The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-05-23


"But Won't" Caroline frowued.
You've been such a dear Miss Van
Horn spoke vchemcntiy-it was Miss
Van Horns mother who gave the house
party-"and you look perfectly beauti-
ful lying back among those ~cushionsi
II won't be long until dinner. and he is
very clever, and you are clever.
and
Very wellH Miss Nicholson gave a
little sigh. who IS he?" she asked,
but Miss Van Horn was out OF hearing.
Miss Van Horn r%ecrossed the long
portico 60 the v~ine-shadowed corner.
where the hammock swung slowly,
presented AIr. Barrlnger to Miss Mich
olson. and departed.
Miss Nicholson regarded her long,
slim hands as If she saw them for the
first time; she turned them over and
looked attentively at the pink palms.
Mr.. Barringor's moody eyes were fixed
on he..
IT'S very hard to amuse clever
men" Miss Nicholson's voice was
plaintive. Last night there was a
young congressman at dinner. I knew
/ was to go out to dinner with him, so
] studied political questions all day
Cuba, the outlook in Porto Rico. the
improvement in the Philippines. / de-
termined to shine. and / had absolute
" no opportunity. / don't believe
rehectively. that he talked Of any
body or anything but myself. He said
my lips were like cherries after a rain.
/ think they are more like woodland
berries, don't your" The girls eyes
we're lifted. to quickly retreat behind
the long lashes. "And he said my eyes
we're mountain mists; and my hair a
silken, golden mesh. ! was sorry he
came down to platitudes when he
mentioned my hair. 1t was disappoint-
ing in the congressman. But perhaps
you are not interested In congress
menu"
mo" the man spoke deliberately, Il
am not"
I'm ~baseball?" hopefully.
mo"
'In gOlf?" pleadingly.
mo"
you dancer"
mo"
you must be a very stupid pe. soD."
Miss Nicholson said. Il think it is
easier to amuse the congressman"
Mr.. Brewster Barringer was silent.
Miss Nicholson looked down on the red
lilies that swayed below them. A very
little smile twitched the corners Of her
mouth.
Il met a Mr.. Brewster Barringer
down in Florida one winter" she said.
"He was engaged to a girl who was Wis
iting the Peytons. But perhaps you
are not Interested in the Peytons. II
you are not" in a severe tone, Il will
leave you to enjoy the twilight in soil
tude."
Il am interested in the girl who Wis
tied the Peytons," he admitted.
ooh" her red lips parted suddenly,
disclosing ravishing dimples and the
CLEAN Of regular teeth.
But Mr.. Brewster Barringer was
watching a dusky moth drift toward
the mas of brilliant lilies.
THE girl was called a firt, but l
don't think she meant to firt. She
couldn't be unconscious of the admira-
ton she received. She was rather a
pretty girl, you know"
Il shouldn't have used that adiec-
tive" the man said, grimly, and this
time he saw the flash Of Miss Nichol-
sons smile.
Nor" she was still smiling. He had
suddenly decided that a deep dimple
on the left side Of lips that parted in a
sweet, eager way was the loveliest
thing in the world.
1.-THE girl was glad there were men
in the world who loved her, all women
are" Into Miss Nicholson's voice
there had suddenly come an earnest
note. They plead with her, or sighed
before her; but pleading or signing
her nature retreated before their ad-
vance. Then Mr.. Brewster B%arringer
came into her life. He didn't belong
to her world. She was rich, q society
girl; he hadn't a penny that he didn't
earn for himself, and vas different
from the men she knew-men of the
golf links and clubs and dances. He
was alivel She caught his enthusi-
asm, and gloried in his strength and
in his belief in himself"
Miss Nicholson no longer lounged on
the hammock pillows; she sat very
straight and still.
"The mar did not understand the
girl" she spoke quietly, bpt a spirit of
contempt lowered about her lips and
quiYered her nostrils, "He viewed her