Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-09

running, laughing and screaming and
calling out, to gather the handfuls of frag-
lie bloom that would be wilted before
tattoo.
Upon occasions of necessity the com
mandant's long, lank body could bestir
itself, but there was no such occasion
now, and Major Cameron resented Far
lands haste.
IL say, Farland," he protested, "slow
up. What is your hurry? You will not
get dinner before retreat anyway"
Little the lieutenant reckoned of din
ner. But he obliged himself to walk more
I reasonably. Major Cameron talked Of the
scout and it's outcome. Farland tried to
listen and to answer. In his joyful antici-
patton he forgot that he was a sorry look
ing sight to go a-wooing; that his face was
burned and his nose peeling, and his hair
half cut, and his clothes ragged and dusty.
Self consciousness was not n of his
faults. The major broke off suddenly in
the midst of a TRADE against Indian agents.
those pet diversions of the line.
81 suppose you are about worn out, he
said.
NO" said Farland, "not in the least.
Whys"
"You appear not to be able to keep your
mind upon anything. You have no notion
of what I said last"
"You said 'Mescaleros' last"
"But you have no idea whatever what /
said about the Mescaleros."
II am afraid that's So, Farland admit
ted.
"And over there at the corral you an
swered three questions that / hadn't ask
ed"
Farland apologized civilly, but he had
seen through the window Miss Cameron
standing with clasped hands and head
thrown back before the open fire. 1t was
a favorite pose with her, and it recalled so
much. The major might as well have adj
dressed his concluding remarks to the flag
staff.
They went into the hall, and the COM
mandant opened the door. "There Is
Clare" he said. II believe you know
each other. 1 will go and get Mrs. Cam
eron." He went away and closed the door
again.
Farland was not administrative, but
| neither was he one to delay in carrying
| out a resolve. He took the hand that the
| girl held out to him and then went to the
fireplace and rested his arm upon the
mantel and looked at her speculatively.
81 am going to be very rash" he said,
land very precipitate."
She smiled incredulously. How I'M
like you'll" she said.
perhaps, but it is not unlike me to 60
straight to the point, l think"
She vouchsafed no encouragement. ct
in not , > 1voe oil eho oreur,,ol Che ho1
long since determined that he was an I'M
%scrupulous firt-worse than that, indeed,
because he made more pretensions than
most men. Now, when she looked into
his keen gray eyes, that consoling fiction
vanished. She wondered why he did not
speak at once Of the one thing that might
reasonably be expected to be of interest
to herself, at least. But she folded her
hands in front of her again and stood very
erect.
"When I saw you last in the hoproom at
Grant,, " he said, II was to all intents and
purposes upon half pay. My mother was
alive then, and I was supporting her"
She looked at him, puzzled. Why should
he tell her this now9 While there had yet
been time he had been chary enough of
his condolences. While there had yet been
time She looked at him as he stood
there before the fire, young and strong,
with his pistol belt showing beneath his
faded blouse, the kerchief knotted around
his neck, the dusty boots with their spur
red heels, his face SO absurdly sun and
wind burned, glowing with blond redness
in the freight. While there had yet been
time She checked an inclination to
throw out her arms and cry aloud.
"That is why" he went on, II did not
feel justified in telling you-though you
might, I should think, have seen-that l
loved you"
She went up to him and put her hand
upon his shoulder and tried to speak.
"Well, what?" he asked. He was sub
hitting duly to some blow which he saw
in her hardening eyes was going to fall.
"1'-she was forcing the words from
her throat with a harsh, dry sound-''I
married Captain Whitcomb three weeks
ago because 1 did not know."-
Farland turned away and drew a chair
near to the fire. The movement was quite
natural, quite free from any gesture Of
tragedy. He was too stunned to feel the
pain at once. That would come afterward
and stay through many years. He sat
down in the chair and watched the fam
ing mesquite root. 1t was a little hard for
him to draw his breath, and the pain was
beginning now too.
Glare stood upon the other side of the
hearth and looked duly ahead of her.
Then she drew her hand slowly across her
eyes.
II must go home," she said.
Farland did not answer her, and she
went out and closed the door.-Gwendolen
Ovarton in ArOonant