New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-12-01

j Strengthened.
"Tlen they both outgrow that fool
ishncss. After that there are usually
two rivals, and she marries one of
then-that's three. And"
"Why do they always outgrow that
f~oolishness?' His voice was unsteady.
"Oh. | don't know. Ones ideas
change"
Sidney was fairly vibrant with the
zest of living. Sitting on the steps of
the little brick house. her busy mind
was carrying her on to where, beyond
the Street. with its dlngy lamps and
~blossoning ailanthus, lay the world
that was II day to lie to her hand.
Not ambition called her, but life.
The boy was different. Where her
future lay visualiZed before her, heroic
deeds, great ambitions, wide charity,
he planned years with her, selfish, o II
tented years. As different Us SNUG, sat
istied ulnm from visionary, palpitat-
Ing spring. he WAS for her-but she
was for all the world.
BY shifting his position his lips
came close to her bare young arm. 1t
tempted him.
Don't read that nonsense" he said,
his eyes on the arm. "And--Im never
outsrow my foolishncss about you, Sid
ney."
Then. because he could not help it,
he bent over and kissed her arm.
She was just eighteen, and Joc's de-
votion was very pleasant. She thrilled
to the touch of his lips on her flesh
but she drew her arm away.
'Please-I don't like that sort of
thing"
"Why not?" His voice was husky.
ut isn't right. Besides, the neigh
bors are always looking out Of the win
d0ws."
The drop from her high standard of
right and wrong to the ~neighbors' curl
osity appealed suddenly to her sense
of humor. She threw back her head
and laughed. He joined her, after an
uncomfortable moment. But he was
very much in earnest. lie sat, bent
forward, turning his new straw hat in
his hands.
II thought, perhaps" said Joe, grow
ing red and white, and talking to the
hat, that some day, when we're older,
you-you might be willing to marry
me, Sid. I'd be awfuIly good to you"
1t hurt her to say no. Indeed, she
could not bring herself to say it. In all
her short life she had never willfully
inflicted Il wound. And because She
was young, and did not realize that
there is II short cruelty, like the sur
gcon's, that is mercy in the end, she
tempOriZed.
There is such a lot Of time before
we need think of such things. Can't
we just go on the way we are?"
I'm not very happy the way we
are"
"Why, joel"
She leaned over and put a tender
hand on his arm.
Il G.ro want to hurt you; but, Joe.
| don't want to be engaged yet. | don't
wan to think about marrying. There's
such n lot to do in the world first.
There's such n lot to see and be-"
"Where?" he demanded bitterly.
Here on this Street? DO you want
more time to pull hastings for your
mother? Or to slave for your Aunt
I%IarrietP Or q run up and down
stairs. carrying towels TO roomers?
Marry me and let me take care of
you"
Once again her dangerous sense of
humor threatened her. lie looked so
sitting there with the moon
light on his bright hair, so inadequate
to carry out his magnificent offer. Two !
or three of the star blossoms from the
tree had fallen on his head. She lifted
them carefully away.
Let me take care of myself for a
I've never lived my own life.
You know what | mean. I'm not I'M
happy; but | want to do something.
And some day | shall-not anything
big | know | cant do that-but some
thing useful. Th2ri, after years and
If you still al me, III corne
back to YOU"
lie drew Il long breath and got up.
All the joy had gone out of the sum-
ner night for him, poor lad. He
down the Street, where Pal
Howe had gone home happily with
friend Christine. Palmer
would always know how he stood with
Christine. But Sidney vas not like
hat. A fellow did not even caress her
When he had only kissed her
lrm- He trembled a little at the
memory.
81 shall always want you" he said.
.'Only-yOu will never come back"
1t had not occurred to either of them
hat this coming back, so tragically
considered, was depending on an en-
irely predetermined going away. Moth
that early summer night, seemed
more unlikely than that Sidney would
.ver be free to live her own life. The
stretching away to the north
md to the south in two lines of houses
hat seemed to meet in the distance,
her in. She had been born IN
he little brick house. and, as she was
# it, so it was of her. Her hands had
moothed and painted the pine floors;
Ter hands had put up the Irvine on
which the morning glories in the yard
the fences; had, indeed, with
What agonies of Stacking lime and add
ng blueing, whitewashed the fence it.
elf