Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-15

of a very good little woman" She jump
ed up and fairly Rugged me until l had t.
protest that u of my clerks might conn
In.
Doris plans were duly carried out-the.
generally are. We bought II of the mas
terpieces for 9215. The agent evidentl,
thought that we were a pair OF lunatics
but he promised to send Harry a checl
for the amount, less the commission, a
once, and, as we found a%fterward, kept hi!
word. Doris was in high glee, and actual
ly offered to stand me lunch out of he
small balance. Strange to say, Harry mad
no mention of the sale to her, though b,
seemed very jubilant. So we felt SURE
that he was preparing some grand sur
prise. When a week had passed, however
I began to feel uneasy. Then he called a
the office.
II want to consult you about some
thing, UNCLE" he said. sit is a secre
from Doris, you must understand"
yes" said l, rubbing my hands ant
laughing up my sleeve. Eyes, my boy"
''I've sold some of my old daubs," hi
continued, with a hearty laugh, "for 1
couple of hundred. It's quite a windfall
~ Nhuu v w bOIlCullllS ALL DOlIS "lUl
the money"
EXACTLY" l agreed.
"You know she wrote a book of poems
before we were married, called Ross
Leaves'-not half bad, either"
"Yes, Of course, I know, but l wouldn',
encourage her to do any more if l wer
you, Harry. She's better occupied with
her baby and house-and husband"
Certainly. But they were published
ut her own risk-or''- He looked at me
"Mine? Well, I'm afraid So" Ninety
five pounds odd l had to pay for excess o.
cost over receipts.
ut has always been a sore point with
her that they didn't go off better. So
thought perhaps we could arrange to buy
up the lot with my 9200. 1t would please
her awfully, poor little woman"
l nearly choked with laughter, but I
managed to control my countenance.
"a splendid idea and does you great
credit" l told him.
We arranged it SO successfully that in a
few days d check for e202 1Ss. I'D. went
to Doris from her publishers.
She came round just before dinner next
day to tell me, but, to my surprise, she
seemed very dismal. After a few minutes
gloomy conversation she sat down on the
rug at my feet as she used to do when sht
was a child and put her head on my knees
sobbing as if her heart would break.
"He has never said one word to mt
about the pictures" " she cried, "and-ant
Il looked in his checkbook-and-he'
spent it all. l know it is on-scme one
else."
I was for a moment completely at a loss
what to do or say. Then I resolved t.
pooh pooh the matter.
81 have more faith in Harry than his
foolish little wife has," 1 said cheerily.
Come, come, my dear, you mustn't give
way like this"
II wouldn't have cared for myself if he
had just bought something for the dear
little baby" she continued huskily.
GIVE him a little more time" l sug
gested. "Meanwhile I'll SEQ what l can
find out. shall see him at tho club this
evening, if you let him OUT
HE can go just where he pleases and
when he pleases,' she said scornfully. IL
don't want him."
"Don't be little donkey" l said sharp
~. l. cClucli opShN Oloooiy w IL >
10, she generally cries and makes me feel
Il brute. On this occasion, however, it
acted as a tonic.
"Men are all wicked, deceitful wretches, "
she pronounced emphatically. II suppose
you and he will make up some fine story
to put me off. But l won't believe a word
VI it, so there!' And she bounced out.
I went round to the club after dinner
and found Harry watching the billiard
tournament, as l expected. H. was very
dull, and after a bit drew me into an al.
cove.
"Look here, uncle" he whispered,
'Doris hasn't said a word about the check
for the poems. l thought perhaps she
hadn't opened the letter-you know she's
careless about such things-so I went up
to her room when she was out this after
noon to see if 1t was lying Oh her table. 1t
wasn't-but the envelope was. So was
her cheokbook. l didn't know she had an
account even. l suppose it was shabby,
but 1 looked at it and found that she had
o lot of money 1 knew nothing of and had
Just paid a check for over a couple Of hun
dred."
"Good heavens, mani" l cried. "You
surely wouldn't suspect her of anything
wrong?"
"Wrong-certain]y not; foolish-noth.
ing more likely. Anyhow, she hasn't beer
straight with Inc. l don't know if she
thought l might want her money" He
kicked q chair savagely.
"You fellows are missing the best game
of the season." said the interfering ass,
Dobson, appearing at the corner of the al.
cove. "Harris has just made 49," So we
went to look at the play. At least I did.
When I turned round to speak to Harry,
he had bolted.
I saw the game through while ! consid-
cred the matter. Then l left and took a
cab to their house, resolved to have done
with secrets. The truth might hurt their
vanity, but they'd have to put up with
that. When l entered the drawing room,
they were both there, and I plunged at
once into the matter. +.
"Look here, young people," I said, "you
both have O secret" But Harry put his
arm around her, and they locked at one
another and laughed.
GIVE found out" said he.
$780," she said, shave I. I think you'rs
a pair of wicked, deceitful creatures, AVID
I should be very cross if-if-I didn't iikS
you both go much. ~. A. Flynn In Chi
cago Times.
Notice for Publication.
Homestead Entry No. 52S1.]