Smyrna times., 1888-07-11
TWO WAYS OF ASKING.

Ollc6 ne KISSED UneIll ana put Llem Ulere.
Eugene Field in America.
TWO WAYS OF ASKING.
"Tears, idle tearsl Niobe dissolved
My dear child, what on earth is the mat
teri"
Time, 4 of a summer afternoon. Place,
a pretty boudoir, furnished in the fashion
of today, modelled on the style of Louis
Quinze, with a dash of liberty thrown in,
and modern accessories, such as crystal
flower vases, three volume novels and
photograph stands, juxtapOsed with
Queen Anne silver and lnickknacks, an
cient and modern. Dramatis persona, a
graceful figure in white, flung with an air
Of desolation on the floor beside a sofa,
her charming nuque visible beneath deli
ciOUs little rows of golden curls, her
frame shaken by sobs; an older woman
standing few yards distant, dark, beau
tifully dressed, good looking enough for
anything" without being distinctly hand
some aged somewhere within the right
side Of 30, and wearing an expression half
compassionate, half amused. There is
suspicion of raillery in her voice, which is
felt and deeply resented by the fair sor-
rover. Anger is often akin to sorrow, as
pity is to love, and the voice which re-
spends to the question when reiterated is
decidedly petulant.
81 wish you would go away and leave
me alone"
Il shall not do anything of the sort,
returns the other. Il am going to talk to
| you, and l do not care in the least whether
| you are angry or not, although l Ihad much
rather You would take my remarks in
| good part
"Oh, responds the voice, still smoth-
cred in the sofa cushions but losing moth
ing of its resentful quality. 81 know
how clever you are and that you think
you can manage every ones affairs a
| great deal better than themselves.
She intends this to be nasty one, F"
and, as a matter of fact, it does not fall
very pleasantly on the ears of her inter
| lOcutOr; but she sits down on the sofa, and
| replies with good humOr: "NNeu, my love-
l may confidently say that could manage
| your affairs great deal better than you
manage them yourself, and that if were
you would have Mr.. Clement Lascelles at
my feet in very short time.
Perhaps you have him there now,
says the PROSTATE one, ceasing to sob, and
trying to sneer instead.
"Well, Dolly dear, to tell you the truth,
fail myself to recognize in that young
man the charm which observe he has for
for some people; indeed l consider him
a poseur, with an eXasperatingly good
opinion of himself, and, if you ask my
candid opinion, / think he would be al
the better for being ldc'-
Dorothy founces up in a moment. 81
will trouble you not to insultmy friends,
she cries, with flaming cheeks. "And il
is not very easy to believe your sincerity
when he was sitting in your pocket al
last night, and you were out walking
with him for two hours this morning"
In any case" replies Mrs. Dalton
coolly, your remarks prove that l hav
had time and opportunity to form an opin
ion OF his qualities. don't deny that h
is good looking, but it is intolerable tha
he should be so conscious of it, l admi
that he is not without a certain amour
of cleverness, and has been fairly wei
educated; but l violently object to hi
} thinking himself able to sit in judgmen
on people good deal older and clevere
than himself.
"On you, for instancel' cries Dolly.
mo, l was not thinking of myself
> though admit the soft impeachment 9TH
one regarding my age. at least); and wha
dislike most of all is his placing himse
on pedestal to be looked at and longe
for by-by pretty, silly little girls, WI
J ought to know better"
Dolly stiffens her back, and says, wit
an assumption of dignity which sits indi
ferently well upon her: IF you wi
r excuse me, | should prefer not discussin
} Mr.. Lascelles with you. You are perfect
welcome to your opinion of him, and
=. claim the liberty of retaining mine
y Then, her majesty suddenly topping owe
she says vindictively, in quite q differel
tone of voice: Perhaps you think l a
such a fool that don't see through yol
mean abuse of himY'
' THAT may win and wear him myself
o. suggests Mrs. Dalton, quite good hume
OF edly. mo, my dear and acute child,
Iieve me, you have not fathomed and u
- masked my baseness this time. l kno
your dear and sensitive little heart is S
upon this fascinating young man. doI
think there is really any harm in him, a.
l9 am magnanimous enough to be ready
show you how to obtain his affections, a.
TO make him the suppiant instead
you"
''Suppliant2" cried Dolly, with fre
flames from her burning heart ascendi
to her cheeks
Eyes, suppiant. Every one, my 10y
!. can see-he most of all-how you ha
upon his smiles, and despair when he
Indifferent or capricious.
! Wrath makes Dolly absolutely spee'
less If looks, etc, etc, Mrs. Dalt
would, etc, etc.
Don't be a goose, Dolly" resumes
friend, not having suffered any visible
jury from the lightning glances to VIII
she had been subjected.
keep your temper, and reap the
vantages of my superior age and exp'
ence."
keep them to yourselfl" retorts Dol
tartly.
'The first l must, whether or no,
the latter shall be yours. Come, d
fur child. you know l am fond of you;
nPt lieve me when / say would not HI
ple5g. your enchanter as a gift, and also thl
red am desirous to see him subjugated
J Of you He shall be yours, l promise, an
Des' will only make one condition.
Dolly seats herself on the sofa, and
lows Mrs. Dalton to take her hand, thoI
. she looks rather sulky. Still, she dt
ods poor little girl, regard Mr.. Clement |
ring celles as the first prize in the marri
uaF- lottery, and is willing to take upon
ame anne self his part Of the contract; to wors
him with her body and endow him '
q all her worldly goods. For in u 81
! way she is an hairess, though he is
destitute of money, and has an excel
position Truth TO tell. the young ma
not what is called "a bad sort" he
NJ good looks, good brains and good n
"A ners, when he is not egged on to
- liberties by the silly batteries of the o
SsH se- sex. Poor Dolly loves him madly
Iiy, has innocently shown her pleasure in
est notice and her sufferings at his neg
20. ~, Mrs Dalton having paused to give
ose effect to her words, Dolly. after nom
to is constrained to say rather sui
es "WellP
,tly "YOu must take the VOW first.
,at- 'What vow7" with latent irritation
NY "The vow never to tell any hu
ost- being-Mr Lascelles least of all-thi
tie. or, for the matter of that, any one
w. 1SO vised you how to act toward him."
nH- "Oh, Of course, promise"
nps. With a sudden desperate gesture
c1h x kisses the book and repeats the form
=. "Now, them" she cries excitedly.
INV Mrs Dalton takes up her par