Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-20

degradation"
Nor do I object to manliness in a
man"
III you meal that p
You'd better attend to your leader, OF
it will be worse rubbish than usual"
concluded my peroration In furious
silence. l rather pride myself upon my
leaders. Then I made a few remarks.
So did she-not very few. She made up
by never speaking to me except on bust
ness for the next week. I was sorry, be-
cause-well, there were good points
about her.
The following Monday we were STOP
ping late, as usual, and for once the poet
was keeping us company. He wasn't GO
ing home till he had found something to
rhyme with "my hearts DESIRE" he said.
Violet's suggestion Of my tart's Maria
caused him to decline further converse.
ton with her. He's very touchy over his
rhymes. So W. were terribly dull until
the boy We had kept in the lobby came in.
'If you please. sir, there's an old lady
called. She's sorry it's so late, she says
but she's SO perticler anxious to see
Mother Hubbard"
"Will you see her, Miss Raikes" ]
asked. We had become very formal In
our conversation.
what nonsense, Mr.. Marchant!"
"Well," said l. you'd better tell her
that Mother Hubbard has gone home
You can go, too, Thompson. I'll lock
w." l don't approve Of keeping the
boys late.
Shes a very nice old lady, sir" he
observed. chinking ome coins in his
pocket, IAN she seems rather upset."
"Can't you say you're Mother Hub
bard's' assistants" / suggested to Violet
How can l talk to her before you, not
to mention Tennyson?" This was her
name for the poet.
"Well 60 in the ofice."
"And giggle all the time! Show hel
in, Thompson"
We went into the unlit Office. leaving
the door open SO that we could see with.
out being seen.
miss Violet will make fun of her, !
suppose" I grumbled.
II don't like that sort of GIRL" he said
emphatically.
A slight, agitated old lady in a deep
black dress came slowly in. She nearly
fell over a waste paper basket, and Vio-
let jumped up and helped her to a chair.
Then she sat down ~pposite her.
Mother Hubbard has gone home"
she said. II. am her assistant. Can I
tell her anything for your
II am a 'Bereaved Parent You may
remember
"Oh" cried Violet quickly. 'I-she was
so sorry for you-so very, very sorry"
l remember an answer about time sof-
tening the blow, etc. I had asked Violet
if she kept it in type, and she had laugh
ed as usual.
"Of course" said the old lady, nothing
can really comfort me, but
give me your address," So she took
down the address. "There," she said.
my mother will see you, l feel certain.
She is so kind and patient. Oh, so pa.
tient! Goodby, and-and you will be
brave, won't you, dear" She bent sud.
denly over the old woman and kissed her.
When she came back from showing the
visitor out, we were both at our desks.
working in energetic silence, and no
sound was heard until she caught ques-
tioning look in my eyes.
Don't be a fool,' she said sharply.
Then there was further silence till she
looked round for her ruler and found the
poet regarding her intently.
"What are you glazing at me fort" she
demanded.
8" was thinking" he said solemnly,
"that there are some things in real life
that n cannot put into poetry. I wish,
Miss Raikes, one could"
: The man isn't without his points. I
think l shall let him do a few paragraphs
next time he wants to. | said nothing. I
was busy writing something on a piece Of
paper. 1t took the form Of an inquiry
from a person who styled himself Gar
dent Admirer." He had come in contact
In business with a charming and lively
girl, the pluckiest and cleverest little
woman that ever was. They had become
great friends, but he had been annoyed
by her apparent frivolity, so they had
quarreled. Now he had discovered that
her ~frivolity was merely upon the sur-
face; that she was the support of her in
valid mother and the kindest Of friends
to any one who was in trouble. How
could Mother Hubbard" advise him to
regain her friendship, and did she think
it possible that he might ever gain her
love? When I had finished. I threw 1t
over to her.
perhaps you will get your mother to
answer that" said /.
She read 1t down hastily; then she
looked up at me In her old daring way.
Her eyes were very bright, and her pref
ty face was pink.
Il answer all the questions myself,
really" she said.
Then" l said, won't you, vi-won't
you" She looked at me in silence.
There was a tremble on her lips, and /
couldn't see her eyes.
The poet jumped up quickly and grab.
bed his hat.
1--WE just remembered an appoint
ment," he said, rushing into his o~vercoat
without even pausing to dishevel his hair.
Good night, you two"
The mar isn't without sense-for a
poet. shall certainly let him try his
band at q few paragraphs.
He was scarcely out Of the door before
l vas beside her chair.
wi" l cried excitedly. you don't
meal to say that you care for mel"
"Of course I don't" she said, with q
queer little laugh. Then she gave me-
just n glance, and I took her In my
arms.-Chicago Herald.
"