Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-17
TWO WAYS OF ASKING.
Miss Dolly's Lesson in Love and
How to Manage.

''Tears, idle tearsi Niobe dissolved! Ny
dear child, what on earth is the ,natter?"
Time: Four of a summer afternoon
Place: A pretty bouGoir, furnished in the
fashion of to-day, modelled on the style
of Louis Quinze with dash of Liberty
thrown in, and modern accessories, such a:
crystal flower vases, three-volume novels
and photOgraph-stands, iuxtaposed with
Queen Anne silver and knicknacks ancient
and modern. Dramatis Personae: graceful
figure in white, flung with an air of desola-
tion on the floor beside sofa, her charming
neck visible beneath delicious little rows
of golden curls, her frame shaken by sobs
an older woman standing few yards dis
tant, dark, beautifully dressed, ''good-look-
ing enough for any thing without being
distinctly handsome, aged somewhere with,
in the right side of thirty, and wearing an
expression half compassionate, half amused.
There is a suspicion of raillery in her voice,
which.is felt and ddeeply resented blythe fair
sorrower. Anger is often akin to sorrow as
pity is to love, and the voice which responds
to the question when reiterated is decidedly
petulant.
81 wish YOU would go away and leave me
alone"
II shall not do any thingof the sort.n re-
turns the other. II am going to talk to you
and do not care in the least whether you
are angry or not, although l had much
rather you would take my remarks in good
part" IL. .-t..5r = ~
co." responds the voice, still smothered
in the sofa-cushions, but losing nothing of
its reSentful quality. Il know how clever
you are. and that you think that you can
manage every ones affairs great deal bet
ter than themselves"
Che intends this to be nasty one." and,
as matter of fact, it does not fall very
pleasantly on the ears of her interlocutor:
but she sits down on the sofa, and replies
with good humor: "Well, my love, NAV
confidently say that could manage your af-
fairs great deal better than you manage
them yourself, and that if l were YOU, l
would have Mr.. Clement LaScclles at nv
feet in a very short time
perhaps you have him there nowv' saws
the PROSTATE one, ceasing to sob and trying
TO sneer instead.
''Well, Dolly dear, to tell you the truth, l
fail myself to recognize in that young man
the charm which l observe he has for-for
some people; indeed, l do consider him a
poser, with an eXasperatingly good opinion
of himself. If you ask my candid opinion,
l think that he would be all the better for
being kic-"
Dorothy tounces up in moment. 81 will
trouble YOU not to insult my friends" she
cries, with flaming cheeks. "And it is not
very easy TO believe your sincerity when he
was sitting in your pocket all 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 have had time
and opportunity to form an opinion of his
qualities. don't deny that he is good look
ing, but it is intOlerable that he should he
so conscious of it. l admit that he is not
without certain amount of cleverress, and
has been fairly well educated; but l yio-
lently object to his thinking himself able
TO sit in Judgment on people a good deal
older and cleverer than himself"
''On you, for instancew cr1es Dolly.
''No, was not thinking of myself, though
/ admit the soft impeachment (the one re-
garding my age, at least); and what dis
like most of all is his placing himself on a
pedestal to be looked at and longed for by
by pretty, silly little girls, who ought to know
betters - - - =. - =
Dolly stiffens her back, and saws. with an
assumption of dignity which sits Indifferent
ly well upon'her '1f you win excuse me,
l should prefer not discussing Mr.. Lascefes
with you. You are perfectly welcome to
your opinion of him, and claim the liberty
of retaining miner Then, her majesty. sud.
denly, toppling over, she SAYS vindictiyeiv.
in quite q different toneof voice: "Perhaps
you think am such fool that don't see
through your mean abuse of him"- ..
"Ihat may win and wear him mvself'-
suggests Mrs. Dalton, quite good -humoredly.
'No, my dear and acute child, believe me.
you have not fathomed and unmasked nv
DaseneSS this time. know your dear and
sensitive little heart is set upon this fascina
ting young man. l don't think there is
really any harm in him, and am mag
unanimous enough 70 be ready to show You
how to obtain his affections, and to make
him the suppliant instead of YOU"
''Suppliantw cries Dolly, with fresh
flames from her burning heart ascending to
her checks.
''Yes, suppliant. Every one, my love, can
see-he most of all-how you hang upon his
smiles, and despair when he is Indifferent or
capriGous-f} p fttF /
Wrath makes Dolly absolutely speeches..
If looks, etc, etc, Mrs. Dalton would, etc.,
etc.
''Don't be q goose, Dolly" resumes her
friend, not having suffered any visible in
jury from the lightning glances to which
she had been subjected. keep your temper,
and reap the advantagesof Inysuperior age
and experience. 2 = % -
keep them to yonrselfr' retorts Dolly,
tartly.
'sThe first must, whether or no, but the
latter shall be yours. Come, dearchild, you
knowI an fond of you; believe NE when
sts s1sSH0 u 80 ~