Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-10-23
Two Young Men.
New York Correspondence San francisco
Argonaut.
THE PoMPoUS NISSY.

en-, and complacent face held high in
the air, his eyes half-closed, and the
corners of his mouth drawn down.
There was an expression OF severe
reticence and overwhelming reserve
about him. He was about twenty
three years old.
81 see you very often at the opera
and occasionally at dances, Mr..
Burke-Jones," she began, but you
always come late and drift off before
one has a chance to nod to you"
'"They bore me-"
A pause. Then she continues:
81 suppose you see so much OF life
that the more modest and unsplced /
entertainments which we women con-
slider so exciting are dull to YOU"
"Yes."
Another pause. He glances with |
cold esteem at the soup and permits
himself to taste the sherry. The fish
passes in silence, while n man across
the table talks to the vivacious young
married woman. She is exceedingly
pretty, and her black eyes snap with
the gossip, chatter and lights. She
turns twice and looks at the solemn
face beside her. Then, evidently think
ing that she has been stupid, she says,
with bright little smile:
"Of course you're going down to
Jerome on the opening day.
Never do the races"
"Ah! l suppose you go in for more
college sports; most men IN your club
do I'm told"
There was such a long wait after
this that my neighbour sister OF the
black-eyed electromagnetic that L
should rescue the earnest little work
er across the way. The solemn young
man evidently did not consider her
last remark worth a comment. She
waited and then made another dash.
He wouldn't talk about the opera,
music, the clubs, races, colleges or
athletics, so she tried him on the
theatre. No results. Then she ask
ed him what steamer he had last
crossed in. and he said it was the
Alaska.
"Ah, she's a beauty" said the de-
! termined conversationalist. Then she
went off into a monologue, and told a
charming little story about n love.
match which occurred on board that
steamer-at least she said it was that
one-when she crossed, in September.
Still the pompous ninny at her side
said nothing. But she would not give
| him up without one more struggle;
with what I've always claimed since
was a stroke of genius, she got him OFT
on the topic OF London tailors, and he
spoke at least twenty words before
coming to a halt. Then the hard
working little lady glanced over at us
with triumph beaming from her eyes,
and We felt like applauding her efforts.
But the dinner was over by this time,
and she did not try her skill with the
reticent youth again.
THE COOL EGoTIST.
Men of certain class are confined
to New York. They won't grow any
where else, and they only flourish in
the first circles. They are exotic
plants, which only come to perfection
in the dollhouse. know one of them
possibly as good specimen OF the
species as one could find He is per
haps twenty-four or five-a kind OBJ
server would say eighteen. He doesn'
care about cultivating q mustache, II
is commandments becoming vul
gar. There is an air OF gentle lassl
tude about him-might one say weak
ness in his legs? He is always a little
over-dressed-a popularity which ht
outgrows in three or four
years-and always wears some rings
diamonds, gypsy setting-on the
engagement finger" Whether this is
to demonstrate that he is bespoke
"a proclamation for all spinsters
who run to read-or merely form o
exterior decoration, 1 have never
summoned the courage to inquire
When a girl-a green girl-goes out tc
dinner, and finds him sitting at hel
right hand-as in nine cases out o
ten she will find him-she is at first in
censed. She sits brooding sulkily
considering herself snubbed in havin!
been invited to meet callow boy
Presently the boy begins to talk, not
eagerly, but rather as il it was expect
! ed OF him. Like Annie Laurie, hi'
| voice is low and sweet; at times 81
{ low that she is forced to lean toward
) him to catch his remarks. Then tn,
fun begins.
At first she is piqued by his appar
, ent indifference. She opens fire, quiv
, ering vengefully at the thought o
, crushing him. Gradually, in som
a wierd, mysterious way, she feels he
hold on the conversation slippin
away; he turns it, with a firm han'
into the channel he wishes it to be il
She begins to feel helpless and uncon
D Portable; she is conscious that he
+ making game of her; she stirs uneasil
: under his glance, and wishes Dime
= was over. That glance, by the way
: is q superfne article. 1t is a yer
peculiar glance, wide-eyed, and VI
n smiling; and, though he stares a grea
: deal, it is never admiring-speculativ
4 is the best word to describe il
. 1t Is coldly speculative, an
# anything more disconcerting wa
q never put into the eyes of MAJ
+ When the girl makes a finf
= struggle for self-assertion it freezes he
= it fastens on her face and coldly spe
4 ulates on every feature. She feels tina
o while he is gently complimentary
r his remarks, he is saying to hlmsel
}: in the words OF Aaron, the Moor, "Ol
- what q thing it is to be an asst" Br