Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-11-28

one make Il his business TO find out
how the couple lived; what was the
young mans business. II he were a
professional man and in good standing
the pair might be called on and re-
ceived. But II he sold or manufac-
tured anything the matter must be
further looked into. II he sold soap
his admission would be out OF the
question.
But nothing could be learned about
the young couple. They did not offer
any Information concerning them
selves, and those who would learn Of
them were too we'll bred to ask them
any questions. Besides, how could
they ask questions when they had no
acquaintance with the strangers? And
how could they find out what was the
husbands occupation when he had no
occupation7 He went TO the nearest
city, a distance OF fifty miles, two or
three times a week and the rest of the
time remained at home. From what
his occupation might be the problem
became, How did he liver
All this put Off a decision as to the
reception of the newcomers. Some Of
the young persons of the town would
have been glad to make their &C.
quaintance. for youngsters are gre
garious and not so set in their ways
as their elders. But their mothers
would not permit them to become on
terms Of equality with persons about
whom they knew nothing. So the tea
parties and the sociables went on with
out the bride and groom.
There were no young men in King
ston. so the groom could not make any
effort in a social way, but his wife In
dicated that she would be pleased to
make acquaintances. She occasionally
smiled on meeting a neighbor and on
n OF two occasions dropped a re-
called on her such informal recogni-
lions became constrained. and at last
most of them ceased altogether.
When half a year had passed 1t be-
gan to be noticed that the bride was
seldom seen out Of her house, and from
this time forward she appeared more
and more seldom. One day a man
with a satchel in his hand came up
from the city with the husband and
disappeared within the portal. A
dozen pair of eyes on the other side of
the street saw him go in, and two
dozen saw him come out. He was the
only visitor the couple had received
cfnca fbav 10 uoa 70 KfpreAOD op1 bo
went away without exchanging a word
with any one except those he had come
to see. He made one or two visits
after this. and every time he came a
desire welled up in the breasts Of
many women to interview him with
regard to the strangers, but to speak
to a man to whom they had not been
introduced was not to be considered.
The next commotion among the
Kingston ladies was a resplendent
touring car that pulled up before the
house occupied by the couple. An
elderly gentleman and lady threw of
their fur coats. sprang from the auto
and ran up the steps. They were re-
ceived by the husband. the door was
closed behind them, and the battery of
eyes that stormed the premises looked
upon nothing but the outside Of the
house. On the arrival Of the next
train from the city the same auto
brought from the station the stranger
with the bag who had appeared before
and two other men. all of an eminent
ly respectable appearance.
The impression got abroad that the
young wife was very i'll; that the elder
ly couple who had come were her par
ents and the others were doctors.
1t now occurred to the good people
of Kingston that possibly they had
made a mistake, These connections Of
the young people were certainly rich
and to all appearances respectable.
Was there not still time to atone for
their neglect? Not that there was any
atonement to be made had the couple
turned out TO be ordinary persons. 1t
was due only since 1t had become ap
parent that they were both rich and
respectable, for. while all the elite
of Kingston were respectable, none of
them were rich. and their respect for
the combination was something ever
whelming.
Two Of the most estimable leaders
of the place called at the house and
sent up cards and a message asking
If they could be of service. A reply
came back, borne by a uniformed maid
vino had come from the city by train,
that the lady begged to be excused
from seeing them. and there was moth
ing they could do.
This was very nearly, If not quite. a
snub. Then some one reported that a
city newspaper had mentioned that a
reconciliation had occurred between a
wealthy banker and his wife on the
one hand and their daughter and her
husband on the other. the mother be-
ing a social leader and a member Of
one of the oldest families Of the coun-
try. The young couple had eloped and
hidden themselves in an obscure viii
lage called Kingston. where the brides
parents had found them.
The pride Of the town was wounded
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