Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-31
"shs is a widow now. Colonel Short died
thfan or four Years ago.

Jndeedi
There was another pause. Mrs. Hick-
mans mind was busy with the past, and
St. Glare Carew was wondering why his
life looked so unsatisfactory all at once.
We'll, well, how time fiesF' said Mrs.
Hickman at last. Thirty years. And
how quickly they seem to have gone! Sc
many things have happened! Let me see,
whose death did I see the other day? Oh,
Mr.. Broadbent's. You remember him,
don't your"
'Broadbent? Yes, he"-
HE was correspondent in that case about
Mrs. Wycherly. You remember Mrs.
Wycherly!'
He nodded. He remembered her very
we'll indeed. In fact, it had always been
a matter of surprise and self congratula-
ton to him that he had contrived to escape
standing in Broadbent's shoes.
"Well, he is dead" went on Mrs. Hick-
man, land Mrs. Wycherly"-
Did he marry herr"
"Oh, dear mol She married some one
else"
b, Good gracious"
Eyes, they say he broke his heart over
1t. He was really fond of her, and he had
given up everything for her. And do you
remember little Mrs. MontagueY''
Eyes"
"Why, of course you dol She was g
flame of yours, was she not?"
"Er-was she? u
ooh, no, of course notl" laughing and
tapping him on the arm with her card
case. "You had SO many, eh?"
He grinned uncomfortably. II don't
remember that I had. You see, you were
the one
She laughed with intense enjoyment,
her fat face growing purple with the exer-
ton. He watched her. Really, after all,
he was glad he had not married her.
"Ah, that's all very we'll, all very well,
but I ~remember,a good many" she said,
shaking her head at him. "There, I've
no doubt you have mixed them all up to-
gether. Let mi see-who else is there we
knew?'
St. Glare mentioned a few names, and
they talked on for some time. Then sud
| denly Mrs. Hickman said, "But l do won
| der You never married"
He laughed. "Why did you marry
Hickman"
She tapped him again with her card
case. "Dear, dear, you are as bad as
ever-not a bit improved. Well, there's
no accounting for these things. Still I dc
wonder at it. l always felt certain you
would, you know" She did not add that,
in common with all his friends, she had
always expected him to be married by
some woman whom she would not be able
to recognize. Still she could not avoid
giving him one little thrust.
"You must have given up all thought
of such things long ago."
He began digging at the gravel with his
stick. "Yes, l suppose / have, p" he said,
but l am very comfortable as ram, very.
/ go to the club a good deal, but l don't
dine there often. Things have changed Of
late years, and l don't care for some Of
the new members. I usually get home to
dinner now All last winter l suffered
with bronchitis, so had to be home, and
now I think ! prefer it don't care for
going out as l used"
mo, l find that myself. There's no
shutting ones eyes to the fact that one is
getting old, is therep But l don't think
one enjoys oneself the less-l am sure l
am as cheerful as ever l was-but differ
emit things please one, you know"
He nodded assent.
Dear me-, said Mrs. Hickman, rising,
lit Is getting latel Unjust be going home.
l am so glad to have met you. 1t is nice
to talk over old times. You must come
and see me. We are in Mill street, No. 40.
Can you come on Tuesday? You will see
my little granddaughter If you do. She
Is the sweetest, prettiest child you ever set
eyes on.
Certainly. l shall be delighted"
They parted, and St. Glare watched her
portly form retreat into the distance.
"She has grown very Stout, he reflected,
trying to Danish the impression made by
the meeting. There is nothing ages one
m than getting stout. l am glad
am thin
He rose stif1y. He must get home or he
would be late for dinner, and Louisa made
things uncomfortable If he were not in
time. He went along with his head bent,
thinking modify. Hang 1t all! That fat
old woman had made him feel almost mis-
cradle with her jabberl So pretty Clara
White had a son in the army. She'd be a
grandmother next, he supposed. And
Mrs. WycherlyY All, he had been lucky in
drop these things as one grew olderI And
the rest OF his walk he was trying to settle
the date OF his last Irritation.
During dinner he was very silent. lie
did not tell louis whom he had met. He
never told her anything If he could help
1t. He looked at her over the table as the