Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-22
AFTER MANY YEARS.
Come, Will, give my ring to me-"
at h%aven't saep III dear ~

II haven't seen 1t, dear.
"Why, l put it on that shelf when 1 be
gan my work. Come, don't tease me-"
"My darling, I'm not teasing you. l
haven't seen your ring. Give me a kiss,
little woman, and don't show temper"
''Who is showing temperS" asked Celia
as she broke from his embrace. "Oh, you
are so ~aggravating! The squire's son ask
ed me the other day what l could sec in a
big laughing BOBBY like you to care for,
and l wonder now myself. p
"Stop there, Cecilia. Jim Bartlett's mad
because you refused him, but you should
not listen to his talk about me. BOBBY
which is the booty of this village 5" re
torted will vehemently.
"Ill listen to whom l please and when
/ please, and if you don't like it you ma
go to Vira Whittier for comfort. l heard
you were walking home with her the 9TH
er night. Well, go to her and give her
your old ring, and-and"- But words
failed the now thoroughly angry girl, and
tearing by her devoted swain she raced up
stairs to her room.
VIII felt badly abused, and the mention
of his pet loathing, Jim Bartlett, had not
helped matters in the least. He strobe to
the foot Of the stairs and called:
Cecilia, Pm going to punch Jim Bart
lett's head, and then I'm going home. l
shan't come back till you send for me-"
II don't care. Go home, and good rid
dance!' were the words the foolish girl
made in response.
But Will did return-that evening-and
hoped to find his sweetheart in her usual
light hearted frame of mind. Celia,
though, was convinced that Will had tax
en- her ring to tease her, and even if she
loved the ring and the giver dearly nc
man should be allowed to call her care
less, and not aver Will should be permit
ted to play pranks on her.
Cross words flew fast between them
that night, and Celia seemed intent on
maddening VIII, who, in turn, appeared,
from her standpoint, to be bound to mis-
understand and dictate to her. Finally
he tore from the house, saying:
II mean it now. I'll never come here
again until you send for me.
"You need never come unless you bring
my ring and say you are sorry" was her
reply.
Such little things make such vast diff
%ferences; such trifling causes bring such
disastrous results.
Like wildflre it spread through the vii
lage that Celia and Will had quarreled,
and no one seemed to be able to prove
peacemaker. AT the end of the week Will
went away, and shortly after that Celia
returned some of her gifts, and those that
the givers would not take back she packed
in an old chest in the shed chamber.
At the wedding cake she stared dismally
and was about to ''throw it to the pigs"
when a tender thought Of all it stood en-
blematic for thrilled her and she dropped
q big salt tear on it's frosted surface, then
sealed it carefully and stored it safely
away.
Bless you, reader, all that happened
nearly % years back.
Rumors reached home occasionally, and
it was generally understood that Will
Treadway had grown rich, made money
In mines or something of a like nature,
but nothing definite was known, and no
one spoke of him to Miss Thaxter.
"Aunt Celia" as every one now called
her, was a sweet voiced, silvery haired
woman, and her patience, gentleness and
kindliness were the talk of the village.
She vas always to be found at the bedside
Of the sick, always first at hand when a
call came from the poor, and her gentle
ways and softly reproving words had often
been the means of settling angry disputes
and making easier the road Of young peo-
pie who, from impulsiveness, were about
to map put dreary futures for themselves.
Her romance was known by all; it had
become local history, but everybody loved
Aunt Celia, and bitter comment or ridi-
Guile was not INDUCED in when she was
the subject Of conversation.
One day the engagement of Wills niece
was given ont. She had been born after
her uncle's disappearance, and to her he
was only a name.
"Milly," said Aunt Celia to her a shors
time before the wedding day, "I'm going
to give the cake for your bridal feast. 1t
is over 20 years old, but as fresh and
sweet as 1t Ia rich in memories. The day
1t was made, dear, I was the happiest and
the saddest girl in the world. Don't ask
questions, Milly, but please accept 1t, and
be gentle to Bob, my darling. Bear with
his faults, as I feel sure he will with yours,
and explain all troubles to each other. In
that way alone may true happiness be at
tanned"
The wedding was a jolly village happen
ing. 1t had been whispered about that
Aunt Celia's wedding cake-oh, ages and
ages old-was ''to be cut" and every one
was bristling with curiosity to see and
taste the confection that reopened all the
discussions of the long past romance.
An hour before the ceremony the train
from New York came in, and q few expect
cd city guests arrived. Then a big,
thoughtful looking man alighted and was
greeted by a surprised and loud "Hellol
Heavens above! It's brother WHIP from
the BRIDES father.
Never in tho history of H. had such a
merry wedding been celebrated. There
was but n regret-Aunt Celia was not
one of the party, and " tits just as we'll,
seeing how VIII Treadway happened to
come back" declared one old wiseacre.
Aunt Celia had sent a present, but she
never attended weddings.
At the little outdoor feast that followed
the wonderful cake was cut, and from the
slice that was apportioned to Uncle Will
dropped q little gold %circlet, set with a
cleaning diamond that struggled in the
sunlight to throw a shaft Of sparkling
cheer on the amazed faces about the fes-
tive board. At dusk that day Miss Thax.
ter heard a quiet rap on her door.
'AWho Is itr" called the gentle voice.
"It's only VIII, Celia. May I come ini
I've brought your ring. Frank A. Fer
guson in Chicago News.