Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-10
A Good Way uith Women



dreaming. The dreams-I may as well
confess it-were about Bob Chalmers
and myself. He had paid me marked
attention during the fortnight that he
had been staying in the neighborhood.
Some one reused me by slogging a
ball into the tent. When | had thrown,
it out and settled down again | noticed
that a couple of men were talking on
the bench just outside, One voice was
dear old Col. Wardell's. The other be-
longed to a stranger-the gentleman
who was staying with him. supposed.
Just fancy Bob Chalmers coming
down here!" said the stranger. 81
shouldn't have thought there was any
thing at PARKWAY to attract him" l
smiled contentedly. He had seemed to
find-something.
"Oh!" said the colonel, "T don't
know. If he likes a country life, you
see?"
II shouldn't think it was the least in
his line. He's a regular society man,
knows all the best people,"
Does he? l should hardly have
thought-er-"
"Well, you see his wife" His wife!
The tent seemed to whirl round me. l
lost the conclusion of the sentence;
also the reply. When l recovered the
visitor was speaking again.
"a niece of Lord H%evington," he
said. lawfully pretty woman The
from a regular crowd of fellows, some
how or other. Quite Above match"
"He always had a good way with
women" remarked the colonel, with a
laugh.
He had a "way" with one woman I
knew.
"a jolly good fellow" declared the
stranger, emphatically. 81 can under
stand anyone liking him"
I heard them walk away and join
in the Babel of merry voices. Some
one came into the tent and asked me
to make one in the next game, but I
pleaded a headache. The excuse was
true, l think; but l wasn't sure about
the headache or anything. elbow
could he have been so cruel!" l kept
thinking to myself. He had seemed
so frank and open. 1t was part, I sup
posed, of his way" with women.
/ decided to go home and avoid meet
ing him until l had recovered a little,
but before l could carry out my reso-
luton l heard his quick step upon the
gravel path. l set my Lips and made
another resolution. He should not
have the satisfaction of thinking that
l cared.
"Why!' he cried, with his merry
laugh, "there isn't anything wrong
with the ground after all. | thought
it looked awfully uninteresting till l
saw this side of the tent"
/ smiled and made room for him.
81 wonder" l inquired, whether you
really think that I believe all your
pretty speeches? Come now, do tell
me-"
DON'T I say them as If I mean
them? He tossed his cap into a cor
ner and stretched himself lazily.
ooh, dear me, yes! You have an
admirable way with poor, helpless
woman. | heard some n say so the
other day, do you know"
He pulled his mustache obviously.
II should be satisfied if one woman
thought So" He looked down upon
me with a smile. He is big, even when
he is sitting.
"Only one?"
"Only one"
"Of course. you say that to all OF
them. 1t is part Of the way" He
folded his hands across his knee and
considered the matter.
"Would you like me to record a sol
emn affirmation upon the subject?" he
inquired.
More Of the 'way!' Really, Mr..
Chalmers, you are excellent" He re-
garded me carefully and grew rather
grave.
"I am afraid" he remarked, at
length, II have done something to dis
please YOU" l looked at him Innocent
ly. It hurt me to meet his eyes, but
I did not, finch.
'sThe weak spot OF man." I pro-
nounced, "is his vanity. He considers
all his doings Of interest-pleasing or
displeasinp-tO Others"
ITO his particular friends" he cor
rected.
"Am I honored by inclusion in that
category" Yesterday the question
would have appeared needless. To-day
1t seemed absurd.
"It is a matter which requires two
persons to settle. So far as I Am ON
cerned-" He paused and glanced
swiftly at me. Possibly you would
say it was only part of the way it /
finished the sentence?"
l studied the tennis carefully.
He rose hastily to find a wandering
ball. I was glad to- see him throw it
so ~savagely. 1t was a little consola-
llOu W hui Y AlS VANITY
"You are-impossible-this even
ing" he remarked, with his usual good
humor, when he had returned.
81 am sorry, because-do you know
I was thinking that I am myself for
once?"
"You are not aJbit like yourself" he
c~ontradicted.
"Reallyl Am I such a simple self
that you have learned all about me
in a few days acquaintance" I asked,
scornfully.
II didn't mean that, Of course" he
said, slowly. mo doubt there are more
charms 10 discover, impossible as it
seems" I bowed mockingly. "But one
infers from the known to the un-
known"
Surprising there 10 a known To In
fer from" l suggested. He looked at