Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-23

Next dress coat OF fashionable make
Came forward and began. 1t clad poet
That's the last mode in Paris Did you know it?
Your host or hostess, after dinner, chooses
TO serve you up some effort OF the muses.,
Rec1ted with vim, gestures, and by-play
By some one borrowed from the great Francois.
All make me sleepy; and it was so now.
For as listened to the distant drone
OF the smooth lines, felt my lids droop down,
And strange tOrpOr / could not ignore
1Heayens! suppose snorel
With that
cast my eyes around to find my hat.
The console where laid it down, alas
Was now surrounded mot mouse could paSS)
BY triple rows OF ladies gayly dressed,
Who famed and listened calmly, undistressed.
No man through that fair crowd could work his
Rank behind rank rose heads in bright array
Diamonds were there, and flowers, and, lower
Such lovely shoulders! Not the smallest thrill
They raised in me. My thoughts were OF my hat.
1t lay beyond where all those ladies sat,
Under a candelabrum, shiny, bright,
smooth as when last brushed IT. full in sight,
Whilst 1, far off, with yearning glances tried
Whether could not lure it to my side.
'sWhy may my hand not put thee on my head,
And quit this sitting room ?" f0ndly said.
"ReSpOnd, dear hat, to a magnetic thrOb.
Come, little darling; cleave this female mob.
Fly over heads; creep under. Come, oh, come!
And all the while did that dull poem creep
Drearily on, till, sick at last with sleep,
My eyes fixed straight before me with stare,
groaned within me:
'sCome, my hat-fresh air!
My darling, let us both get out together.
Here all Is hot and close; outside, the weather
Is simply perfect, and the pavement's dry.
Come, come, my hat-One effort! Do but try.
sweet thoughts the silence and soft moon win stir
Beneath thy shelter"
Here a voice cried:
Have you done staring at my daughter YETI
By JOve! SIR"
My astontshed glance here met
The angry red face of my cuirassier.
did not quail before his look severe,
But said politely,
Do not so much as know her."
My daughters yonder, SIR. beside that table
Pink ribbons, str. Don't tell me you're unable
To understand"
81 don't suppose
You mean to tell me-"
sWho but knows
Your way Of dealing with young ladies, Sir?
I'll have no trifing, if you please, with her"
'Trifling?"
eyes, sir. You know you've Tilted five
Every one knows it-every man alive"
"AllOW me"
ssNo, sir Every father knows
Your reputation, damaging to those
'sir, indeed
SHOW dare you in this place
Stare half an hour in my daughters face?"
Hsapristi, monsieur! 1 protest. swear
never looked at her."
"Indeed! What were
My hat, SIR"
''MorbIeu! looking at your hail"
eyes, sir, 1t was my hat"
My color rose:
He angered me, this man who would suppose
thought OF nothing but his girl.
Meantime
The black coat maundered on in dreary rhyme.
Papa and |, getting more angry ever,
Exchanged fierce glances, speaking both to-
While no one round us knew what we were at.
sit was my daughter, sir.''
sNo, sir-my hat"
"speak lower gentlemen" said some one near
"1ou'll give account for this, sir Do you hear?"
''Of course, Sir"
You'll get my card, slr.' ~ ~
"l'u be ready, Sir.''
A pretty quarrel! Don't you think it so7
A moment after, all exclaimed, "Bravo!"
Black coat had finished. All the audience made
A general move toward ice and lemonade.
The coast was clear; my way was open now;
My hat was mine. made my foe bow,
And FASTENED, fast as lover could have moved,
Through trailing trains, toward the dear thing
loved
tried to reach it.
'Here's the hat, think,
A lovely arm, perfect arm, held out
My precious hat. Impelled by sudden doub
l raised my eyes. Pink ribbons trimmed her
"Here, monsieur, take it. TWAS not hard to
guess
What made you look this way. You longed
togo.
You were so sleepy, nodding-see!- just so.
All how wished to help you, if could!
might have passed it possibly. would
Have tried by ladies's chain, from hand to hand,
TO so send It to you, but, you understand,
Forfear they might suppOse-Ah! pardon me;
l. am TOO prone to talk: Pm keeping you.
Take it. Goodnight" -
My looks to their real cause shecou!d refer.
AND never thought one glance was meant for her.
Oh, simple trust, pure from debasing wiles!
TOOK my hat from her fair hands with smiles
ana hurrylng back, sought out nay whilom foe,
,o ,.,. Clear me, sir. Before go,
Let me explain. You, sir, were IN the right
'IWas not my hat attracted me tonight.
Forgive me, pardon Inc, entreat, dear sir.
love your daughter. and gazed at her."
''You, Sir?"
He turned his big round eyes on me,
"Well, wen, we win see. !"
And the result you see. My secrets out.
It was last Tuesday, as said, and even
Add, she's an angel, and my home is-heaven.
Holds high effects no eurasSier.
Besides-a boon few br1degroons can comm nd
He Is widower-so-you understand.
Now all this happiness, beyond doubt,
Of BY is s bTo ahe nG Poor old English e
Many have sneered at thy ungafnly style;
Many, with rtdicule and gibe-why not -
Have dubbed the stove-pipe," called thee "chim-
they, IS sstnetes: are not far wrong, maybe;
Raise thee, In spite OF nonsense sung OF said,
With deep respect an place thee Onmy head.