Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-22
BY MOONLIGHT.

determined to bring things to a crisis
with Pattie Brown at the forthcoming
masquerade. purchased a handsome ring
and got myself up as Romeo in a style
that would have caused the hearts of the
Montagues to swell with pride, and those
OF the Capulets to burst with envy.
How stunning Smith looks!" I heard
more than once whispered as l roamed up
and down IN search Of Pattie. But Pattie
wasn't there, or, il she was, her disguise
was too complete to be penetrated. As I
walked a~nxiously about my attention was
attracted by the most piquant of shepherd
esses, whose movements betrayed q per-
plexity equal to my own. AS she passed
her steps faltered.
Pardon me, sir. l feel faint" she
murmured, resting her hand upon my
arm, as If for momentary support.
"Allow me to conduct you to the open
air, I answered. 1T is quite suffocating
here"
She thanked me gracefully and assented,
explaining that she was q stranger and
had become separated from her friends.
The cool air revived her, and after a
short walk through the grounds her
strength and spirits seemed entirely r.
stored.
Her conversation was vivacious and
witty. But when she came to talk Of the
moonlight and flowers and poetry I found
that In the field Of sentiment she could
beat Pattie two to one. In fact, I couldn't
help thinking how tame Pattie's rhap-
sodies, over which I had been wont to 90
into such ecstasies, would sound in COM
parison with the transcendent outbursts
of the little shepherdess.
In a retired nook, almost hidden by the
%shrubbery, we found a rustic seat, Of
which we took possession, feeling, or feign-
ing to feel, WEAKNESS after our walk.
The moon shone out In unclouded maj
esty, and beneath her radiance the flow
ers and blossoms which surrounded us,
genmed with dewdrops, bloomed with a
brightness which the more ambitious god
Of day might we'll have given half his
glory to witness.
And how the little shepherdess I'm
proved the occasionl II Luna, female as
she Is, had stopped in her course to listen
to the enchanting flattery lavished upon
her, I'm sure it could have hardly been ao-
counted a miracle.
"Pray remove your mask" I ventured
to say at last-frst laying aside my own.
II must look upon the face that mirrors
thought SO divine"
~ fear you will be disappointed, " she
replied. "Still, l have nothing to dis
guise, and If you will dispel the illusion
under which you labor the punishment be
your own"
The features she exposed were of sur
passing loneliness. Just dark enough to
entitle her to be called a brunette, her CON-
plexion had that pearly transparency Of
which the purest Of blends can rarely
boast. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds,
and yet were soft as a gazelle's. The con-
tour of her head and face was faultless.
l fairly lost my reason. So the reader
will think when / relate that without
further ceremony I threw myself on my
knees to the ne small detriment of Romeo's
finest hose, and, producing the ring l had
purchased for Pattie, l incontinently placed
1t on the shepherdess' engagement finger.
I entreated her to wear it for the sake Of
one thenceforward doomed to be her slave,
and who sought no other boon than that
of dying of u%nrequited love.
Heaven knows to what pitch Of absurd
ity I should have gone had not the little
shepherdess, who seemed not unmoved by |
my appeal-indeed she turned aside her
head and fairly shook with some sort OF
emotion interrupted me with the exola-
nation:
"Stay-there ia one Of my friends"
I sprang to my feet, but not before / had
imprinted one kiss upon her lips and clasp
ed her for one brief moment to my throb-
bling breast.
As I turned, / stood confronted by .
fierce looking brigand, who, too, was in a
tremor Of emotion. I laid my hand upon
my sword. Perhaps he was a rival. As
the thought flashed upon me I felt
aroused within me all the rancor Of the
ancient house of Montague, and had the
stranger SO much as "bitten his thumb
at me l should probably have run him
through for a Capulet. As it was, I tore
myself from the scene and FASTENED to my
lodgings.
A nights sleep ~measurably restored my
senses. When q man has made a fool Of
himself overnight, it's wonderful how
he sees 1t on waking up In the
morning. My costly ring was gone. The
was gone. And what, after
all, had she ever been to mes A 1eeting
vision that had crossed my path-a mere
adventures perhaps. We're Pattie Brown
and her substantial fortune to be sacrificed
for such a phantoms Not by a man In his
senses.
Like an awakened prodigal, I resolved
to arise and 60 unto Pattie and have 1t out
with her at once.
/ found her alone and had just begun-to
for her edifloation some of the COM
pliments inspired by the charms of the lit.
tie shepherdess the night before when my
eye fell on an object that struck me dumb.
It was the identical ring I had given the
on Pattie's fingeri
"Were you at the ball last night" in
CURED Pattie, seemingly seeking to relieve
my embarrassment.
81 was" I stammered guilty.
$50 was Cousin Charley" said Pattie,
With a roguish twinkle in her eye.
Cousin Charleyf" I repeated. II
the honor to know him."
"No," replied Pattie. HE only came
yesterday to pay us q short visit. You
pan't imagine how handsome he isl"
II dare say not, !" I answered dryly.
"As pretty as a grill" exclaimed Pattie,
with feeling. "He went to the ball last
night as a shepherdess, " she continued.
"The d-deuce he did," ! interrupted.
"Yes''-and Pattie's eye twinkled still
more-''and n silly fellow, tricked out as
actually made love to him and
Rugged and kissed him into the ~hargainW
! staid to hear no more. 1t was, then,