Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-02-04
MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Dolce far nionte-a sweet doing moth
ing. | shall pin that TO the catalogue of
momory pictures painted here"
She looked up at him and laughed. She
always laughed. Their eyes met, then
parted, and a vague sense OF anticipated
loss cane to him with the realization of
her nti;r departure.
The mystic beauty Of the twinkle hush
ed them into unwonted silence, and the
tinkle Of the sheep and COW bells rhymed
into reminiscent memories, thoughts of
other days, when they had watched the
sun fade away in the west. The fields,
whose greenness was accumulated by lines
of red Virginia soil, guarded by deeper
green fir trees silhouetted, tall and soc-
tinellike, in the far background, seeIA@d
to be softly waiting for the coming nigi.a
"You will forget all this. AS for me, l
will only be one more in your collection"
he smiled, evidently a willing victim,
"Collection-of sticks?'' she interrogat-
ed l%aughingly.
"You are unkind," he protested.
"You think then my remembrance of a
very charming winter, like pricked bub-
bles, will vanish into space?"
Her face flushed, and a shadow deepened
her brown eyes. He was looking ~intently
at a number of holes punched in the sand
with her parasol. She caught her breath
as she crushed the laces of her gown
against her side-a characteristic gesture
then she went on: We've seen each
other every day, if only for a few moments.
during nearly two months, meeting with
perfect frankness and, l thought, friend
ship. If it has all been insincere, l shall
forget" "Insincere?" He leaned nearer,
saying softly: 'You have made mt care
too much, but in the north there will be
other interests in your life, orowdirg me
out, until l shall fade into the dim corri-
doris of the past"
She noted the square, strong chin and
mouth and the little wrinkles that caught
around the smiling eyes. He could thus
lightly toss aside the recollection of drives,
of wheeling down shaded country roads,
which were, he had said, "like a benedic-
ton" and the evenings when he sang with
delicate ~insinuation and emphasis about
''you, dear and Glove" All these
thoughts pricked her mind. If she could
only forget him!
She rose.
Greatly, you seem most insistent to be-
come merely a polka dot in my memory.
Don't you think, even then, l could al
ways spot your"
Her companion groaned.
"Jest If you must, but stay, ah, stay,
fair lady, on this perfect day! / promise
to do anything, say anything, ii you will
not CO."
"You waxed quite po%etical," sweetly.
ttHfI,.uo l., +Lo ,;I-or ,,-,., c,, %Lo s,,,,J
verse"
Thanks for the suggestion" rather
stifly.
"Come. My hostess will think I am
lost"
"When a woman will, she will"
He reluctantly followed. They walked
home through the spicy, fragrant pines,
whose melancholy ~soughing filled them
both with an underlined sadness.
"This must be goodby. l leave OH the
early train tomorrow and never see people
at the station. 1t makes me blue"
She stood on the steps with one hand
extended. The stars flashed brightly, ard
the faint moon cast a soft light over her.
Looking up at the little rebellious curls
blown about under tho wide, black hat, he
felt an irresistible desire to touch them,
but only raised her hand to his lips.
"Aufwiedersehn. You have given me
many happy days, and I shall always think
Of you in this lavender gown, the violsis
ana these saucy, nodding feathers-just as
you stand. You will surely come back
to us?"
"Perhaps."
Being q woman, she could not Cry to
him, but must stifie the pain and defy tie
might have been as she saw this man Drift
ing out Of her life. Ones heart does not
break in these modern days.
Smiling bravely, she went YEARLY up
the steps, then paused. Taking a few Of
the ~violets, she kissed them and, turning,
called to him. He came back.
Somewhat confused, sho pinned them
on dis coat.
"They really belong to you," she ex-
planned.
The,moon was hidden, and he could not
see how pale she had grown. Going to her
room, she took down a photograph, softly
whispering, "To have loved and lost"
Both hands suddenly pressed against her
heart, and the tears blindly fell UNDECIDED
as she sobbed on.
1lC, WV WSHU w III IOOlA w EcHNSl'
He knew he would miss her. She had
been 30 jolly, always ready for a dance or
a ride, knowing his favorite music and
songs. Now that was all over. Rummag-
ing through his desk, he finally found a
little package of notes. Leaning back in
the deep chair, he carefully removed the
elastic around them and leisurely read
over the lines. Out from the sheets Of one
fluttered a withered violet. 1t fell unno-
ticed to the floor. In another he found a
tiny spray of jasmine. She had worn a
great bunch of it one night. This spray he
had begged for and had been denied until
the next morning, when his request was
granted with a few patient words. They
had been at the opera, and under the
magic Of the music he looked into her
eyes, startled by their deep intensity. He
could see them now. How really dear she
was! All, well, she would come again.
He replaced the notes, struck a match,
carefully held it to a cigar and unfolded
the evening paper.-St. Louis Star.