The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-11-10

Snc looked mo MS eyes Win thV
self-effacing devotion pertaining TO
He looked into hers with the
expression Of the hunted stag.
There was that in his face, however,
which relieved it from the suggestion
" fear and painted into his personal
ity the mark of the hero.
She saw it and Observation-Disclosures
stood not at all what his trouble and
his fear was, but understood that II
was the desperation OF a brave man;
and nel heart Of hearts yearned 10 help
him ana comfort him.
She was no longer a girl, yet re-
tanned the ineffable charm of sweet
10 Her attitude toward the man was
unmlsidkabla. She was his sweet
heart, his very own-patient, passion
ate, loving and self-abnegating.
He was a handsome fellow-or would
hav been had ii not been for the lines
of care and suffering in his frail face.
There were great lines in the face and
the head was marvellous in its shape
and proportions, and the wide, straight
mouth and the steady eyes told OF in
domitable purpose to conquer physical
weakness.
They had been lovers for so long
that they had forgotten the measure OF
the years. Since early childhood they
had been playmates and chums, but
since one memorable day-ah! the wo-
man remembered the very day and
date, after all-they had been accepted
lN,,... ,ho 80 80 ,hA @fhAr W,
very, very long ago, IS, 16. 17-perhapS
as much as 90 years back in the past.
II Was all so full of promise and
happiness then. He was young, bril-
liant, rich, with every prospect ahead
of him, when he asked her for her
promise, obtained 1t, and went brave
ly away to college to fit himself for a
great career. And in all the land
lived 10 such happy girl. She had
found her own true knight and he had
broken his lance at her very feet. All
she had to DO was TO wait and dream.
Whaj more could fair maid desire
And so, meath sunGy skies, with no
cloud on the horizon, the two fond
hearts waited the f~ruition OF their
hopes, impatient only at the length OF
the days and nights which interviewed
between them and bliss.
Then came the crash, and in a single
momeS. Clarence learned he was the
orphan Of a bankrupt and a suicide
and his loved and respected father
would have been Il convict had he not
forestalled 1t all by taking his own
life.
1t was a terrible blow, but Clarence
never wavered. He left college within
the hour, never to return. and bravely
took un the burden left by his father
II was an awful task for an ~ineXperi,
nnCed youth, without business training
who had always been taught that
come what might, the fortune of thu
family was safe and that his ambition!
were 10 find an outlet in other way'
than money-getting. Besides, h
loathed business with the true abhor
renee vi the boTn aristOcrat.
But he never hinched. He mastere,
the situation and started in TO worl
out NE problem. After the remnant
of his fathers fortune had been gath
cred together and paid TO his creditors
despite the protests os his mother an
sisters, Clarence obtained employment
with d business concern and pushe
along doing work at which his yer
soul abhOrred, He supported his me
ther n the family, educated hi
younger brother and, above ana beyon
1t all, paid In year by rear what h
could save 10 reduce his fathers debt
But the years were long and drear
and the great cloud o; the debts hi
the sunlight beyond. Only one ray
light did he housekeeping Alice,
course-and that was that certain "a
ticles ne wrote were accepted fro
time TO time by magazines OF the be-
ter q iss. Upon these articles al
their acceptance Clarence and ALI