The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-20
A COMEDY OF TWO.
PHILADELPHIA Press

Scene: Pennsylvania Railroad station,
corner Broad and Filbcrt streets. Ladies'
wAiting-room. Usual occupants, obliging
matron In charge, many small children,
anxious mammas, careless nurses, pretty
girls, elderly party in southeast corner
studying surroundings from behind glasses.
Enter handsome man, curly hair, slightly
gray, dark eyes, carries small alligator-skin
travelling bag marked with silver letters II.
l. D., linen shawl case embroidered with
same letters, lady's umbrella, basket Of rose
buds.
Following him: Pretty woman, dark blue
eyes, lots Of dimples, carrying book Seats
herself In a rockingham placed directly in
front Of elderly party in glasses
knight of tho bag, shawlstrap, etc,
places them on neighboring seat and says:
@I'll 60 and telegraph that You missed the
train; the next one goes presently, better
wait for 1t here, jts showing too fast to 60
out again"
Lady (thoughtfully)-I might take han
som up 10 B-'a I left my watch there
last week-still, might be delayed and miss
another. / can't think how ] happen
10 blunder 80. am sure Edward said
Q, and Il wanted six minutes Of it when got
out Of the carriage. Find out how soon
can go, please.
knight goes out Voics Of usher in the
distance: aFrankford, Holmesburg, Bristol,
and Trenton Lady arranges hers kirts, takes
ian out Of bag, glances casually at E. p,
takes three or four roses from basket, fastens
them on her dress, leans back and opens
book. knight returns.l
Knight-The train will not be ready for
on hour. You do not mind, hope latter
pause). How many years 1t Is since we have
Travelled together / was thinking about II
while was waiting for you
-quickly)-waiting for met
Knight mean bsfore you came This
station was not built then, and we used to
have such dreadfully long horse-car rides
from West Chester TO West Philadelphia.
Lady-You did not think them so dread
fully long then. (The speaker colors slightly
and changes the subject. have half prom
ised Ned and Alice TO be with them on
Christmas Day in New York. They go there
Monday.
Knight think you said last night that
you were coming back here from Trentoni
Lady-Yes for little Dora Smyths we'd
ding Thursday. Isn't it too funny to think
that baby is old enough to be married.
Knight-Not when ! recollect that my
nephew Walter has q fine little shaver Of his
own, my first namesake.
Lady-You don't say 80! Why, remem-
Der he was In knickerbockers when we
whom did he marryi
Knight-Grace Biddle, the fair-haired
pretty one; they were married in Rome
nearly three years ago; the boy is quite a
fellow now, has tooth or two, and is sup
posed by his fond parents TO say, Papa"
Time moves.
Lady-Yes, indeed Why, my boy Is
taller than am, and Nelly -
Knight-Ah What Is this you're read
ingi might have knownl Well, what do
you think Of III Is it worth wasting time
overt
Lady-You haven't read "Mr. Isaacsg"
Knight-Not II / read "Dr. Claudius"
and -
Lady teagerly)-Do tell me what is a
Philistinei
Knight-Aren't you ashamed to betray
such ignorancef
Lady-But what Is III
knight (solemnly)-Have you never heard
OF Matthew Arnold
Lady with assumed petulance)-I will not
be laughed at Mr.
Knight dnterrupting)- Helen,
don't intend TO call you Mrs "-anythingl
When was 1t that Walter was in knicker-
bockesi
Lady tcoloring slightly. but smiling)-O,
whcni-a hundred years ago, when we were
young should so like to show you my boy
and girl, they
knight dnterruptlng again)-Don't change
the subject no, Helen. "A hundred years.
What nonsensel Have you quite forgotten
@when we two partedP
Lady very demurely)-rm sure 1t wasn't
ain silence and tears" 'w.
Knight--Well, mol not in silence, most as
suredly. What q sharp little tongue you
had, Helen!
Lady tstill demurely) $50 glad you use the
past tensei
Knight don't believe you've improved
one bit In all these eighteen years. It's in
credible, Ellie. When look ut you I can
hardly trust my own memory. IL can't DO
more than eighteen years since we two hot
headed young things, almost on the eve Of
our wedding day, quarreled about nothing
and made q shipwreck of our lives
Lady tpiritedly)-I did nothing OF the
kind. You've no right to say such thing.
have had the happiest sort Of life My
children are perfect darlings; my husband
was the very best man in the world; my
only bOrTOW WHY ..a
Knight-His DEATH Exactly. Iexpected
you TO say 50. OF course, you were sorry
about it, You are good woman, certainly.
You incurred for him; but time is q
wonderful healer, and you soon outlived your
grief, M".
Lady rising ipdignantly)--You shall not
speak to me In such way; won't listen to
you.
KNIGHT lcalmly)-Sit down Ellie I'll apol-
ogize; il wasn't soon, but you have outlived
Il. Why. child, it's the way OF the world,
one outiiyes everything. Ellie. how Young
You are, In spite Of your-how manyi--years
When Won throw up your head IN that old
way fancy myself back ON your unc.e's old
porch in Chester; YOU were very willful
III H.lor =
$50 I,.-,,, h,o.,on.d eo,o,,-J am . wary
-,;ns.,i 49,, W.. '"'N .' WY
Knight Qaughingl-I haven't the slightest
doubt OF IL, my dear; fortunately, ! can
manage willfulness--and you--better than I
did in my callow days Seriously, Helen,
have something to say to you; we didn't
meet bv accident I was waiting for you,
waiting 10 saw n Your train hadn't gone, /
lied 10 Won Yes I did: don't LOOK angry.
listen and hear the old story. Ellie answer
the old question: came to-day to ask it.
LADY ihurriedly. plancing about distract
sdly,.o hush. hush: do hush; some one win
surely. surely hear youi
murino the last few sentences elderly
,.rty n e,asses torn by the conaictine emo
t,ons fa,ninIne sen.e Of honor aIways weak.
san,,,,,n. love N roynance ALWAYS strong has
a,,srnately sdgetsd 10 proclaim her presence
"a ,,.,n:,nad hyasthlsss 10 conceal n Az
th,s anneal honor triumphs and she heroic
s,,y .,,d roisIv drons her sun-umbreIla.