Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-05
Continued from Saturday Jan. a9)
JEAnHETTE HoWzAbW7OEHH

Continued from Saturday Jan. 29)
II know, I know. l miss her so. Igo
to see her every day."
There was something weird in this
soul ~communing. The narrow literal
ness of Mrs. Strong's comprehension re-
coiled from it.
"You go to see whom, Eliza? l don't
grasp your meaning"
"Gabriella, my dearest-out there
under the pine trees in the lonely old
burying ground on the point. She is
more real to me than you are, with your
whitening hairs and your blue veined
temples; more real to me than my
mother, who has accumulated flesh and
years. Lookp' With a hand that trem-
bled perceptibly she touched a bunch Of
blue periwinkles pinned at her waist.
II gathered them at the foot of her
grave. They remind me of her eyes. l
go out there and tell my darling every
thing. I should stifle to death, else. She
knows. She understands. She pities."
The pathos in her clear, young voice
was potent to move Mrs. Strong to an
act Of unusual condescension. She left
the writing desk before which she had
been sitting all this time and came wei
to share the sofa seat with her over
seer's daughter.
"Gabriella's mother pities you, too,
Eliza"
"You! You pity me? Oh, why did
you urge my father and mother to send
me away from them? I know it was
meant in kindness, but what has it
done but unfit me for--them-for my
life?
"They do not know what all this
e to me. With Gods help they
never shall. But what am l to do with
my spoiled self, my despoiled days,
shorn Of everything l have been edn-
Gated to prize? Oh, what have you all,
i'll your laundering kindness, done to
me?"
1t was the irrepressible cry of a soul
in protest against the eternal mfitness of
its environment.
Mrs. Strong put herself on the defen-
sive with a dizzy sense of topsy turvi.
ness. What! She, the mistress of Sans
Souci, apologizing to Eben Martins
daughter!
Call it a mistake, if you choose,
child. 1t was certainly meant in all
kindness, l must confess I did not an
ticipate-all-all this"
"All what, Mrs. Strong?"
The lady moved uneasily under the
quiet compulsion of the girls splendid
eyes.
Really, child, you understand the
art OF making things difficult. OF course
you must know that you are uncom-
monty pretty"
There was more sadness than of girl.
ish vanity i'll Liza's smile as she an
swered:
II don't want to make things more
difficult than they are. That is the rea-
son I have been tardy in paying my re-
spects to you. l wanted to get myself
we'll in hand before I came to see you
AS for my looks, mother and the boys
blessings OH their unconventional
heads-are a trifie outspoken. might
be a doll for the frankness Of their fat
terry. Better-far better if l were!
Then there would be none of this hot,
bitter, futile rebellion in my SOUL"
She flung her hands outward and up
ward with a passionate sob. When she
removed them, it was to find Mrs. Strong
leaning back among the sofa cushions,
white, agitated, convicted. She was
aghast at the mischief she had unwit-
tingly wrought.
II forgot you are not robust. You are
not going to faint, Mrs. Strong? Shall I
call SuzanneE"
The lady opened her eyes languidly.
II am not going to faint, and ! do
not want Suzanne. l was trying to
think Of something to say to you, I'M
thing comforting. Eliza. But I am so
agitated."
II am sorry to have agitated you.
That is why I did not Ire to come. l
knew | must say all this to you one
time or another. As for your trying to
think Of something to comfort me-
her sweet, clear voice was full Of infinite
sadness-''you are al powerless as was
when ! was sent away to lie educated
Such a. my life is to be must be the
work Of my own hands hereafter. l
wish l could have said what ! had to
say more amiably, but when the soul is
full Of bitter revolt the lips are not apt
to drop honey"
She drew her breath in quickly, bent
forward and laid her bunch Of periwin-
kles Oh the lady's lap.
Gabrielle says let there be peace be-
u.s."
In another moment a dash Of scarlet
against the green Of the orange hedge,
repeated once, twice, three times,
showed where Liza was speeding home
ward.
IA most unusual girl A remarkable
creaturev" Mrs. Strong said, getting up
to put the periwinkles in water.
CHAPTER VII.
Life at Sans Souci moved toa livelier
when Adrien came home. ex.