Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-05-15
TWO. WAYS OF ASKING.

Fresh cause for woe
TWO. WAYS OF ASKING.
Tears, idle tearsI Niobe dissolved
My dear child, what on earth is the
matterP'
Time: Four of a summer afternoon.
Place: a pretty boudoir, furnished in
the fashion of to-day, modelled on the
style of Louis QuinZe, with dash of
Liberty thrown in, and modern acces-
sories, such as crystal flower vases,
three-volume novels, and photograph
stands. iuXtapoSed with Queen Anne
silver and nicknacks, ancient and mod
ern. Dramatis persona: a graceful
figure in white, flung with an air of
desolation on the floor beside a sofa,
her charming nuque visible beneath
delicious little rows of golden curls,
her frame shaken by sobs; an older
woman standing a few yards distant,
dark, beautifully dressed, good looking
enough for anything without being
distinctly handsome, aged somewhere
within the right side of thirty, and
wearing an expression half compassion,
half amused There is a suspicion of
raillery in her voice, which is felt and
ceeply resented by the 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.
4 wish you would go 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
had much rather you would take my
remarks in good part
Oh responds the voice, still smoth-
cred in the sofa cushions, but losing
nothing of its essential quality, Il know
how clever you are, and that you think
you can manage every ones affairs
better than themselves
She intends this to be nasty one, ,
and, as matter of fact. it does not
| fail very pleasantly on the ears of her
interlocutor; but she sits down on the
sofa and replies, with good humor,
f--iheH, my love, L may conidentially
say that could manage your affairs a
great deal better than you manage them
yourself, and that, if l 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.
We'll, Dolly, dear, TO tell you the
truth, fail myself to recognize in that
I young man the charm which observe
he has for-for some people; indeed, l
| consider him a pOseur, with an exasper-
/ atingly good opinion of himself, and, if
! you ask my candid opinion, L think
81, L. a. s..
being kic-'
/ DoraUhy fiounces up in a moment.
! Il 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. l don't deny
! that he is good-lOoking, but 1t is intol-
cradle that he should be SO conscious Of
! it. l adm that he is not without a
certain amount of cleverness, and has
! teen fairly well educated; but L vio-
4 lentIy object To his thinking himself
! able to sit in judgment on people good
7 deal older and cleverer than himself
ON you, for instance cries Dolly.
No, | was not thinking of myself,
though l admit the soft Impeachment
/ (the one regarding my age, at least
and what l dislike most of all is his
/ placing himself on a pedestal to be
I looked at and lOnged for by-Dy pretty,
silly little girls, Who ought to know
better
Dolly stiffeHs her back, and says,
with AN assumption of dignity which
sits indlfferently well upon her, if you
will excuse me, | should prefer not
discussing Mr.. LascelleS with you. Y ou
are perfectly welcome 10 your opinion
of him, and l claim the liberty of re-
tanning mine.
Then, her majesty suddenly toppling
over, she says, vindictively, i'll quite a
different voice, Perhaps you think ]
am such fool that don't see through
your mean abuse of him?'
That l may win and wear him my
self?' suggests Mrs. Dalton, quite good
humoredly. No, my dear and acute
child, believe me, you have not faith.
omed and unmasked my baseness this
time. L know your dear little heart i.
set upon this fascinating young man.
/ don't think there is really any harm
in HIM, and l am magnanimous enough
TO be ready TO show you how to obtain
his affections, and to make him the
suppllant instead of you
'Suppliantr cries Dolly, with fresh
flames from her burning heart ascend
ing to her cheeks.
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 caprlcious.'
Wrath makes Dolly absolutely speech
less. If looks, de-, &c, Mrs. Daltor
would, &C., sc.
Don't be a goose, DOLLY resumes
her friend, not having suffered AM
visible injury from the lightning glancei
to which she has been subjected. 'keeI
your temper and reap the advantage:
Of my superior age and experience
Keep them to YOURSELF retort:
Dolly, tartly-
] The first 1 must, whether or no, but
the latter shall be yoars. Come, deal
child, you Know i am fond of you
believe me, when 1 say 1 would no
have your enchanter as gift, and alsC
that 1 am desirous TO see him subju
gated by you. He shall be yours.
promise, and will only make one con
dition-
. Dolly seats herself on the sofa ant
allows Mrs Dalton to take her hand
!. though she looks rather sulky. Still
she does, poor little girl, regard Mr.