Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-09
HER OBJECT LESSON.


sarcastic. Her world had a wholesome
dread Of Mrs. T~relawney's tongue. She
had just intimated a desire for an ice,
and her attendant satellites had dis.
persed at once, each eager to be fore
most in the quest.
She had had a busy day, and it was
pleasant and cool there behind the
palm. She only wished that people
would not whisper somewhere near. If
only they were aware how much far
Their a whisper carried than an ordinary
tonel And while she meditated an cpl
gram on this subject she opened her
eyes and looked round impatiently for
the w%hisperers.
There was a particularly ineligible
corner near Mrs. Trelawney's snug re-
treat, a three oornered, low backed
seat, in the full glare Of the light and
unpleasantly close to an intrusive and
spiky cactus.
Hither had retreated a poor cousin Of
the hostess, a little girl of II, under.
dressed and pale faced, conspicuous
only for a very new and shining wed.
ding ring. She had been alone most Of
the evening, and now it was she and
her boy husband whose whispering had
disturbed Mrs. Trelawney.
Darling, are you enjoying your
self?" whispered the boy husband.
$50 much, dearr' answered the little
girl enthusiastically. "It'sall go pretty
and SO amusing to watch. I've never
seen anything so pretty in my lifer"
GIVE been helping Lady Lucy, Shs
asked me to take some old ladies down
to supper" the boy husband went on
with a comical importance. you're
sure yon are not dull here all alone?"
"Dull? Oh, dear nor' cried the little
girl, opening wide eyes of amazement.
"Oh, there's Lady Lucy looking at us.
dear. I expect she wants you again."
The boy hurried off again, proud and
and his little wife sat smiling
him from her corner. Mrs. Ire
looked sharply from one to the
other. II wonder how long that state
of things will last?" she meditated Gym
She knew a certain amount about the
affairs of the foolish couple-Lady
Lucy had confided various details in the
course Of her apology for their presence
there at all. The boy was a journalist
with a microscopic income and very
talents, and the little wife was
penniless, and they had a tiny fat some
in the east-some uncivilized To-
the bare thought Of which sent
shudder through Lady Lucy. "In ten
years. time, she said to herself, "what
will have become Of them?" And at
that point she paused aghast.
1t vas exactly ten years since shs
herself, a girl Of II, had made a run.
away love match with handsome Cap.
tain Trelawney.
She sat curiously white and still,
while that dead and half forgotten past
wildly before her. She would
never have thought it possible then for
her husband to be at his club while she
amused herself successfully elsewhere,
and now this was the normal state Of
between them.
There had been no quarrel, no dis.
pute. They had simply drifted away
rom each other in those ten years of
married life. until now they were COM
oarative strangers. Neither could have
;old how Or when the division began.
She looked at the uncomfortable cor
Ter again and with new eyes. That pale
little face was the happiest in the room
the only contented one in sight-and
when the boy husband came near, al
ways with a glance and smile in that
Erection, what a radiant look was
loated back at him! They really seem.
ID to be enjoying their evening.
Mrs. Trelawney reflected, and then,
With an Understandable sensation, it &C.
,urred to her that she, the admired and
oetted society beauty, was actually
that plain, badly dressed, pen
liless little girl.
Mrs. Trelawney breathed a long sigh
# relief when the brougham door was
hut upon her and she was on her way
ZONE. She bad a long way to drive,
,lenty Of time to follow out her present
rain Of thought and to he as unhappy
10 she pleased.
She told herself that she was a despi-
able little wretch, a mere society but
er6y, and it was no wonder Horace was
ired Of her. If only Horace had been
'oor, SO that he and she could have
and struggled together! II only
heir one child had lived beyond baby
Ioodl But that she could not bear to !
hink Of even now. If only all the past
en- years could be lived over again, how
differently she would use them
Now it was too late, and then she
uddenly sat up straight, with fast
heart. 1t was not too late; it
ould not be too late. She would begin
very night and try to restore some
hing Of the old loving relations Of ten
ears ago. She would call for her hus-
and now at his club. She remembered
aving done so once or twice in those
.gone days, when something impera-
i've had prevented him from coming
nth her to their mutual disappoint-
rent.
She gave the necessary order to her !!
oaohman, and then sat tense and up.
Ight, her eyes bright. her cheeks
Alb, they were not far from the club
ow-fve, ten minutes more and her
ew life would have begunl