Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-11-25

"Where is he now3" tie hoy inter-
rupted.
81 have never seen him since. You
know I have been abroad for years, but
he lived in your town."
She rose to leave the room.
II think he burst forth indignant.
ly, but she placed her hand over his lips.
"Not a word, dear. One night he
told me there was a tradition in the
family that be should marry a cousin
of his. They had loved each other in b
calm, friendly way and were engaged.
I do not regret that summer. Reg, Now,
goodby. When next you see me- She
waved him adieu as she left the room.
Shortly afterward a mar came in
u~nannounced and unexpected. He was
tall and we'll built, not strictly hand
some, but with a face n would not be
apt to forget. There was a look of de-
cision about the mouth and chin. In
the eyes a shadow lurked. He was Regi-
nald Ridpath's friend, and the boy felt
honored and gratified that this nan
some ten years his senior, had given
him his friendship.
"Where did you come from? Thought
you were in Canada" Reggie said,
$50 I was a few days ago, but on
my way home I made it convenient to
come by here. You must return to the
city, Reg, at the first breath of fall,
and we will give you nc end Of a good
time to pay you for this summers
pain"
"You must not pity me too much,
old man, the fact ISL And he then
told him of the girl, his mother guest,
of her kindness to him, of the approach
ing dance and the story she had just
conflded to him.
"Do you think l have broken faith,
old mani" Reggie sat up and looked
a~nxiously at his friend, who had stop
ped smoking and was listening to the
story with a queer look on his face.
II wouldn't for the world, you know,
and I couldn't have told any one but
you. My case is hopeless, but if you
should go out there and see her stand
ing so stately and beautiful, receiving
my mothers guests, perhaps you would
forget your old love, and-and'-
The man looked from the window,
Reggie, lying there propped with pill
lows. seemed very far away. He saw
instead a room, poorly lighted and bare,
with a sea Of eager faces that were fas-
tened on a slender, stately girl who
swayed them at her will, The scene
shifted in an instant to a garden where
lilies, like the one he gazed upon, riot
ed, and to a summer house where he
stood beside the girl and bade her good
by. He remembered how the roses bent
until they touched her hair. Some were
red with passion, some were white
with pain, and they were intertwined.
Reggie" a gay voice called, may
I come in? May Lady Macbeth Gomez"
She stood for a moment in the door.
way. The room was in shadow, but the
light from the hall fell Oh her tall,
1.-THE figure, the loneliness of her face,
the bravery of her attire.
"Don't you like me this way, Reg?'
She stood still, the color coming and
going in her face, for this man, Reg
gie's friend, was coming nearer and
nearer. He greeted her with a formal.
ity that seemed almost reluctance, sc
great was his effort at self control. He
took her hand and stood looking down
at her. The color poured into her ears
Reggie had lifted himself from his pill
low exoitedly, his voice quiverine
with emotion.
elizabeth, I can finish the story. A
year after your story ended this man,
who had been released from his engage.
ment, went back, but found no trace Of
you. You had gone abroad. He could
learn nothing else, and that is why the
somber light Turks always in his eyes. .
There came a sudden light into the
girls face; q smile just touched hel
sweet mouth. As his eyes passed from
her face to her gown she said softly,
lit is the first time l have ever worn 9
gown like this since the old days."
MAY we not return to them?"
His voice was almost a whisper.
"My children" Reggie called from
his pillows. II give you my blessing
and dismiss you"
He waved them from him with a gay
little laugh. As they left the room
something like a sob rose in his throat,
but he ohoked it back and lay there
alone in the d%arkening room, smiling
bravely Sarah Lindsey Coleman IL
Chicago News.