Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-01
TRIAL BY FIRE..

hold that Isabel Hampden was the most
attractive woman who ever graced the
frontier, and in their time most women
seemed attractive because Of their search
ty. She was handsome and accomplish.
ed and clever and something more than
all these which was inexplicable, but
very potent. She had been brought up
in garrisons and large cities, and by the
she was two and twenty she knew
the world rather we'll. Moreover, she
knew men-not girls and women, but
men.
Because she had been allowed to live
in posts during most Of what should
have been her boarding school days and
because she was pleasant to look upon
and to v with at IN age when
most girls are impossible, men had fall
in love with her pretty much ever
since she could remember. 1t was said
that she had refused all the bachelors
in all the frontier regiments. This was
not far from the truth. A woman who
had married one of the rejected ones
said that refusing was a habit Miss
Hampden had formed, and that it began
to look as if she might never break
herself of it. In the nature Of things
this was repeated to the girl. Her good
temper was one Of her charms. "It is
60 much better a habit than accepting
them ALL" she argued sweetly. Never
theless, she wondered if there were not
some truth mingled with the malice.
But Lieutenant Loring was the last
victim Of her practice. He proposed to
her, unfortunately for himself, just after
she had met young Ardsley.
II thought this morning that maybe
I would marry you," said Miss Hamp-
den. "But I've changed my mind some
way"
Loring was accustomed toa great deal
Of frankness from her, but it clashed
with his notions of feminine modesty
for a woman to have entertained
thoughts Of marriage before the offer
thereof.
weren't you just a tri1e prompt in
determining my intentions:'' he asked.
"Has the event proved me wrong?''
she returned.
He lost his temper. "You are
spoiled" he said.
eff you knew how often I have heard
hat! Yet I do not think I am. I am
simply sincere, and you are a little toe
vain, all Of you, to grasp the difference.
I like you awfully well-no, now, don't
misunderstood me. I don't love you,
and you are too nice a fellow to be
married to a girl who only likes you.
No." she repeated, II do not think I'm
spoiled. I am not agitated and fearful
as I ought to be, perhaps, under the
circumstances. I used to be, but I've
passed that. / have been SO placed that
men were making love to me at an age
when other girls were playing with dolls.
It's partly because I am pretty and
partly, largely, because there are SO few
women out here. When / have been in
the east, I haven't made much Of a sen.
sation. I've grown a bit hardened, per
haps. Custom has dulled the edge
which was fearfully keen and cutting a,
first-of being told that l am breaking
a heart. But though I m only % I've
lived to see dozens Of you marry and bt
happy. You'll do the same"
ooh, no, I shall not!' moaned Tor
ing.
"Oh, yes, you will, Jack, and :.
shan't mind! Now I've promised tt
dance this with the new MI. Ardsley
and if we stay out here any longer ever,
n will guess what has happened
"They'U know when they see me-"
Don't be a goose, Jack. It's only tn
heart that is trying to take itself seri
ously that exhibits the pain"
"Don't discuss a subject you know
nothing about. You have no heart"
He left her with an exaggerated bow
as young Ardsley came up.
As Miss Hampden waltzed off witt
Ardsley she knew that Loring wa
wrong; that this tall boy, fresh from
West Point, as new in experience Of tn
world as the brass buttons on his blouse
wal the man she vas going to love. HI
would love her, Of course. 1t is to b.
feared that it did not enter her hea,
that he might not. She liked his strong
rough cut face, and his jolly, ston
gray eyes, and his drawling, heav.
voice, and his waltzing, and the wa.
he held her. After the dance she deter
mined that she liked his hands, an,
when she looked at them she saw a ring
SIS that your class ringi'' she said.
"YeA" be told her.
saMay ! SEQ it?"
He gave 1t to her, and while she e1
amined it he sat and admired her. o.
his part be liked the women who car
ried themselves haughtily; he liked tai
women; be liked straight black hal
and olive skin and dark eyes and larg
features and a neck Of s~tatuesque pro
portions. In short, he liked exactly th
things he had never fancied up to then
Miss Hampden raised her eyes and me
his. She smiled, but 1t was like n
smile she had ever bestowed on q ma
before. He looked at her very gravely
and her hand closed tightly yer tn
ring. In a moment she was studying !
again.
~ like this. It's unusual" she said
II am glad you think 90, Of I con
ceived the design" He expected to b
told that he was clever.
Indeed - wasall she said, and tina
indifferently.
"How cooll I rather thought you'