Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-30
AN ODD WAGER.

AN ODD WAGER.
Two men were sitting on a sea front
smoking cigars and interchanging those
~commonplaces and condolences which we
delight to bestow on strangers. They often
appear so much and always mean so little.
The a~cquaintances were lazily studying
the anner and dress of the visitors and
persons who passed by and perhaps also
quietly and %curiously taking stock Of each
other. One had been already some weeks
in the town, and one had only arrived re-
Gently. They were comparing notes and
impressions Of the place and people and
were surprised to find that they had little
or nothing to quarrel about. Indeed they
discovered they possessed many points Of
agreement, with just enough ~antagonism
to enjoy a talk together. And at this mo-
ment they were discussing the agreeable
subject Of pretty women.
"Her face is only a blur of red!' cried
Sir Marcus Durham as he adjusted his
eyeglass and gazed pensively after a dainty
disappearing figure.
Its all that COMPOUNDED veil, " replied
his casual friend, Thomas G.. Sharples, of
American extraction, a short oldish man,
who had made a fortune by hard work
and desperate speculation, and in appear
ance resembling the half burned stump Of
a cigar, with a head Of hair like the gray
ashes at the top.
Wells" sighed the baronet, who was
young and handsome and an eligible bach
elor, ''are the refuge of the destitute and
ugly, whose characters have survived their
compilations and must be guarded with
almost as much jealousy and care"
But the sun, you know, plays the mis-
chief with a pretty skin of pink and white,
and parasois are more for ornament thar
use"
Presently Miss O'Gilvie returned, and
this time for some reason her thick veil
was lifted off her face, displaying dark
hair and eyes of hazel and radiant rosy
cheeks, and the inimitable air of good
breeding. Her wandering gaze acciden-
tally met that of the baronet, with its usual
languid melancholy expression, and she
inadvertently, half unconsciously and
wholly Internationally smiled and then
lowered her veil again to hide her pretty
confusion.
II bet you a thousand, Mr.. Sharples,"
muttered Sir Marcus under his mustache,
THAT I WOO and win and marry that girl
before Sunday next. That is my future
wife,"
"DoneP' exclaimed the American eager
". San even thousand you don't-that's
co."
1t was Sunday evening, and the two &C.
quaintances were staying at beautiful
Eastbourne and living at the Grand hote1,-
where also was Miss O'Gilvie with her
maid Burdekin. Nor did Sir Marcus find
it hard, considering how often they were
together, to make himself socially
known and conversationally acceptable to
her. A slight assistance, which . happy
accident enabled him to render her, brought
him at once into the inner circle of her
friends. And by a judicious expenditure
of gold he ascertained from the venal
Burdekin something about Miss O'Gilvie's
tastes and habits and much useful infor-
nation. She liked riding, she liked boat
ing, she liked golf, she liked billiards and
read a good many novels. And to be fore
warned was to be forearmed. Her pet nov
elist had just published a new book called
~The Loves of Lucifer" in diary form and
full of the raciest reading. Naturally the
baronet procured this at the earliest oppor-
tunity and was casually and ostentatiously
absorbed in it when Miss O'Gilvie hap
pened to pass.
Wonderful writer" he innocently OBJ
served as she approached him, land this
is q most successful work"
II am glad your tastes agree with mine,
Sir Marcus, " she replied, falling readily
into the baited trap.
You have anticipated me, them"
"No; indeed l have not seen it yet"
Permit me, then, to lend it to you. ]
know it all by heart" which was a bold
statement, as he had not read a single
page and had no idea of doing so, having
q lively horror Of novels generally.
IA thousand thanks. 1 was just look
ing for a really good book, and now you
have supplied my need" And her whole
face softened as she graciously inclined
him her small, proud head with
Its dusky crown of abundant hair.
inlay l." asked the baronet, cleverly
Selling the psychological moment, ''have
the honor of riding with you tomorrow"
~ was MUMMY ONChiuG AOWs
II shall be only too happy, Sir Marcus"
she answered sweetly. "a groom is a dull
companion"
LET me provide the mount, Miss O'Gil-
vie, as I know all about every decent horse
for hire in Eastboarne, and / will get you
the best possible"
II shall be grateful" she replied. II
like a live animal and not one that has
Just stepped out Of a Noah's ark"
"Ah, l know exactly what will suit you
fire and form both, and yet as steady as
a church; no vice whatever and nice, easy
Lady Causton rode her a fortnight
ago." which was true enough, but Sir
Marcus did not add that the fair rider
never tried Black Bess q second time.
So 1t was arranged pleasantly between
them, and at II o'clock they started from
the Grand in the direction Of Pevensey. II
was a perfect morning In September, and
q cool, fresh breeze was blowing.
"She is a darling" said Miss O'Gilvie
as they trotted merrily along through the
eastern end of the town, land goes like q
little angel"
In fact, Black Bess was suspiciously
quiet and good and appeared quite to have
forgotten he- bad character and antecs.