Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-31
A LOVE VENTURE.

A LOVE VENTURE.
"Ah, me! I am certainly no beauty.
1t vas the gliding which made Vermount
swallow such a nauseous pill" In a Vene-
tian mirror was reflected an oval face,
pale and sad looking, with dark, liquid
eyes, a nose of a nondescript order, and a
mouth rather large than otherwise.
Clarisse, Lady Vermount, turned from the
study of her features to take from a table
loaded with photographs the portrait Of 4
handsome man.
II am unhappy; for being which I I'M
an idiot, - she said, addressing the smil-
ing face which looked at her out of its
frame Of pierced silver, land it is all your
doing. When you asked me to marry you,
I did not care a snap Of my fingers for
you, and I know you did not for me. 1t
was Il convenient arrangement. You
wanted my money; I your title. How
you %shuddered on our wedding day over
the too evident rapture of my parents at
having a titled son-in -lawl I Jaw 1t as
we stood In the vestry of the church. You
put your hand on mine when we were
alone in the carriage, but did you for one
moment imagine that 1 thought love in
spired the actionp Not a bit of 1t. I re-
membered the shudder too we'll.
"And then--well, and then I told you
you had got what you wanted-the wealth
my ambition-I was my lady For the
~ooA H. ALo or,o - Az .-a~y5 --a u.o~~
husband and wife, and--that was to be all.
If you wished anything different, you
didn't show it, and I imagined myself
content. We have been good friends. We
have not had much opportunity Of being
otherwise, 1t is true. People don't quar-
rel over a we'll cooked dinner, and that Is
about the only time in the "a hours we
are together. Obi Why don't I feel as
coldly indifferent to you now as / did
when I married you three months agoP"
She threw the photograph impatiently
from her, 1t was nearly time to dress for
dinner, and she went slowly up the stairs.
On the landing Lord Vermount's man
stood aside to let her pass.
she asked.
Eyes, my lady. The servants foot
steps patted d%ecorously down the thickly
carpeted staircase.
She paused by the door of her husbands
bedroom, then passed on and entered her
own. A moment and she was back again
and stood within his chamber. His clothes
lay ready for him, and on the dressing ia
BILE O black silk mask, while propped
against the looking glass were two cards
of admission to masked balls, one for
this very night, the other for n three
days hence. She took them up, twisting
them nervously round in her fingers.
Strange thoughts ooursed through her
brain. She put the cards down and ran
out, coming back a minute later with a
She ran the needle In and out along the
tail of his coat.
There was q sound Of quick footsteps
on the stairs. With a whisk she was out
Of the room and in her own She shut the
door, then stole softly to the one which
divided her chamber from her husbands.
1t was locked, as it always was, and the
key was stiff In its socket. She pressed
her lips against the woodwork. ut is q
venture for love-" she whispered, and her
eyes shone like stars.
"What pretty bird is it that wears q
blue tailp"
The words, spoken in soft, cooling ac-
cents, struck on Lard Vermount's ear as
he stood against a pillar of the ballroom.
He turned sharply. A white clad figure
stood by him holding up his ~coattail by a
thread Of blue silk, while behind a white
domino dark eyes danced merrily.
"That would be telling" he answered,
''but l think I'll shed my gay plumage,'
twisting to get hold Of the thread.
"And l think I'll keep it, Sir Bird,
drawing it out and winding it in and out
of the links Of gold chain that held her
long cloak together. "We will reverse the
old order. The lady shall wear her knights
colors. Doth 1t please you, Sir Birdp"
She dropped him a courtesy as she spoke,
and q faint, delicate scent of white violets
came to him, along with the silvery chin
ing Of bells.
"In truth, fair maiden, 1t does" he an.
ter II you would dance with me-
The eyes behind the white domino had
lost their merry look, but that which had
replaced 1t made the blood beat quickly
in his veins. as, without a word, she
yielded herself into his arms. He felt her
slight form tremble In his clasp % they
glided round the room.
"Ars you tiredp'' he whispered.
mo, no, my knight"
He bent again and whispered some ten
der words in her ear. The scent Of her
violets, the Ginning Of her bells, had in
toxicated him. They neared the an
trance.
II am tired now" she whispered, and
before he realized her intention she had
slipped from him and fed. Something
white lay at his feet. He stopped to pick
1t up. 1t was a slip Of paper, violet scent.
ed. "Three nights hence I shall be here
again." was written on 1t. He put 1t
away in his pocketbook and left the build.
ing.
1T will depend ON Lady vermount
whether I come again or not" he said to
himself. eve tried to keep straight,
but I'll be hanged II I can go on with this
arrangement at home much longer. ]
was a fool to begin with 1t, but I felt I
owed 80 much to her that I did not like to
oppose her wishes Who would have
Imagined such a strength Of cold purpose
lay behind those eyes Of hersf" He bit Of
the end Of his cigar viciously, hailed q
hanson and was driven homeward. Hs
tried to think Of his wife, but the Jingle
Of the horses bells recalled too vividly the
girl in the white cloak. She had cast .
spell over him which Lady Vermount's
coldness-more pointed than ever during
tho next day or two-was not calculated
TO loosen.
Lord verMount found himself on the
night Of the second masked ball dressing
eagerly. He even ran up to his room d
tho last moment with . thread Of blns