Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-28
AN OCTOBER HOUR.

~. NN''sN VISA sNAN'
gray after the heavy rain.
The woman'S face was full of happy eX-
pectation. 1t was no longer very young or
ness. Under her hat the glossy waves of
her hair were scarcely touched with a gray
thread. Her eyeswere earnest and trustful
in expression. and they seemed full of light
as she looked down at the sodden stretch
of turf in the park, now upward toward
the towers of the house.
Mrs. Chesney was conscious that in
taste and education she belonged to a diff
ferent epoch from that of the lively guests
round her. They were absolutely modern,
and she had very little in common with
them. She could not play bridge, and she
knew nothing of racing or of the latest de-
vclopments in the serious or trifling love
affairs that seemed of such vivid interest
to these others, SO small to her. Since her
husbands death she had lived quietly and
almost alone in a country house, garden
ing, studying, working for the poor. When
at last she had made up her mind to accept
the invitation of a cousin of her husbands,
the effort had been painful and depressing.
She had grown shier and more silent in
those years of quietude. Even in her new
fashioned clothes she somehow looked of a
different world from that of Miss Vincent
and Lady Norledge, who were the beauties
of the party.
"My dear, she is essentially early Vic
torian!" was the verdict of the lively Lady
Norledge as she discussed Mrs. Chesney
with a friend. But now, on this October
afternoon, standing alone in the feeting
sunshine and among the falling leaves,
Mrs. Chesney felt young, triumphant and
absolutely Indifferent to the opinions of
every living soul excepting those of the
whose advent she was awaiting.
She had felt as if she were in a dream
when her host a few days ago had an
nounced the approaching arrival of a new
and distinguished guest. The name of
General Trebovir was in everybody's
mouth. His skill and his successes were
the topics of conversation at dinner tables
important and obscure. He had been re-
cetved on his return to England after a
prolonged absence with honors and ap-
plause, and he was now taking a we'll
earned rest In the society of some of his
best friends.
Some ten years g Hilary had parted
from this man with al anguish that was
nc less %unbearable because she had known
that his love for her was as strong as her
own and perhaps even the motive for
much that was noblest and best in his
life. During those years, which had SEEM
ed al eternity, these two had held no COM
munication with one another.
This had been her wish alone, for he had
strongly maintained that, %unhappily mar
ried as she was, a friendship so pure and
devoted as his for her must at least make
it easier for her to exist under what was
too heavy a load for a solitary woman.
But she had remained firm, and he had
gone away in bitterness of spirit. Now
today she felt sure he was coming here for
her and her alone, and she was ~joyfully
waiting.
Then, though she could not help MOTTO
ing how gorgeous the chrysanthemums
seemed as tho sunlight fell in a long streak
across their faces, she knew that he was
coming down the steps at the corner and
straight toward her. Her knees were
shaking and there wa a curious singing
in her ears through which she heard his
pleasant voice speaking. Half mechanical
ly she put out both her hands, and her face
was as white as a great snowy chrysanthe-
mum that she had just plucked.
my dear Mrs. Chesney, this is indeed
a pleasure! I had not the remotest idea
when Franklin told me that 1 should find
q charming party that his words were to
be so truly fulfilled"
Hilary had let one hand drop and looked
at him, still half smiling. His words and
his had hurt her, but she was en-
phatically brave, and her tremulous ex-
preston had suddenly given way to one
that was calm and friendly.
81, too, was delighted, " she said, "when
they told me you were coming" Then,
with a sudden impulse, she added, "But
my stay here is very short, for I am afraid
l must go tomorrow or the next day"
ooh, what a pityl Can't you put off
duty engagements-for / am sure that is
what they are-and stay on just a little
longer?"
He spoke kindly and as If he wished her
to remain, but without a trace Of emotion.
The general took out his watch.
sit was very good Of you to want me to
come and see you out here, butI must, I
fear, go in and write something rather i'm
portant for the post. 1 wish | could have
staid on longer now and chatted about old
times"
eyes, I wish you could"
A streak of light fell on his face. Yes,
he was not much altered, and his gray
hair became him.
"Well, we will go on with our talk
later y said he.
He raised his hat and turned away to
mount the steps.
On the topmost terrace another figure
now caught her eye. 1t was that of a
young woman, very graceful and alert and
dressed In al exquisite gown Of crimson
and fur. This person paused and held a
hand up to her eyes. Then Hilary saw her
start off, walking very quickly down the
gravel path that led toward the first flight
of steps. The sight Of her Jared upon
Mrs. Chesney. She represented the incar-
nation of all the qualities that Hilary most
despised. She was empty headed, shallow,
vain and looked upon the world with no
sense of the proportion of things. And
yet 1t was impossible to deny that she wa
superlatively graceful and that her dark
eyes were as beautiful as they were un-
doubtedly reckless in expression. Mrs.
Chesney watched her as she went along,
and at the corner by the clipped yew tree
Lady Norledge sto3ped. The figure Of a
tall man had climbed the topmost step.
In the clear, still air Hilary heard their
voices. His sounded just as it used to do
years ago. He had taken Lady Norledge's
two hands and was holding them in his
Chicago Times Herald.