Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-01

a woman's sympathy. How was l to
make her love me, as arranged, if she
would not give me the opportunity2 l i'm
plored an interview.
As ! was awaiting an answer by every
post, | did not go to see her, but no an
swer came. After three days l vent round
in the evening, but had not the courage
to knock; diplomatic relations seemed to
be on "a delicate footing, and, after all, /
argued, it would be rude to call before she
answered my note. However, | thought
of another plan as 1 saw the parlor maid
returning from the letter box. She was a
good sort, and I could trust her.
"Alice," I said, putting my hand care
lessly into my waistcoat pocket, "can l
trust your" Receiving a quick affirma-
tive, ] continued: "Tell Miss Clarissa that
you say me wandering about outside,
looking very troubled. Never mind why"
and, slipping a half sovereign into her
hand, l turned to go, when I saw the
shadow Of Jones profile on the blind. I
made a strategic movement to the rear.
Next day 1 did receive a little note, ask.
ing me to meet the writer in the park that
afternoon at a certain seat. Aha, would
/ not serve her out? / would not turn up!
But thoughts of Jones rose up, and so |
agreed to myself that second thoughts
were best. I met Clarissa, but her man
ner was most exasperating. She would
never let me get on to serious or senti-
mental topics with her, and Jones' name
l dared not mention for fear of being &C.
cused Of being Unconstitutional l really
was not the least bit SO. On the whole,
our meeting, which she soon cut short,
was to me extremely unsatisfactory.
And in this ann we played for six
weeks or SO. Our meetings were few and
short, for Clarisss always had all after en-
gagement, and If l called at the house she
was out, engaged, or talked mostly to
other people. She had also got another
girl to share her studio. She was always
very offsh with me, but at length I began
to think that this was one of the female
symptoms of affection-at least, l had
read SO somewhere. Undoubtedly, there.
fore, l must be making an impression on
her. but still the outward feeling of being
kept at arms length was not satisfying to
me-.
Gradually, fight against it as l would,
I began to get tired of the game.
I was sick Of the whole thing, and no
longer thought about the impression I
could make on Clarissa. l therefore stood
1t just for six weeks, and then-and only
because l knew thai Clarissa would hold
me to i'll determined to make a fool of
myself and propose as per contract. 1t
all seemed very ridiculous, but still no
harm would be done, as / was, of course,
still fancy free, and she-oh, well, even if
she did care a bit, it was her fault for
suggesting the experiment. Without more
ado l seized my hat and rushed round to
Clarissa's house, but my ardor soon cooled
as I got nearer. l felt like going to the
dentist, and when l arrived at the house
/ was half inclined to retrace my steps.
Remembering, however, that faint heart
never won fair lady, | braced my nerves
with an effort and knocked. What hap
pened during the next few moments,
when / was face to face with Clarissa, I
shall never quite remember, but l know
that Clarissa laughed, and that I put up
my hand to feel if my tie was at the back
of my neck.
I began my tale In a half hearted man
ner enough, Clarissa looking half amused
and half scared, but her apparent inditfer-
ence made me mad and goaded me on to
say perhaps more than l had intended.
Besides, l now seemed to be inspired in
some mysterious way, and l am sure no
real lover could have wound up with q
more im~passioned appeal.
At length I finished. She had dropped
her eyes and turned away SO that I could
not see her face. / thought no more about
vague experiments now, but had a sense
IF 1alirhtf,r1 ,,ao1itv Mul1y T onionl hnr
hands--her silence must imply consent.
! drew her toward me to kiss her when
she suddenly jumped away and laughingly
cried: mo, George, you must not do
that. You have gone quite far enough,
and now we will be friends again. You
have acted your part ~splendidly"
Acted my part splendidly l was crush.
ed. I saw she had been making a fool
Of me.
sob! OF course I was only pretend
ing" l said bitterly and then, losing my
temper, ''but l think you have behaved
disgracefully, Clarissa, in the way you
have fooled me and carried on with that
fellow Jones. I wish you good afternoonr"
and l walked quickly toward the door.
"George!' Her voice startled me and
/ looked around.
A few minutes afterward l said, "Clar-
issa, shall we take Punch's advice?"
mo, dear" she whispered.
"And about Joness'
"Oh, he has been engaged to Miss Carr
for three weeks"
We were seated in a carriage, and I was
engaged in in~structing the coaclman to
remove a white satin slipper from the
roof.
George, you do care for mes"
Eyes, dearest, but l made you care for
me during II sham courtship."
mo, George, I loved you before, but you
would not see It,"
I put my head out of the window and
quietly whispered "Hang!'
"What are you doing9'' asked Clarissa.
Shaking some rice out of my collar,
dear. "-Chicago Times Herald.