Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-25
An EPISODE IN PASTS.
By Frances Porcher.


They had been discussing a new novel
which dealt with a hero with a past.
II think if she had really loved him
she would have been willing to accept his
past without any questions" she said.
"Would you?" he asked.
"Why, yes-if l loved him What's the
good Of prying into all the hooks and
corners Of the years that have gone in a
mans life? They are gone, and you
can't help them or undo them or--or-
anything, and If ghosts can sleep where
is the comfort in starting them to walk
ing about? But"-suddenly facing about
81 don't believe in one privilege for a
man and none for a woman. II a woman
takes a mans past without a question,
then he has no right to stir up her ghosts,
you know. l believe in fair play at any
rate"
"But you know" he said, good wom-
en- have no pasts."
"But good men may have, eh?" she
asked. "Well, it is the same old story
a man may be a fool in his folly and vet
be good, but let a woman be never SO lit
tie a fool in her folly, and, 10, she isn't
good a bit!"
~ didn't say that" he answered, look
ing indulgently down at her flushed
cheeks, "and l believe l like you best
when you champion your sex. Go on,
dear. You are very pretty today" But
she only looked down at the toe of her
shoe and said nothing.
After a moment he reached out and
drew her closer. Sweetheart" he said
in a low voice, 1--WE have no questions to
ask, no ghosts to walk about. We can
safely take each others 'pasts,' 50 let's
be happy in our present"
They had been married a month or
two, and no day that passed had flown
by burdened with a record of 'ques-
TONS" They had really been an unusual
couple, and each felt rather proud in
the depths Of his and her secret soul that
such had been the case. To he sure, each
was certain that the other had told all
that had ever happened OF his or her own
sweet will and because of the sweet de-
light Of rendering condolences unasked,
but still-well, an ordinary man and wo-
man might even then have suspected
hidden depths and have sought to plumb
them.
Tonight they were both very quiet; he,
looking over her head into the Goals that
glowed and flashed and fickered like the
moods of a human soul; she, with her
elbow on his knee and her eyes half shut
behind her open palm.
"You are SO still. DEAR" he said.
"What is it?"
Nothing" she said, without moving.
Il must have been far away, for I can
not recall Of what l was thinking. I
dare say I wasn't thinking at all"
II do not accept that" he retorted,
half laughing. "a person always thinks,
and it is no compliment to me If you are
close enough to touch me and are yet far
out Of my ken. I know you were not
asleep"
"No," she said, resting her chin on her
hand and opening wide her eyes; mo, 1
wasn't asleep. But you-of what were
you thinking? You were just as still as
Il was not far away" he answered,
lat all odds. l was just wondering how
I could ever be good enough for you"
And he lifted her up to his knee and
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