Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-08

lowed up therein, all that was visible Of
Sylvia were a pair of wonderful blue eyes
and a fluff of golden hair at one end and
two tiny white slippers at the other.
To Sylvia the hanson was a chariot
sent direct from fairyland for her convey
ance to some enchanted world. The gay
ETY. and glitter of the London night de-
lighted and amazed her. At Piccadilly
Circus Sylvia was entranced, in Leicester
square she was in ecstasies and when, hav-
ing reached the snug seclusion of a cur
tanned box, she could gaze across a valley
of dim, smoke wreathed figures, which the
moving marvel of form and color defined
as a ballet, she acted and moved as though
in a dream world.
What they witnessed need not be detail
ed. Is it not written in the daily papers9
Suffice it to tell that Sylvia remained OBJ
iivious to all Brunton's hints as to the
lapse of time until he murmured that the
hour neared II.
Safely in the hanson speeding home
ward, Sylvia returned to earth again and
sighed, since she felt like Cinderella in
having to leave the ball at it's height. And
Brunton tentatively suggested that there
had been no prince at her ball, whereupon
Sylvia avowed hastily that of course he
was the prince, then faltered and blushed.
After that 1T must be confessed that the
trees fringing Regents park witnessed
some callow lovemaking.
Yes, Sylvia was sorry-very, very sorry
he was going, and perhaps when he re-
turned in three years he would have for
gotten her! And Brunton was equally
convinced of his own faithfulness, but
feared the strain of time and absence on
hers.
Brunton thought he would like their
had, in a garden, and Sylvia remembered
that a certain green door in the high wall
encircling her grandmother's ground open
ed on a quiet side road. 1t was quite
near; they could drive round that way,
and she would point it out.
Thereafter the stars witnessed a solemn
compact that that day three years Sylvia
would unlock the green door to give Brun-
ton entrance.
They were very much in earnest. Two
real tears glistened in Sylvia's eyes as she
spoke of the years that the green door
must remain closed. And Brunton's voice
got husky, and he had difficulty in rem
dering his farewells as manly as he would
have wished. So, as become young lovers,
were the twain delightfully."- disconsolate.
Re-entering Mrs. Derrick's garden eau
tiously, the culprits had scarce gained the
safe vantage of the shrubbery before en-
countering an emissary in search of Sylvia.
Lady Martingale was going, had been 60
ing for quite ten minutes, and both her
cloak and her granddaughter were to seek
o
Athwart the little green door the moon
light glinted softly, and Brunton, stand
ing in the near shadow of an lick, would
willingly have dropped the coming hour
out Of his life.
Since his return to England a few days
before the memory of this approaching as
signation had persistently required to him.
AS a maj of honor, he knew he dare not
shirk it. And yet how painful to be fore
ed to see Sylvia, to look into those inno-
cent, trustful eyes-for of her constancy
he had no doubt-and confess how he had
changed, and to tell boldly that their meet
ing had proved but an incident Of no mo-
ment in the ordering of his life.
He must undeceive her as tenderly as
possible, speak Of Eleanor regretfully, at
least not let Sylvia guess how entirely
happy their union was, or that she, Syl-
via, had long ago ceased to be aught but a
pretty, sentimental remembrance to him.
Even as he schooled himself a distant
clock struck the hour, and with the first
faint chime came the stealthy sound of an
opening lock. She was there!
Gently turning the handle, he passed
through the green door and entered Lady
Martingale's garden. Beside the great
stone basin of the old fountain stood Syl-
via, the moonlight sparkling on her hair,
and adding an ethereal glamour to the
sheen of her robe. About her the tall Ma
donna lilies lent their fragrance to the
night.
A swift pang smote him as he saw that,
s when they first met, she wore white,
forgetting that he, too, had sought to re-
capture his former aspect for her view.
Her eyes met his in questioning appeal,
and for a moment a mad rush Of pity, ro-
nance, affection, call it what you will,
overcame him, and, springing forward, he
caught her hands.
"Sylvial"
Eyes"
"You had not forgottenP"
mo. And your"
~ am here"
After the greeting there fell a sense Of
not all of his making. She was lovely,
even more lovely than Of yore, taller, too,
with the lapse Of years, and with an added
something in her expression that was new
to him.
Behind them the fountain splashed and
murmured. Then Sylvia broke the ST.
lence, speaking as If in answer to his
thoughts.
"You-you have changed-are not the
same. OF course you look older and
b%ronzed-I don't mean that-but there is
something else-your manner
Brunton felt there was no escape for
him. He must tell her and at once.
Sylvia" he began breathlessly, "three
years is a long time
"Oh, yesi Is it nots" she interposed
eagerly.
"And, you know, ones circumstances
alter-new people intervene"
eyes, yes; SO they do"
Her unexpected acquiescenoe was dis
oonoerting, but he doggedly stumbled on.
"And, Sylvia, l wish to tell you'll
know 1t seems mean and cruel-but last
year I met Eleanor, and
"Hush!" interrupted Sylvia suddenly,
raising her hand and turning in an atti-
tude Of listening expectancy toward the
lighted windows of the house visible across
the expanse Of lawn.
AS they paused, mute, from an open
easement came q feeble cry-vague, plain
tive, sending It's message into the night.
Sylvia's eyes sought Brunton's, his won
dering, hers lambert with maternal
ecstasy.
my babyl" she said.-Mary Stuart
Boyd In Black and White.
Equality.
Uncle-HellOl Dot got a new dollp