Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-10-12
THE STORY OF A NOSE.

lHE oiUht NF NOoEs
"Wlll you pcrmt m" To- Nt bcsid,
you, little mountain girll"
With great pleasure. and | am
grateful to you for prcfriring my
side to that Of 80 many bellies that
SHINE IN the salon DO You know
who am
NO. and 1t is quite possible
would not. even though yuu would
take on your mask. But no matter
We may begin an acquaintance this
evening. il you viii Acquaintanccs
made at masquerade balls are not apt
to bc the worst"
They are apt to furnish disap
pointiuent. though"
Il will not deny it. for | have TX
perienced some, but
And You havo given some also p
No; he who IL accustomed to pre-
senting himself everywhere. not ex
cepting ut carnival balls. with his
lace uncovered. can deceive few"
Truly you have no reason to hide
IT, and not every man can say the
same"
"Thanks. pretty mountain girl; nc
cording 10 that, you know mei"
"Yes, by sight; they told me you
were poet Don't you want TO com
pose some verses for me?'
Il will do 81 if You wish. have
always taken pride in pleasing the
ladies, but should first know your
name"
'Ascribe any to me; Phyllis,
Laura 'Philena,' one that seems
practical to you. do not have to
tell you my real name, but the first
mentioned occurs To me Arrange
1t AZ seems worth while and accord
ing 10 your own taste"
But how, without seeing the face
whose perfections | must exalt; with
out knowing the sweet object OF my
inspiration how can | "
"A poet says that! You who nj
ways live in the unbounded regions
OF the ideal, why should you need
the presence Of the object of your
worshipi For my part, | have not
80 much conhd, nee in my face. nor
does your imagination seem so ster-
lie, as to risk revealing myself"
1T is true that poets, in whose
number you seem willing to count
me, are accustomed to exercise their
genius throughout imaginary space
but We do not feed ourselves with
illusions only; and, as for me. can
only say that, in the matter Of pleas
ure, l am, and always shall be, for
the positive"
And what pleasure can you prom
ise Yourself by seeing my FACET
THAT OF admiring it, IL it is pretty
as ! presume it is; that Of adoring
you"
"You have alteration ever on your
tongue. You poets ought to he ban
ished from every republic. Either
you talk Of alteration. through idol
atrous impiety, or just for the sake OF
pleasing prattle. You do well in
coming without mask. Poets have
no reason TO lie; you would oe mas
querading always"
"lf that is certain, for my part,
accept with much pleasure a quality
that likens me 10 the fair sex"
"Are women such dissemblers"
'Yes, my little masquerader. Will
respect to that, you cannot say that
the men accuse You groundlessly; bu,
at the same time, l must confess tha,
mems suspicion and tyranny coca
sions your lack OF sincerity, and
that. in general, your fctions are well
worthy OF Indulgence. because the
same desire Of gratifying us obliges
you TO tell them. But is it possible
that ] am not to see your facet"
ut cannot be. The desire Of graf
flying you counsels me to keep the
mask on
Your conversation charms me
and every word makes my impa
tience more lively"
"Do yon need to see my face il
order To suppose it full Of attraction
Did You not call me the sweet obiec
OF your inspiration! Believe me
yours and my interest oppose eacl
other IN the matter of condescendina
W VIM N'h uNhs w Iilt Il ItIlIulI
concealed, ! am sure Of hearing flat
tering expressions from your mouth
u which l am not accustomed. per
haps IL remove this protectin,
Grape from my face. then farewell
Ia iIlu~ion Rigid courtesy. gloomy
seriousness will follow the euloyies
the endearing expressions. which, j
they have not made me proud, hav,
at least diverted and pleased me"
This modesty IL, I, me, the hes
proof of your merit"
"le4. ! have the merit uf bein,
modest no, ] am wrong; mean o
being sincere"
III might confound you with tn
mass % women, II would not cost IN
much trouble to believe vou now
Lade' protected 10y the silken mas
f"igr l"s- thnn with their own faces
they hav" few such opportunities fo
tcllirg Tia" truth with lmpunity. Bu
yon nie not ugly. | can swear IT,
have. 10y dint of errcrs and decor
tons, acquired a sort Of tact. a cei
tain skill IN seeing through mask,
l do not misink. 80 easily Like th
gIa,h"und have keen scent an
agood nose"
- On SAVING this. ! noticed in M
comlnniun n movement either OF SUI
prise "r disgust ] fancied that sue
Il vulgar rhrpse sounded i'll TO be
eur. and ] FASTENED to excu pate my
self for not having made use Of NOR
elegnnt lnnpnaYe. nr shn merlted