Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-22
RIDICULOUS.

fashionable part or a pretty London sub
urD and boosted of a number of small and
large houses, all of different ages and
architecture, which came as a welcome re.
lief after the rows and row of modestly
constructed dwelling houses SO frequently
seen.
At 8 Glenville road, "A large, squarely
built, house of somewhat ancient appear
anc lived an elderly widow, her two sons
and her niece, the latter of whom hnd
been engaged to the elder son, Edwin, for
the last ten years, and who seemed AS near
her wedding day at the time of her he
trothal as at the time our story opens.
But Miss Lancaster was seemingly con
tent with life, until the little cottage on
the opposite side of the road at last secured
a tenant, o circumstance which Mr.. Edwin
seemed to take an extraordinary interest
In since tho tenant was a remarkably pre-
possessing little wOman-a widow, rich in
the possession of a small annual income
and a very pretty face.
The wedding day seemed further of
than ever after the little widow had re-
sided in Glenville road for the space of six
weeks, and one day after peeping through
the blinds and seeing the tickle couple 60
ing off together to some place of amuse-
ment, Miss Lancaster gave way to grief
and was found by her younger cousin,
Herbert, sobbing IS if her heart would
break on the sofa.
whats up, BELIEF" said he %anxiously.
"You haven't been yourself for some time.
What's troubling your"
And Miss Lancaster's pride, which had
been dissolved in her tears, gave way alto
gether, and she confided her woes to her
sympathetic listener and asked his advice
as to whether she should give his brother
his freedom.
Nonsense" said Herbert warmly,
'Ted's all right. It's the woman's fault.
You know men are very susceptible to
pretty women who run after them. He's
lots fonder Of you"
"Do you think SOP" said Belle, drying
her eyes and looking up brightly. "She is
so much younger and prettier than IL
was afraid"
"Don't you worry yourself about that, -
returned her cousin kindly. ''Do you sup
pose Grace is jealous Of every pretty wom-
IN l speak to?"
"But you are not engaged to Grace"
"Oh, but I shall be if she'll have me,
and now cheer up, old girl. Fretting was
never a beautifier of the complexion, you
know"
That evening Herbert made up his mind
to interfere for the first time in other peo-
ple's BUSINESS. Edward was going a bit too
far, and the affair must be stopped. He
unused for a long time on the best manner
of doing it, and at last decided that the
wisest thing to Go was to make love to the
widow himself, ever at the risk of Offend
ing the young lady he had set his afec-
tions upon.
And he did, too, and found making love
to the widow a very easy and pleasant I'M
dertaking. Nearly every evening was spent
at the cottage, and the little widow, de-
lighted at her new conquest, became so
cold about her former one that success for
his scheme was promised from the first.
She was SO pretty and had such winning
manners that before long the younger
brother began to excuse the elder for his
infatuation and feel sorry for him and his
unfortunate engagement.
One afternoon, after escorting the widow
home from a walk, Herbert thought Of
Grace with a pang of dutiful r%eproach and,
getting on his bicycle, rode off whistling to
call upon her.
When he arrived at the house he found
Grace very chatty and cordial, but with
an entirely different manner about her
which profoundly puzzled him until he
caught the sparkle of a ring upon-h her fn-
ger.
"You will be pleased, I know, to hear
that I am engaged she said half shyly.
"And / am sure you will be able to con-
graduate, since you intend to commit
matrimony yourself"
"Il'' gasped Herbert In establishment.
"Oh, yes; don't pretend not to under
stand. I have heard all about that fasci.
mating little widow that lives opposite to
you, and ! am sure I hope you will be
very happy indeed"
She talked a lot about her coming mar
riage and her f1ance, and Herbert sat and
listened In a dazed kind Of manner until
the appearance of the newly elected bride.
groom woke him up to the fact that his
presence was not exactly required. On his
way home he met his brother and cousin
starting out for a walk.
"Congratulations!" shouted Edwin like
alunatic, pulling him off his bicycle. "Oh,
you artful manv' said Belle, turning up
her eyes. "No wonder you were SO ready
to- But she stopped suddenly and look.
ed up at Edwin in confusion.
s'What Is the meaning of all thiss" said
the cyclist angrily.
"Why, we have just heard Of Grace's
engagement and that you are bent on fol
lowing suit. We met Mrs. Law
"You don't mean to say" gasped Her.
bert, ''you said anything to her about
"We did, indeed" said Belle, "and she
lookt SO pleased"
And Herbert inwardly groaned, and
without further remark rode off home fol-
all he was worth. But when he reached
Glenville road he was SO absentminded
that he wheeled his bicycle straight up to
the cottage and before he knew what he
was doing found himself In tho back gar
den Of the widows snug little home.
Strangely enough, there was Mrs. Law
renee sitting upon the garden seat and
looking so youthful and charming that he
felt quite confused at his audacity and
nervously accepted her invitation to SIT
down.
81 came" he began, "to make a clean
breast Of everything to you. ! haven't
treated you fairly, Mrs. Lawrence. r.
Dear, dear!'' said the little widow,
brightly. whats all this aboutp You