The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-24
THE PARLOR MATCH.
Showing That One and One Make
Two, -

That One and One Make
Two. -
1t is about half-past eight on June
evening, and the dusk is beginning to
gather Lhickly about the Mott country
house, the dense trees which over
shadow the place increasing the gloom.
Miss Ethel, who has been for half an
hour entertaining Bob Tracy on the
broad piazza, the opportune absence OF
the family on a drive having thrust
that duty upon her, suddenly starts up
excaiming:
Did you think you saw light hat
going by the syringa bush then?"
mo, l didn't think anything Of the
kind" Bob retorted, with rather un-
necessary severity, ''who'd you ex-
pect?"
"Oh, nobody. Do you like those
very light hats they wear nowP"
mo, hate 'em.''
81 don't think | should express SO
strong an opinion just about a hat
"Humph! 1t isn't the hat so much
as it is the dudes that wear them"
Il don't see why you need call
man a dude just because he dresses
better than other fellows and happens
to have a dog-cart.
..Oh. that WAS the light hat you ex-
pected, was itP'' a=7y
II don't know what you are talking
about. Who said / expected any
body
The young man replied by a compre-
hensive exclamation, half n snort of
contempt and half sneer of incredu-
lity. There follows q silence of some
minutes, broken only by the mellow
croaking of the distant frogs and the
nearer, shriller and far less soothing
hum of the mosquitoes.
'How cross you are tonight. Miss
Ethel observes ut length, feeling that
the duties OF hospitality require her to
reopen the conversation, but by no
means prepared to descend at once to
amiability; perhaps it is the mos
quitoes.
..Yes. | think it may be, )" Tracy re-
spends with great dignity. Il won't
keep you out here any longer to suffer
martyrdom.
He rises with stateliness the effect
of which is unfortunately lost in the
darkness. and stands glaring in the di-
rection where he knows pretty Miss
Ethel to be sitting.
Don't be goose; come into the
house. Perhaps your temper IL be
better in there. It's worth trying any
way"
!.With such an example I'll own it
ought to be-" Bob returns with crush
ing sarcasm. ''But you couldn't
watch for light hats if you went in. !"
.'How hard you do try to get up q
quarrel when I'd just made up my
mind to be very amiable."
sHow long after you've made up
your mind shall | have to wait for the
resolution to take effect?"
Come in. Music hath charms, you
know. What shall play to you?"
.'Can you play in the dark?''
81 can, but ON the whole l think l
won't; because Mamma's off to ride,
and doubt if its proper anyway"
.'Since when were you SO par
ticular?"
"Well, if / play. you see. Mrs. Hunt
would know we were here in the dark;
she's s such spy
Don't play then. We can sit in the
dark and talk, can't we?" a.
mo. thank you, I'd rather be
proper. Shall l ring or have you q
match"
II ought to have one. Bother!'
The exclamation was caused by a
stumble over one of those minor pieces
of furniture the whole object OF whose
existence is to get under unwary feet
and to render otherwise tranquil lives
a burden. He regains his equilibrium.
Swallows his wrath and feels in his
nocket for his match-safe. Finding to
His disappointment, that it is well
nigh full, he recklessly tosses the con
tents out of the window by when he
has lust entered, and calmly remarks
..My match-safe is as empty as
FOOLS head. There isn't single stich
| in it. :,
..There's a new kind of matches,
| Ethel observes in tone OF dlsinterest
ed instrnctiveness. ''Jim was ex
planning them to me; patent KIND
YOU know. There's something comes
4 down like CAP
H ga cap doesn't come down. Bol
j Interrupts, stumbling over more turnlt
\ nre in a fresh attempt to follow hi
1 hostess. who, more familiar with tn
ARRANGEMENTS OF the room, has sa1el.
crossed to 4 distant corner, dexterousl.
avoiding obstacles. 'Jehu! HOY
MANY foot-stools are there in TIL
4 roomp"
III YOU don't want to know abou
the matches
i ''Oh, do"
\ 4"Then don't interrupt There's
kind of cap comes down
4Comes down from whereP
II shall positively not tell you abou
| those matches"
..But I'm dying to know!"
.Did you think somebody came u
the walk then?'
sis there any connection betwee
matches and somebody's coming u
the walkP"
."There might be!'
| "Humph! You'd better go on abot
vos,r patent match. "A light hat come
down think you said; over fool
head, I suppose. Go on"
He has by this time made his way
: the sofa upon which Miss Mott is sea
ed. and without apology takes piat
..Bob, this positively is not prope
If you can't be agreeable we Will
| least be proper.
lyon seem to intimate a stranf
! and vicious familiarity with the d
lights of impropriety. :,
bob Tracy! You know if moth
were here. you wouldn't dare to spe;
i'm that way"
.4If your mother were here the
! wouldn't be any occasion.
( "Somehow, Robert. going into t
navy seems to have spoiled you, Ju
as Aunt Jane said it would.
4 4.Your Aunt Jane is an old prude
my Aunt Jane is my iathel
. sister.
n .Indeedt How singular! You
sure she isn't his cousin"
7 II never like you less than when y
+rv TO he fusany. You'll find q parl
match ON the mantle-piece."
!, r.Wouldn't yap get i for met
a