Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-22
A LOVERS RUSE.
he has red hair"

marrying her cousin, Tom Manning, which
her parents and his were so foolishly anx-
ious to accomplish-foolishly we say, be-
cause if they had not betrayed such anx-
iety, but had let the young people come
together naturally, their hopes would have
stood a fair chance of being realized. AS
1t was, it seemed to be the very last thing
that was likely to happen.
They had not met since they were chill
dren, and were not likely to while left to
their own devices, which, certainly, were
very fertile in continuing to avoid every
thing that was likely to bring them in con-
tact.
Whenever Tom visited his Uncle Yer
non, Bertha was sure to be impressed with
the idea that it was the most fitting time
for her to pay a long promised visit to
some lady friend and which kept her out
of town so long as he staid.
And whenever Bertha visited her Uncle
Manning, Tom was equally as sure to have
some important business engagement to
call him out of town while she was at his
fathers house.
Thus they continued to play at cross
purposes until the patience of those who
udu pIhiiucu Uuo IIidtCl was uedfly OK
hausted.
And now to complicate matters and
make them still more d~iscouraging, a rival
had stepped into the field, q Mr.. Henry, a
distant relative of the parish clergyman,
who had come to Greenville to spend the
summer months.
There seemed to be a strong attraction
between the two the first time they met,
which ripened, in an incredibly short
space of time, into the warmest affection.
But of this the parents of Bertha were
in blissful Ignorance, they being away on
a visit to Toms father. with the avowed
intention of bringing the young man back
with them, to Bertha's great disgust, who
contidentially informed her lover, as Mr..
Henry now was, that she had half a mind
to run away and not see him.
She then gave him a detailed account of
her grievance, together with her many
reasons for detesting Cousin Tom, ending
her decidedly uncomplimentary remarks
as usual with:
"And he has red hair!"
Mr.. Henry stroked thoughtfully his
tawny beard, an amused smile playing
around his mouth.
"Some people have been SO %discourtcous
as to hint that my hair is of a reddish
tinge. I have a very vivid remembrance
when I was a boy of some one calling out
to me as / was riding by, Look out, your
heads on tire!'"
How ridiculous!' laughed Bertha.
why, your hair is just a beautiful chest
nut brown"
IT am glad you think SO, my love. You
say that you have never seen your Cousin
Tom since he was a boy?"
"No. And he was one Of the most dis
agreeable boys l ever saw yet, never SO
happy as when plaguing some of us girls.
He broke the head of my wax doll, stoned
my pet kitten and dug up the choicest
plants in my garden and was such a tor
ment generally that 1 was glad when ho
was out Of my sight and hearing. And
he is coming tomorrow, SO papa writes,
and I know what for. But I'm determin-
ed on one thing, that / never will marry
Cousin Tom"
The young man looked down smilingly
into that flushed and earnest face, which
had never looked SO lovely to him as now.
BE frank and tell him SO, then. l will
be there, too, and we will see which will
win the day, Cousin Tom or l."
The shadows of twilight had gathered
around the quiet corner where Mr.. Yer
nor and his nephew sat in earnest con
verse.
The former arose as Bertha entered, her
heart beating very fast at the thought OF
the ordeal she knew was before her.
my daughter, here is your Cousin Tom,
who has come for the express purpose of
asking you to be his wife. What is your
answer, yes or nor"
Bertha did not even raise her eyes to the
dim outline of the form that was sitting
on the sofa, but her tones, though low,
were very firm as she said:
st is no., papa. I am willing to give
Cousin Tom the regard that is due to his
relation to me and to you, but I cannot
marry him."
Leaving Cousin Tom to reply, who now
emerged from his obscurity, Mr.. Vernon
quietly slipped away.
"Supposing l won't take no for an an
swer?"
The sound of that familiar voice made
Bertha raise her eyes quickly to the face
Of the speaker.
INF. HENRY
"Thomas Henry Manning, at your serv-
Ice. Forgive Inc, darling" he whispered
as he looked into Bertha's white, bewil-
dered face. II wanted to see and judge
my little cousin for herself"
"It's a shame, y pouted Bertha, doing
her best to look angry and failing miser-
ably. you've taken q mean and unfair
advantage Of me-"
IT know it," responded the culprit,
with an air Of mock gravity. "And now
what is to be done I can't imagine, as you
have over and over again declared that
you never will marry Cousin Tom"
And he has red hair!''
This is the invariable rejoinder of the
husband of Mrs. Tom Manning whenever
she alludes to the extraordinary beauty Of
their firstborn.
But the fond and happy mother declares
this to be q base SANDER.
"To be sure" she is fain to acknowl-
edge, "Tommie's hair did border q little
on the red at first, but 1t is growing darker
every day and is now the prettiest shade
Of auburn you ever SAVIOR all the world
just like his fathers. New York News.
Piano Practice.
As to the number of hours that should
be spent in daily practice, Leschetizky, the
famous Vienna teacher and the instructor
OF Paderevski, says IL depends very much