The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-13
RY IEssIE



The room wore an air Of faded am
billion. like the woman.
Irma Heckel was a viyifed prototype
Ok the room. She was no longer young,
but In manner and even in her APP
b%earance she suggested ideals grown
dlRay with much luggirg about-per-
haps with difficulty. - 5 was neces-
gary fof her to earn tn hstie she ate
or wore. che painted saints for a liv-
Ing and quietly laughed at all religion
to her cat and dog friends. A sense
Of humOr had kept her from becom-
ing entirely bitter.
One evening when the saints we're
at rest on the work table and she
sat staring idly and stroking a great
cat in her lap her imagery took a
backward leap into the past. She was
young again. vivid, In earnestl Be
fore the FIRE sat two children, the
room had suddenly taken on the tone
OF a perky little parlor. The little girl
wore black stockings and a very short
frock; her hair was taken up with
a blue ribbon. The boy had bright
eyes and the dreamer noted his velvet
suit and a pages badge pinned on
his youthful chest, which was evident
" his pride.
my father Is a senator" be vas
saying. I'm going to be a senator,
too, and then I'll marry you and Wen
go to Europe"
MY father is dead" said the little
girl in a matter Of fact way which Is
the bravery of children. $50 is my
mother, but auntie is doing a lot for
me, oh, an awful lott She tells me so
every day. Just as soon as she gets
through doing things, and l am eight
cen, l am going to a big city. Bigger
than Des Moines or Omaha. Maybe
New York" she added with w. de- sx-
cited eyes. "rhen I'll do something
great all by myself, and l won't marry
even a senator"
But you won't have anyone to kiss
you goodnight" he said.
who wants anyone to kiss her
goodnight when. she is g~reat?"
The fire was getting low. A chill
crept over the oom Presently the
boy arose and went over to her and
took Up her. long red braid in a
clumsy, boyish fashion.
But you are not great yet, and I'm
glad"
With a pretty smile she innocently
put both arms around his neck and
he slid down in the big rocker beside
her.
What are you crying about2" he
asked, much surprised.
She laughed. Il don't quite kne e.
You see l am not great yet, maybe l
still want some one to care"
An ash dropped from the fire. The
little boy and girl and the perky par
lor vanished. A youth and a maiden
sat on a mShair sofa in the chilly
best room" They looked shy and
constrained.
st just thought I'd come and say
goodbye" he said. Mother said your
Aunt Joe told n4r you were going to-
morrow instead of Friday. Are you
{afraidee
afgafd, she Exclaimed, ito go out
and seek my fortune like the knight
in the fairy tales. To have a chance
with all the world. l am afraid 60 stay
out here, being passed around from
one relation to another, like a crOquet
ball showed through so many wires .
"As 1 was saying just come over
mother told me-say, Irma, please
don't go. I'm half owner with father
now-it's the biggest grocery store in
town. New York is a terrible place.
It isn't safe for a man to be out after
ten O'Clock there. And you, a girl, all
alone. Stay here and go into the gro
Gerry business with me- He tried to
laugh; she tried not to do so.
When he was gone the maiden sat
on the mohair sofa a long time with
out changing her position and won
dered why that old sob was in her
throat when she was so happy.
A gust of wind beloved down the
chimney. She leaned forward to re.
plenish the fire. When she settled
back again the youth and the maiden
had gone The best room had widened
and ~broadened into a spacious cafe
At a corner table sat a man somewha;
past mluule IRE duu d young Womdu
The two were gazing abstractedly
over n another's shoulder. She spoke
hrst, continuing her desultory OBJ
servations.
Il do not believe you know what
you are doing"
He moved impatiently.
"She will never make you happy"
Happiness isn't everything"
81 thought 1t was-to you"
"Comfort-peace, is all that's worth
while. Happiness would get to be a
bore like women who are too obviously
pretty"
She WINGED, but the remark wai