Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-20

the young ladies on the wide veranda gig
gled, the stout old gentlemen who were
walking up and down the boards to gain
their daily two miles of exercise stopped
short, and a specialized, grave looking
young man, who was talking with a lady
just beyond, glanced around as If he fan
cied that he was personally addressed.
do you want the-clergyman?" said
the hotel clerk, doubtful, yet polite.
SIS it a stonemason or a chimney swapc
I'd be manin, dye Think" retorted Nora,
beginning to imagine that she was being
made game of.
81 am the clergyman" said the specta-
cled gentleman, stepping forward at this
juncture. SIS there anything I can do
for you?"
"Miss Matty Rice's compliments" said
Nora, without in the least abating the
shrillness Of her voice, ian she wants to
borrow YOU"
II beg your PARDON" said Mr.. Fon-
taine, "but I'm not quite sure that l UNI
derstand you, my good woman"
I'm speakin the English language,
sure" said Nora, somewhat affronted.
"She wants to borrow you"
"But what for?" said he, ignoring the
filters of the group which was now fast
gathering on the yeranda.
"To amuse herself wild this rainy day, -
said Nora. "You're to come back wild me,
phase. I was to bring you. Miss Matty
Rice's compliments, an
Greatly, said Mr.. Fontaine, ''this is
very strange"
1.-THE Rices live in q little Swiss cottage
by the Haldino falls" suggested the hotel
clerk. Gentleman goes up and down to
the city every day; keeps a pony carriage
"You're to come back with me, phase"
interrupted Nora. "'The rectory,' or
the country parson,' Miss Matty Rice's
compliments, an
Mr.. Fontaine, hurriedly surveying the
situation in his minds eye, decided it was
better to obey this strange request.
Putting on a waterproof wrap and
arming himself with a light silk umbrella,
he accompanied Nora McShane, to the
great buzzing and whispering Of the group
on the veranda.
Miss Rice was listlessly watching Eve
leen's embroidery as the door bounced open
and Nora rushed in, exclaiming:
"Here he is! I've brought him."
Brought whom!" exclaimed Mary in
surprise.
"The country parson," said Nora.
"Tfere wasn't no rectory. l inquired for
it, but it wasn't built"
"What on earth is the girl talking
about?i' said Matty in amazement.
And then Mr.. Fontaine walked in, hold
ing his hat in his hand.
II am the clergyman" said he. "Can
I be of any use?"
Matty colored a deep cherry pink.
"Oh, dear, l am SO sorry" she faltercd,
"but there Is some dreadful mistake here.
I sent Nora to the hotel to borrow a book,
and she has brought me back-a mani"
ga book?' said Mr.. Fontaine.
eyes," said Matte, trying harder and
harder to keep back her laughter as the
comic side of the circumstance forced it.
self upon her. "'The Recreation of a
Country Parson.' Mr.. Winton has It,"
Mr.. Fontaine began to laugh. So did
Matty and Eveleen, and in five minutes
they were the best friends in the world.
Mr.. Fontaine staid to lunch, and they
never knew how that long, rainy after
moo whiled itself away until at last the
blue drifts of sky spread banners above
the pine trees on old Sky Top and every
shining drop vas transformed into a tiny
rainbow.
M. Fontaine came often after that. So
did Paul Winton, the owner of the genu-
Inc Country Parson." And when the
family closed it's cottage and returned to
the city the two young men discovered
that the journey to Philadelphia was not
such a very long one, and there is every
probability that the lacking rectory will
be built in the spring and that the coun
try parson will bring a pretty young wife
there-at least SO says popular gossip.
"Tear, stupid old Norap' says Matty
Rice. sit was all her doing, and she shall
have a home with me always"
"But plumbers don't always terminate
successfully" Eyeleen gravely remarks
Waverly Magazine.