Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-06
SECOND THOUGHT.

the sailing of the Whirlpool for Liberia.
AS he had watched a sudden thought had
suggested itself to him. He had stood still
u moment apparently in hesitation. Then
the strange, wild impulse had seemed to
take complete possession Of him. He walk
ed quickly to where the sailors were at
work.
"At what time does this boat set sail?"
he iquired.
"The last boat goes out to the ship at II
tonight" replied a sailor, and with a de-
termined expression on his face the young
man turned away and walked quickly
holneward.
In that quaint little seaboard city Ar
thur Rayburn had lived since childhood.
There, too, had lived Norma Burton, and
there together they had passed the hap
piest years of their lives. Arthur had loved
Norma; he had loved the sleepy little city;
he had been in love with life. Then there
had come a change. Three years before
Norma Burton had moved away. Instant
ly all was changed. The bright days grew
gray. Even the old town was not what it
had been. Arthur Rayburn became sick of
it-of its dead level %monotony. He longed
to go away, to leave it forever behind him.
But all this was before her return. A
month ago she had come back for a visit
with her sister. Norma Burton had come
back, and, 10, the sleepy little city, the
town that had been SO ~unbearably dull
had undergone another change! Again it
was bright and wholesome and sunny.
Again Arthur Rayburn loved the city of
his birth. Again he was in love with life.
He understood it all. He had thought it
all over, and that afternoon in his lonely
walk by the seashore he had come to a
conclusion.
That evening he waited for Norma in
his fathers library. He had asked her to
meet him there, and she had promised to
do SO. As he waited he more than once
glanced anxiously at the clock. He knew
she would keep her appointment, but time
was precious. At last he heard a light step
In the hall and opened the door. She en-.
tered, and he closed the door behind her.
No wonder the old town had changed
with her coming and going She was all
brightness, all gladness, all warmth.
"Norma," he said earnestly, IL have
asked you to come here for a special rea-
son."
Dl0 MAS uUUuU W Iudh6 bUluD llkHU IT,
ply, but glanoing up at him she caught
the tense expression Of his face. She was
sobered in al instant. A quick tumult in
her heart foretold the crisis approaching.
"Don't, Arthur" she exclaimed in a
tone that was almost pleading.
II must he returned desperately. 81
suppose I know your swe without ask.
ing, but l feel that l must hear 1t from
your own lips. l love you, dearest, and
ask you to be my wife. Think a moment,
o Norma. l know you do not care for me
as I care for you, but can't you learn to
love me?" There was intense emotion in
his voice, and Arthur could see th3t she
was deeply moved. Her face turned pale
as he was speaking, and he knew that she
was suffering. He hated himself for hurt
ing her, but he waited for her to speak.
1T was afraid, " she began, fall
teringly. Then, looking straight into his
eyes, she continued: II love you as the
friend Of my childhood, Arthur. I cannot
honestly say more" A sudden wave OF
tenderness came over her, and she added,
"You know I would if I couldl"
In spite Of his pain, Arthur Rayburn
smiled.
eyes, DEAR" he said, touched by her
sympathy, II believe you would If yon
could"
There was a moments silence; then Ar
thur spoke again.
II am going away, Norma" he said.
II am going to sail on the whirlpool. l
shall probably never see you again, but !
shall always prize your friendship and
shall always wish for your happiness" He
tried to smile bravely as he added, "And
/ believe l shall always be glad to remem
Der that you would have loved me If you
could"
He opened the door for her. She looked
up at him through tears, and he bent and
kissed her forehead. Then he closed the
door behind her. He listened to her foot
steps as she passed along the hall, and he
sat down at his fathers desk and wrote
steadily for a long time.
Suddenly he stopped writing and sat for
q moment as though lost in thought. Aft
or a time he rose and walked to the win
dow that looked out upon the harbor. For
some moments he stood gazing out into
the starry darkness. When he turned away
from the window a new light shone in his
eyes and there was q determined express
sion about his mouth.
"No, sir" he said as though addressing
some one. ono, sir, I will never skulk
away and hide myself like a miserable COW
ard! She respects meat least. I will be
worthy of her respect"
Walking steadily to the desk, he gathered
up the letters he had written and tossed
them into the open CRATE The clock struck
10.
He sank into a great chair before the
fire, and for a long time sat buried in
thought. He reviewed his past, a past
which, taken as a whole, had not been un-
happy. He dwelt longest OH these years
when Norma had been with him, when
they had enjoyed life, as children, togeth
er. Then he thought of the future, and
involuntarily glanced at the clock, 1t was
not yet too late, but he made no move He
! had put his hand to the pillow and had nc
intention of turning back. He would hold
on, however hard the way appeared before
him.
At that moment he heard a light step in
he hall. Before he could reach the door II
opened softly, and a second later the girl
he loved was in his arms.
It was he who first broke the long 81
lence.
"You are crying, dearest" he said gen
tly.
II was afraid" she faltered through
her tears, "afraid you had sailed on the
Whirlpool"
"No, Norma" he said. ION sober sec
ond thought I changed my mind, and
am glad 1t was in time. Annie r
Young in Boston Post.