Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-09-18
HE BEGAN WELL.
The Colonies First Step Toward
the Widows Love,

for Csnaderags Lake drawn up.
An fond, spring.house Park, with over
arching trees. rust seats, walks, etc.
DRANATIs Persona.
ALICE MUsGROyE. a young widow.
COLONEL JAMES FIELDING DRAKE, a bach
e.Or.
Alice is leaning against the third pillar on
the piazza, looking thoughtfully over into
the park. Colonel Drake comes up be-
hind her. She turns before be has
spoken.
Alice-You SC early,
Colonel-Didn' YOU say ! might?
Alice-Possibly. You have break
tasted?
Colonel-I'm sure | forget.
Alice Oaughing)-Then it is true.
Colonel-True. What? | don't
know.
Alice-Then it is true -clapping her
hands,. Your mental state assures
NE.
Colonel-You compliment me; l
never have a mental state this early in
tn morning.
Alice-Then you take advantage Of
my good nature. ! don't entertain
minds IN deshajtHe. But yours, | I'M
derstand, is made up.
Colonel am troubled. Do YOU
know, it is a serious affair, this marry
ing.
Alice-My poor friend, one only
marrics once.
Colonel-But perhaps that is once
too much.
Alice-You are in a cheerful frame
of mind. Miss Manifold, ! am told, is
quite charming.
Colonel-Yes, charming, as YOU say.
She plays on the piano very well. |
detest music, but | appreciate her talent
just as much.
Alice-You are really amusing.
Colonel-Why should | not be? Men
whistle to keep their courage up;
soldiers sing on going into battle. 1t
seems | am to be enrolled in the great
regiment Of married men.
Alice (~starts, moves away)-l must
get my hat. You are going On the
coach, aren't you? Miss Manifold i,
going,
Colonel anguidly)-No Yes; she
had a previous engagement with Charlie
Dawson. Naturally / don't claim any
thing until older scores are settled.
Dawson is the preferred creditor.
Alice (absently)-l must get my
thing.
Colonel-Yes, 90 get your things,
but don't hurry, Alice crit.
AFTER Alice goes, young men and younG
wOnen n sImme attire, adorned with
badges, and each carrying a TN hori
stream ny with ribbons. come out witt
much CHATTER aud mount the coach
when they are settled some one eI
clS!ms: Mrs Musgruve!" Cries 70
Mrs. Musprove. Colonel steps iron
behind the pillur.l
Colonel don't think she's going
ter be of. The sun is fierce enough
now, but look out for a shower.
(Thoy drive off with laughter, biowinj
their horns and unlOosing q section o
r-Ond"monum as they 20 Up the street
Alice ONT back with her hat on, an
parasol, fan and gloves IN her hand.
Colonel-How could YOU be 50 long
They have zone.
Alicc-How mean ! think the,
might have waited a moment for ne.
Colonel-lt was my fault. | toll
them it was going to rain, | don
want Miss Manifold to get wet, and he
clothes spoiled. She wears very mic
clothes. Now that white pea-jacket q
hers
Alice very soberly)-Jersey.
Coloncl-You don't laugh: | mean
You to. The truth is, | told them
sort Of lie-said you weren't going.
didn't mean you should.
Alice-Whyt this interference in m
lmovements-with my pleasures?
Coloncl-Misery wants company
That i, to say, | want some one to whoI
j a pour out my bright anticipation
OF the future.
Alicc-Aren't you relying somethin
too much on my sympathy?
Colonel-ln bride you to the exteI
of two lcmonades-long ones. II
going to call that colored Adonis
brown livery for the equipments.
lBoy comes, puts n table between the
with two large glasses Of lemonade al
straws.
Colonel places a seat for Alice an
sits down opposite) Does this in an
way mitigate my offenceP
Alice-lt is very nice.
Coloncl-It is delicious. Let ,
fancy ourselves in a piazza devastatt
of all human beings except ourselye
Alicc-What wholesale destructio
Poor people, and they enjoy it so niue
Colonel-Don't disturb my fame
Mrs. Musgrove, we are in u plankC
and p%illared solitude.
Alice-At least let us spare poor o
Miss Morton, who has crepf out he
10 hear the music.
Colonel taking lemonade throus
his siraw)-Well, I've a tender heal
She shall be simply %non-eNistent. Al
a, for the twanging of fiddles, that
hut the twiiter of the birds in the tire
that shelter our solitude.
Alice-Yes, chirping the ''Gyp
Baron" Your imagination is livel
at least.
Colonel-Yes, this is our cot; here
our h~oneydcw. We have every thi
hut our hearts. Mine, of course, h
gone around the lake with Miss Ma
fold.
Alice with scorn)-It will not a
20 the load. There is not enough of
Don't deny it. 1t is not large enou
20 really love any woman Once n
were prodigals. They lavished III
love: they were reckless, perhaps
,r.yogant hut thay were hannv.