Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-15
HIS ROMANCE.

The rupture between Fanny Lock and
Monteith was a nine days wonder in Bo-
hemia. Monteith on his side said nothing,
and Fanny went hurriedly to Now York,
but where in New York nobody knew.
Nor was it for two years that the truth
Mrs. John Ridpath.
Monteith told it to Brooke one evening
when both of them were in a retrospective
mood. Brooke had been signing like a
furnace because he'd come across a little
box of matches with April 10 scrawled
across it in blue pencil, and Monteith had
looked into Brooke's eyes. There was no
twinkle in them now, and Monteith's face
reflected the seriousness that shone from
his friends eyes.
Memories, Benz" he asked.
Eyes" answered Brooke slowly-''the
worst sort, Monty-the sadly sweet; they
hurt the most"
For a little space neither spoke. Then
Monteith said, "And tho story of that
matchbox, Benz"
Brooke's lips parted and his breath came
quickly. "Why," he began, then he
brought his teeth together hard, purscd
his lips and drew a long, deep breath.
"I'd rather not, Monty, " no said.
Monteith nodded his head and looked
down at the floor. "Brooke," he began,
''it's two years tonight since Fanny left
town, and I came around hero expressly
to tell you why. 1t was all a horrible mis-
take-we were the victims of a prankish
trick of fate. And yet" he aided, sit vas
all for the best, l presume. Fanny is hap
py, has a dainty home and a husband who
idolizes her, as he should, too, by Jovep'
Brooke was silent. His mind went back
to those Bohemian days when Fanny Lock
and Monteith were part of a happy, care
less crowd; when Monteith's every thought
was for the girl, when it was a matter Of
laughing comment to the crowd that Fan
ny couldn't make a drawing of a man, no
matter of what nationality, or be he hero
or villain, but what Monty's features were
reproduced. And yet she'd gone away in
the night, and no one knew whyc The
thought of it made Brooke clutch his
matchbox still tighter, and he looked over
at Monteith curiously.
Fanny" went OH Monteith, twas, as
all artists are, romantic to a degree. She
loved flowers, violets especially. Maybe
she loved violets most because the first
thing l ever gave her was a bunch of them.
That might be the reason and it mightn't.
But l know she loved them. One day l
said to her: Fanny, I'm jealous Of violets
because you love them so much. If you
didn't care for them, the affection those
flowers get would all come my way, and
then you'd care for me about three times
more than you do
THAT couldn't be-, she said seriously.
I couldn't care for you, Lew, more than
! do now. But, she added after a Sec
ond's thought, I'll tell you what I'll do.
I'll begin to hate them. / know how too.
Let's make this compact: When you get
tired of me or l get tired of you, which
God grant may never happen, Lew, don't
either of us tell it to the other. Instead
send or give a bunch Of violets. That
means all is over. From this time on,
dear, don't send or give me one tiny violet.
I hate them nov with all my heart, be-
cause they mean the %shriveling Of my
heart if l get them from you
"Well, that wa our compact, Ben, and
it ended my giving her violets." Monteith
stopped suddenly.
II see it all now" said Brooke slowly.
"Yes, l thought you would, Ben. Just
think Of it, old man." he went on pas
sionately. "Just think Of it, what chill.
dren of fate we were. And all through
the mistaken kindness of Fales and Drum
mond."
"You haven't told them?"
mo, not yet. You can, though. For
two years I've not opened my mouth about
it to a living soul. And it all happened
SO naturally, too-seemed as If it was Or
dained to happen. The old flower woman
was crossing the street, Drummond rang
his bell, but Fales' wheel hit the old lady
and flower woman, Drummond and Jack
Fales were tumbled in one big heap.
Luckily the old soul was more scared than
hurt, but Fales in the goodness of his
heart insisted on buying out her entire
stock-92 punches of violets.
Fanny Lock lives right around the
corner, said Drummond as al inspiration
struck him. Let's send the flowers to her
with Monty's compliments
"The old lady made one big bunch Of
violets from the 20 small ones, and then
Drumlmond. said, go right around the
corner here, No. 1854, and tell the lady who
opens the door that they re for Miss Lock
with Mr.. Monteith's compliments.
"The old lady took them around and
the next morning Fanny packed bag and
baggage and went to New York. Where
in New York she went none Of us know,
and not q word to any Of us. not a tiny
line to me.
Monteith cover his face with his hands
and sat n long. 1onp time Cavoral timas