Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-15
A DEBT OF HONOR.

- ~ oAA AAN4A ANY,
and l knew her instantly, though she
wal yelled. She recognized me also and
returned my greeting with a warmth
which I hoped was not altogether due
to the fact that | was able to extricate
her from a human eddy in which she
was entangied. I forgot all about the
time table and turned back, delighted
that the rush Of the preoccupied crowd
around us gave an excuse to keep her
little silk gloved hand upon my arm.
She had been seeing Cousin Phil and
his wife off, she said, and was now, l
guessed, returning to the desolate house
IN bloomsbury SQUARE. The picture
called up by the thought was so poign-
ant chat J. proposed a visit to West
minister abbey. She appeared a shade
surprised-I certainly was myself-and
then agreed, with little sigh, which
plainly said, Gas we'll there as any
where else" But once she accepted my
companionship by stepping into the
hanson I called she made, I could see,
a distinct effort to take interest in the
multicolored life swirling by.
"The abbey is the first place one
thinks of visiting when one is away"
she observed, "and yet, when II is at
home, it is so near that one keeps defer
ring the visit from day to day, and I
am leaving town tomorrow. Papa
meant She did not finish the SEN
tence, but added, ut is SO kind Of you
to give your time"
IT am a man of leisure, - said I dryly.
Papa was always in a hurry, y she
went on, and then stopped again. All
roads Of conversation led to her father,
and death had written "No thorough
fare" across every Il
Better wear out than rust out, " said
1 considerably, Though the best of us
but write their names on water after
all. A very ~consoling reflection for the
idlers."
Eyes, if everything ended here she
replied as the cab pulled up and the
great gray temple doomed above us.
If time be duration set out by meas.
ure, my watch was of opinion that we
spent two hours here. My conscious.
ness, however, has nothing definite to
say on the matter, 'the endurance Of
all enduring things" not being painful
~ prominent. Neither do / remember
having shone among the tombs. On IL
thing at least I am quite clear. 1t is
when we came out / was decidedly
hungry; so, ~artfully plotting my charge
past a restaurant, I suggested lunch.
Here again a lacuna occurs, for l have
no distinct recollection of the earlier
stages Of the banquet ave the other
fact that her mode Of eating and drink
ing forced me to make comparisons
which would have brought me slowly
to my senses had not the unforeseen,
which has such a trick Of happening,
done 50 with paralyzing promptitude.
Her little hunting watch had run
down, but the oficious cuckoo belong
ing to the restaurant clock spoke SO
plainly that the young girl almost
jumped from her chair.
"Oh, Mr.. Patterson she cried,
"what shall I do? I was to call upon
Mr.. Turnbull-he is my guardian. you
know-about papa's will at half past
2, and now it is a quarter past"
Where does he live?' I asked.
"In the city" she replied despairing.
ly, land, oh, he is 40 precise, and there
may be delays-you don't know him."
l did, having met him in his profess
sional capacity some years before, when
I was q witness for the defense.
"We'u drive there at onoel' I cried
royalty, putting my hand in my pocket
while she fumbled for her glovs. Then
an awful fact struck me; my purse was
gone. I suppose my conservation got
into my face, for l caught the eye of the
polyglot waiter fixed upon me. He was
tall, and, I doubt not, swift Of foot,
and as he smiled thinly I could see that
he had lost II front tooth and all his
illusions. I put my hat on and took it
off again. At another time, in another
place, the incident would have been
merely laughable, but now, with heri
I had been 10 blase, SO mildly cynioall
Oh, it was unthinkable! l moved to-
ward the counter which was near the
door, Swallowed by the waiter, who was
mentally calling the police, and ap.
preaching the lady in charge explained
the situation. She was = German frau
Of spotlsss morals, and she listened
calmly to my tale, the cold contempt Of
a narrow, literal nature glinting in her
small eyes. The comedy Of the situa-
ton did not strike her. She only Jaw
that I had no money. "Dey pay, dose