Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-27

UpluIou, Sdlu MISS AhQIOrQ QOgmatlC-
ally, sis as tiresome as one who never
changes her hats. I don't know which is
worse"
1t seemed that everybody in the little
aotel awoke early the following morn
Ing. At $50 the round checked maid
came up with coffee and rolls, and these
they had near to the open window that
looked ON the square in front Of the sta
tion. Miss Ladford, in admirable spirits
and enjoying now the whole adventure,
saw MI. Mark Wallis below and re-
marked to her young sister that she sup
posed she had better go down in order
to make sure about the Luxembourg
train. Alice Ladford cordially seconded
this resolution and said that she for her
part would rather stay up stairs and
write.
"Train doesn't go till s." said Mark
Wallis oheerfully. "There's nothing to
see at Karthaus, 80 l thought Of having
. look round"
IT am tired Of sightseeing" re-
marked Miss Ladford. "This will have
all the charm Of novelty. May I come
with your"
II want you to-"
Doesn't matter about a hat, does it?
Nobody knows u.s."
Nobody knows us here" he agreed
lightly. "In town we are Of course i'm
portant people. At least you are. Critics
don't count"
They walked down the principal lane
Of the village. The sun was in it's
pleasantly decorous mood, less obtrusive
than it had been, but showing neverthe-
less a polite attention. Two stout ma
irons at their doorways remarked to
each other ~confidentially that she was
older than he, and after some haggling
decided that there was a difference Of
five years.
"Nearly everything happens for the
best in this world" said Mark Wallis.
"If that train had not been late last
night, it would have been long perhaps
before I had a chance Of making my
peace with you"
II cannot permit" she said quaint
ly, "any reference to a former discus
sion."
"As a matter Of fact, I particularly
want to be on good terms with you,
Miss Ladford. I haven't many enemies,
and I do not want to think of you az
n of them"
II believe, she said quietly, pulling
q blade of grass as they walked along,
"that we are going to be very excellent
friends"
"I'm 80 gladl' he cried honestly.
%"Indeed, I hope that we shall be some
thing more" She did not look at him,
and he went on. "Do you know, Miss
Ladford, l feel very much the want Of
companionship at home? I'm almost 20,
but already I m beginning to dread
the possibility Of journeying through
my life a lonely traveller. Twenty. eight
is not too young for a man to marry, is
it,"
She shook her head and put her hand
for a moment to her throat. Her
thoughts went back swiftly to her first
and last proposal. Dear, dear, what a
long time ago that was-nearly ten
years ago, she fearedl She remembered
how she had refused the offer because
she had an idea that it would be foolish
to say "Yes'' to the first. And since
Miss Ladford remembered this with q
little sigh-there had not been a second.
"What l mean to say is" said Mark
Wallis, with nervous enthusiasm, "that
the time comes to every man when he
meets some one he really likes. If he
misses that chance, it is quite likely
that an exactly similar opportunity
may never occur again. And, although
it may appear very sudden to you, Miss
Ladford, it's not really sudden, you
know"
The poor blade Of grass was getting
terribly maltreated. For a self possessed
person, Miss Ladford appeared singular
ly tremulous. She found that when she
lifted her eyes from the ground the neat
little cottages danced.
II think-I think we had better re-
turn" she said hesitatingly. "We
mustn't miss the train, and we ought
not to keep my sister waiting"
ooh, Alice won't mindp' he said
eheerfully.
"She's a dear girl" said Miss Lad
ford, endeavoring to regain her self pos
session. although she's my sister, I
have 9 quarreled with her,"
"She can keep a secret too"
when you know her better, Mr..
Wallis, you will find that che is quite
unlike me. That is why we get on so
we'll together, I think. I don't like to
think that I shall ever have to say good
by to her," :.
"It won't be quite saying goodby,"
urged Mark Wallis. "You see, a honey
NOON
"We must talk about it" she inter,
rupted shyly, when we meet in town."
~ would rather know now, he said.
"Until we reach Luxembourg, then"
"No, no. he said good humoredly.
He took her hand and placed it on his
arm. II must know now. Your sister
will be anxious.", Her hand trembled.
"Point Of fact, Miss Ladford, / want
Alice to marry mi % soon as we get
back to town, If yea don't mind"