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

When Doris married, I arranged to al
low her a couple Of hundred a year on con.
dition that she kept 1t a secret. I am
blessed with a number Of other nieces to
whom I have no desire to allow anything.
They're all nice girls in their way, and
I've no particular fault to find with them,
but they aren't Doris. She was always
my favorite, from the time she began to
talk. Nodoubt it was artful of her mother
to teach her to say, "Nice UNCLE" before
she could toddle, but she did, and that
settled the question of favoritism.
Doris is a romantic young person, with
a weakness for writing poetry and all that
sort of thing, and she had some scruples
about keeping q secret from her husband,
but l insisted.
"Of course, If Harry should ever be hard
up, you'll have to tell him and go shares, "
I said. "But If he has a fault
"He hasn't" she assured me.
swell, If he had, 1t would be a tendency
to extravaganza. 1t is much better that
he should underrate the resources of the
establishment" So at last she consented.
I always had u good bit of influence
over her.
When they had been married about IL
months, sho called at my office one after
noon. She kissed me three times and
termed me ''dear old uncle" twice, so !
knew that sho had come to propose some
thing Ircposterous.
swell, madam" inquired, crossing
my legs and folding my hands judicially,
may 7 ask the real pu,port Of this dem
onstration?"
She traced the pattern Of the carpet
t~houghtfully with her parasol. sit is get
ting rather worn" she said, land the pat
tern is too small. l should have a warmer
color next time, If 1 we're you, and, oh, ]
Jane to propose something"
eyes, my DEAR" I said calmly. 'Icould
have told you that"
"You are SO clever" she said enthusi-
astically, "that I don't believe any one
could deceive you"
II begin to suspect a very wild pro
posal," l informed her.
"You are horrid," she retorted, "but''-
"Wellp"
II really did want to pay you one com
pliment if you hadn't stopped me-" She
traced the pattern again.
"By all means"
II was going to say that you were quito
right about that allowance Of mine. 1t is
very kind of you, uncle, really. I don't
mean that for f1attery." She touched my
arm with her tiny gloved hand, and I pat
ted 1t. "You were right, I was going to
own, about keeping it secret"
~ trust Harry hasn't been plunging?"
{ asked with alarm. "He Is an unusually
nice fellow and has seemed quite steady
since the marriage"
''Oh, dear, nor' she cried. "How could
you imagine such a thingp"
''Then how is my wisdom proved?"
II an, going to explain. You-you
won't be cross-or satirical-will you, dear
uncleP" She leaned eagerly toward me-,
with her head a little on one side. She ID
nice to look at.
II hope not"
"Promise."
"very we'll. ! promise not to DO cross
or satirical, but of course I may object"
"It's this, uncle. You know how fond
Harry is Of painting, and how be gets up
early and does such lovely pictures before
he goes to the city,"
"Yees. Go on, my dear" They're
rather Of the dabby order to my mind.
II call them beautiful, but they won't
have them at the academy. I'm sure it's
only jealousy, and he can t sell them often,
you know"
"Umphw / thought she wanted me to
purchase them.
"Iwant you to get an agent to buy some
M -Ll-1 n---..