Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-02

arrival was when he passed through to the
milkroom.
"Time to milk before SUPERB he
asked, coming out with the milk pals OH
his arm. He had resumed his working
clothes and still the wool boots were in
evidence.
II guess SO" said Ellejenette, peeping
hurreptitiously through a crack of the
oven door at her johnny cake. but hurry
up"
Instead Of Fastening he stood looking at
the young girl, and Ellejenette added:
"Was the wedding a nice one? Did you
have a good timer"
"Weddingi What w~edding?" said he.
II haven't been to any wedding" And
he went out with the milk pals making a
little clink, clink as he strobe down the
path.
E%llejenette found herself wondering as
to his absence and mentally shook herself
for so doing. I'm getting as bad as Aunt
Charlotte" said she to herself. 'I'm
bound I won't be SO inquisitive, if it kills
me-" And she tied on her sun hat and
went out to the strawberry bed, picking
Strawberries until John came with the
milk.
eve got something nicer than you
have" she called to him, showing her rosy
treasures.
He pretended to clutch a handful, and
she ran before him into the house. He
looked at her with admiration rs she sped.
Ellejenette had a snub ose and a wide
mouth, but John did not know it. He
saw only a pretty smile and q creamy skin
and thought Ellejenette was a beauty.
He loved her because she always called
him John. Ellejenette did not know that
John had sandy hair and was too broad
for his height. She saw only bright blue
eyes and a candid, heartsome look. She
remembered with joy that he sometimes
called her Ellie. These two were on the
way to becoming engaged, but neither Of
them yet knew 1t.
supper table. First of all she made Mrs.
Sylvester comfortable with her cricket UNI
der her feet, her shawl OH the back of her
chair and her ''eating glasses Tin contra
distinction to her ''reading glasses') in
readiness by the side of her plate. Ellie
jenette passed John his cup of tea next.
"Did you look in this?' inquired he.
because if you did you needn't pass the
sugar"
"No, I was afraid l should turn the
milk" said she, and at this truly choice
wit both laughed. But not so Mrs. Syl'
vester. The maid was yet unborn who
could make Aunt Charlotte laugh when
she was brooding over her woes
"Did you go to the wedding, Oddiep'
said she.
mo, ma'am," said John.
"Well, then, where did you goY"
ooh, up in town, to the postoffice-and
here's a letter for you. I most forgot it. "
Mrs. Sylvester took her letter with rap
furious welcome. She seldom received one.
This was a collection of circulars, de
failing the miraculous cures wrought by a
patent medicine and containing portraits
and letters of individuals who had used
the remedy. 1t entertained Mrs. Sylvester
the whole evening, and she went to bed
happy, announcing that she should buy a
bottle the first time she went to the store.
Unwearied as ever, Mrs. Sylvester com,
menced early in the morning on the I'M
dying subject Of Johns attendance at the
Farnham wedding. She asked which pew
he sat in, the number and name of the
attendants. She begged for the items OF
the BRIDES dress and the bridegroom's be
hAvior. She made a requisition for detail
ed information regarding the wedding sup
per.
"Why don't you tell her you were not
there, .JohnY" said Ellejenette boldly.
Don't tease your mother"
John laughed good humoredly, and hos
tilities were ended for the moment by the
orui,o1 ~ :, ,,oirrhho,, nv, NY farnN hrSi
ness. But Ellejenette's resolve not to
grow so inquisitiye as Aunt Charlotte
was put to a severe test. 1t was SO
strange, she thought, to see John dressed
up in those nice clothes of his, which he
hardly ever wore to the village to do er-
rands, and get keeping on those coarse,
heavy wool boots, shabby with farm work.
She could not put it out of her mind,
mainly because Mrs. Sylvester dwelt on it
SO long and persistently. If John was
not at the wedding, where was he? And
loyal Ellejenette knew he was not at the
wedding because he said he was not, and
John always spoke the truth.
Days passed at the farmhouse, as they
do everywhere, filled with the trifes OF
work and play which make up human ex-
istence. Neighbors called and satisfied
Mrs. Sylvester's thirst for knowledge con-
corning the wedding. They assured her
John was not present. Ellejenette kept
the household running smoothly.
One moonlight evening John, smoking
on the porch, spoke through the open win
dow to Ellejenette inside.
"Have you seen how this moonfower
vine lights up in the EVENING" he said.
snow, Oddie, don't you call her out
there. She'll catch cold," fretted Mrs.
Sylvester, but Ellejenette had already
passed through the door. She turned to
60 in again. John caught her hand and
gently pushed her into a seat.
~ thought I'd tell you where l was the
other day." he said, throwing away his
cigar and producing a packet from his
pocket. II only went to sit for some pic
lures. You asked iii to, you know. My
boots didn't take. l didn't go to the we'd
ding. I shan't go to any wedding until
1 70 to my own, and I shan't go to that
one unless you'll 60, too. Will you, Ellie?'
His arm slipped about her waist. His
rough cheek pressed her soft one. Their
lips met.
"Oddiel Oddiel What are you doing
out therep" arose the shrill, tremulous
voice of his mother.
John turned and looked through the
window. She saw Ills happy face and the
dim outline of Ellejenette behind him.
For once in his life John answered his
mother without hesitation.
II an counting Ellie he said. Spring
field Republican.
Carried Too Far.
"Timmins, you don't seem to be max