The Springdale news., 1889-12-13
AFTER THE PARTY.
An Explanation That Was Alto
 gether Satisfactory.

He-Good-night, Miss Wilmott-
 She-You are not going?
 He-It is hard to tear ones sol away from such pleasure, but it is late; most of the guests are gone.
 She-Stay till they are all gone.
 He-I am afraid 1 will
 She-You are easily frightened noto. You 9cjH wait. must speak to you.
 She-At last! Thank heaven, they are gone
 He-Why such a sigh of relief. Ii has been delightful party.
 She (wearily)-Has it? I don't doubt it has been delightful to yoas, except for these last fifteen minutes
 He-They have been, so far, the happiest.
 She-Of course you had to say that know you wanted to go.
 He-Don't let us talk nonsense. You told me
 She-I told you I wished to speak to you-since you will not speak to me-
 He-What do you mean? ! She-Do sit down. You make me nervous, standing there, posed like a statue, with those searching eyes look ing through me.
 He--They're looking for something that is not there.
 She-l suppose you want me to ask you what? and then you will say, a heart. I've had so much of that, so very much of that; and 1 expect some thing better from you.
 He-You are bitter this evening.
 She-Tell me-what have l done to you?
 He-Done to me?
 She-Yes. Have I offended youp Have 1 been rude to you2
 He-No. I don't know of any thing you have done. You could not be rude.
 She-Then you have been.
 He-I! How, when, where?
 She-Wil you turn some of those lights down2 The glare hurts my eyes.
 He-Will you not take the easy chair? You look more natural in that.
 She-What have I done? For two years we have been friends, close warm friends-almost brother and sis ter.
 He-Yes. We are friends still, are we not?
 She-I never used to go anywhere that you dld not find me and come to me, if it was only for a moment, only to shake hands, only to look at me. You came here very often-and it seemed as if you could dc nothing. think of nothing, without telling mo. He-Yes. remember that.
 She-You remember thatl You speak as if it were something of the tar past Yet it was only last year
 He-only his year.
 he-Suddenly it all came to an end Suddenly you began to avoid me. Every thing, even the grasp of your hand when we did meet, told me you had changed. What was it?
 He-I have not changed.
 She-You know, for the last three months, you have never come near me Tonight, even, in my own house, you have avoided me all the evening, you have devoted yourself to others to another.
 He-I didn't want-that is
 She-Why do you hesitatep You did not want to tell me you had wearied of my friendship-that it has become a bore to you.
 He-Edithi l beg your Eardon-I-
 She-Speak out 1 am woman. but do not live on compliments. I can bear the truth sometimes,
 He-But l could not.
 She-What do you mean?
 He-How 1t blows outside. I used to like the storm. Do you remember how one night last winter we sat here and talked. and as we talked We heard the wind rise and howl around the house. and then the rain came dashing against the window until the storms great charm put spell apon Us and we listened in silence till it grew quite late, and as l stepped out into the wild night your face close to the window-pane in this cozy room seemed like picture of an angel? She-I do remember that hour of dreaming not the angel part Of il.
 He-I was very happy in those days. There was one summer day