered east, and it was ten years
before he returned to the coast. He had
with him his wife-a woman of his own
people, very charming, very well suited to
him in every way. She knew the story Of
his first marriage, and she knew that,
whatever he might say to the contrary, he
still regretted deep down in his heart the
sweet, soft Mexican wife of his youth, Of
his season Of dear beliefs and illusions.
The knowledge was the one grief Of her
life. 1t threw a shadow of sadness over
her eyes. But she kept 1t to herself, and
for this unfeminine virtue the gods in due
time rewarded her.
They went one day by ambulance from
Wilmington, where Hurlburt was station
ed, to Los Angeles. One Of their mules
got lame, and they had to spend the night
at a roadside ranch. A crowd Of dirty
several yet dirtier men lOunged about the
door; q fat, beshawled woman waddled
across the yard; a yet more untidy M
welcomed them.
Her greasy face vas still rather pretty
and young, but she was thick and heavy
and stupid. When she looked full at Hurl-
burt, she gave a little cry that was more
Of a grunt.
"Come In. I will tell my husband" she
said and shuff1ed away with her bare feet.
Hurlburt turned to his wife gravely. ~
am sorry to have brought you here" he
said, "but 1t is all we can do, unless you
prefer to sleep in the ambulance tonight.
That-woman was my wife"
$50 ! supposed, she said. She laid her
delicate hand on his arm. Don't let IL
trouble you, dear. do not mind" She
smiled into his eyes, and the shadow was
forever gone from her own.-Gwendolen
Overton in San Francisco Argonaut.