The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-23
brooklyn Eagle.l
Questions Answered."

care you the gentleman who answers the
questions sent to tine Brooklyn Eagle?"
The voics was filled with music, and as the
bent and gray philosopher who oficiates as
encyclopedia for the institution looked up from
tween the wise men of the East and the star of
Bethlehem a square shake or hippodrome?"
his eyes were blinded A flash of golden hair!
A bewildering sea of blue eyes! A passionate
struggle between the red and white roses.
81 am the man." he said, wondering what
such grand loveliness could want of him.
"May I-ask you-a- question:" inquired
the voice, as the beautiful head bowed and the
long lashes swept the flowers of her cheek and
lay as lightly as dew across the moist lids.
Certainly anything. Can L do something
for you?"
"It's about Frank she faltered. "I want
to ask you about Frank. OH why does he
treat me SOP" and the sweet face was turned
upward toward the staggered philosopher, wet
with tears, and imploring consolation.
SIS it's a matter of ice cream or oysters, or
something of that sort?"
"No, no; oh, no! have plenty of those. Bat
why does he let me pine?'
Something about theatres? Concert busi-
ness? Bouquets the matter? Candy? Bong
bong?"
asked the philosopher ending his interroga-
tions with some respectful French.
Nothing, nothing of that kind" murmured
the red, auivering lips. ''Why am so desc
late?" and the sobs racked the glorious frame.
Something about presents? Makes you walk
to the park? Won't hire hack? Another girl?
Won't go to church? Plays pool for drinks?
Something of that sort?''
"How strangely you mistake him! How cru
ely you wrong him!" and the sweet eyes
looked tender reproach. lyon don't know
Frank, or you wouldn't say so. What want
to ask is-is-Ohl why am 1 so wretched?" and
the tears rained down her face.
Maybe he's growing beard" said the sn-
cyclopedia tenderly. perhaps he parts his
hair in the middle. Possibly he belongs to
base ball club, or maybe he stands in front Of
the theatre on matinee afternoons. Is that it?''
mo, he don't none of them," flashed the
angel. IF he did wouldn't care. You shan't
abuse him. / came here to ask why-why-oh,
why am | so utterly hopeless?"
Possibly he gets drunk" suggested the
knees. Does he brush his plug hat the wrong
way? Is his moustache too long on one side?
Don't he believe in the doctrine, of the atone
ment?"
"ohl cruel, cruell" said the maid sinking
into chair "You are unjust to him. You
don't know how grand, how manly. he isl
"What is the matter with him, then?"
1erked out the philosopher. "How has he
made you miserable? What has he done?
What do you want of me?"
Il want to oknow-why-he gets up-between
every-act and goes-out of the-theatre. 1
know-he's got-another girl-and he goes-to
see-her.''
"My DEAR" said the philosopher, solemnly,
raising her up and putting his arm around her
known Frank for years, and he has no love for
any one but you. Let me tell you something.
Frank has got the itch, and he goes out to
scratch. Trust me- that is ALL"
"If could only believe that" murmured
she doubtingly.
ION my honor
Then am happy. If that is all. am con-
tent, but 1 thonght some nasty girl had at
tracted him.
The red roses had come back. and the sap
phire flash to the eyes, and she went out a
grand crush of lovely color. fragrance and rare
beauty, and the philosopher turned to the
question, "What was Ewes maiden name?"