Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-02-09
UNDER SUSPICION.

lOW Ill neF lTOnG BaTuen. D6nlnQ 16f SGOOQ
the trim outage, and in the grass, almost
at her feet, gamboled Eddy, the youngest
born, and the new black and white puppy.
She smiled placidly as she watched them,
but 1t was not maternal pride that thrill
ed her bosom as she murmured, "He's q
beauty, and his dear little legs and head
are ever so much too large for his body; a
sure sign that he'll be u big dog-and
that's just what l wantr'
At this juncture her reverie was broken
in upon by the sound of footsteps On the
gravel walk leading from the front gate
to the house, and looking up she beheld
the comfortable figure Of her dear friend,
Mrs. Townley. There followed a scene
such as any lady who has been surprised
by the sudden and unexpected arrival of a
valued friend can readily imagine. In the
ourse Of it Mrs. Townley was conveyed
to the parlor of the trim cottage to sit and
"cool off" before going up stairs.
Take off your bonnet, dear, " said her
CHEEKY hostess. II will put your satchel
and parcel and things IN this chair. Oh,
l have SO much to tell you about and scold
you forl Why haven't you come down be.
fore?''
In the midst of Mrs. Townley's explana-
tions as to why she had absented herself,
there burst through the open French win
dow, like the advent Of a whirlwind, the
puppy Sport, in full cry, followed by Ed
dy. Round and round the room they cir
cled for some moments, and then obedient
to the repeated commands of his mother,
the little youth turned and embraced their
.;,3Ao. ,-{@l .,,,oI hoots,o,, Tho ooo
that followed these demonstrations was
rudely put to flight by the click Of the
front gate and the cry from Eddy, who
was stationed at the window, announcing
a lady coming.
Somebody to call! How provoking!"
said Mrs. Spreadbrow with a quicker of
her placid brow. "Come, Maria, let's 60
up stairs before Della goes to the door.
There goes the bell Never mind your
things"
In an instant the room was cleared of
all ave the black and white puppy, who
shambled about for a moment, then trot-
ted laboriously ont into the garden by the
same route he had come in.
cts a young lady, Mrs. Spreadbrow,
and she says she wants to-see you on bust
u0oS, ul1lOuIlCCu 0tlld q LuOLlCAU ldUcI,
thrusting her head through the door Of
the room to which Mrs. Spreadbrow and
her friend had reiterated.
dear me, what can she want?" The
lady's voice expressed as much irritation
as that kindly organ could embody.
As she entered tho parlor a tall, slim
girl, who had been standing nervously in
the middle of the room, advanced to meet
her, and the icy tone and n that
Mrs. S~preadbrow had determined to as
sumo toward the disturber of her seclusion
melted quite away as the pretty young
creature lifted a pair of sad, dark eyes to
her face and said in an embarrassed voice:
please pardon me for intruding. l
have come to-to''-
pray sit down." interrupted Mrs.
Spreadbrow cheerily.
"Thank you," said the girl, and drop
ped into a chair. 81 will not detain you
long. I have here a children's history"
And from the depths Of a roomy satchel
she produced a small book, "that Catcham
& Teasam are publishing
Ali Now Mrs. Spreadbrow knew the
worst. But I don't want it., she said
gently.
at won't do any-any-harm-to-to-
look at It," The girl spoke as If trying to
repeat a lesson, and with a wistful look
in her face.
Eyes, 1t will; because If l let you show
1t to me l may buy it, and l really don't
want it,"
Nobody does, but you have put your
rejection of it very kindly" said the girl,
rfoinn IN mr. Hor voica tran,h1p6 and the
smile she managed to screw her pretty
lips into was far from cheerful. Mrs.
Spreadbrow was touched. There was
something so pathetic about the voice and
manner and she was so very young and
SO very pretty. The motherly old lady laid
her hand on the girls arm, saying softly:
LET me give you a glass of claret be-
fore you set out again In the heat Oh!'
For the little book agent had turned away
to hide the tears she could not restrain.
Excuse me-" she murmured. "It's
the hot weather, and-and not being &C.
customed to the work. IL began only
yesterday. and it's a long trip to and
from New York"
"Sit down." urged Mrs. Spreadbrow
gently, "and ! will go and get the wine."
When she returned, the girl had quite
recovered and was sitting quietly at the
window smiling at the gambols of the
puppy. She apologized for having given
then rose again to 60.
"Thank you so much for your kind
ness" she said warmly, ''and goodby."
"Stopr' exclaimed Mrs. Spreadbrow.
"I've changed my mind about the book.