Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-07
THE. LANDING NET;
BY ROBERT CAMERON ROGERS.
TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

- gown.
TOBY, bull-te,rier pup Collar and leash.
ScESr.-A country house in a hunting country,
almost dny,ohere. A large hall, ,rith stairs
leading 10 a landing; at one end large double
door Fores' brushes. deers antlers, and otssv
trophies ddorn the calls.
Enter Mr.. Merriam ('Tom"D.
Tom I'm sure heard Hates voice here
lust now. (he caits.) Miss Lauderdale! (Then
goes part of tie rdy up the sko,rs looks around
anu calls dgdtn) Miss Lauderdalei (Comes
do'cn d'd seats himself one of the io,oer steps
She can't have gone with the hounds. after all !!
No; shes apont somewhere and I'll wait here
awhile (Stcitcaes his boot 10Th his cropstick
ne'roasiy) believe I'm ratified. By Jove I
am: that's the truth. She must know how I
feei- she has eyes. (Shdkes his head and
knows how to use them. OF course she knows
anyhow, she shall before the mornings over.
tMnses ecih handle Of cropstick 10 has
moah.) There's Dick; he's bright. rather,
put too young. I'm not afraid Of him.
mere Harry; old enough certainly, but
NO, 1t doesn seem to me tina: he's the man for
her Still (S,rttches has boo, ago,a), it's ali a
lottery. think she likes nue.. Dick-confound
, nm why VIII he make a confdant OF me?-
| Dick thinks She likes him. Harry thinks to
suit himself, too, suppose. (rdlcHs neruons's
GA" MODES las cropS,tck.) l dare say am an
ass to precipitate affairs. What's that about
Icois rushing in where angels fear to treaG?'
II m Wen, L always admired the nerve of tho
Tools, and in this case no one certainly, can
irntblniiy accuse the other two of being angels
SLoosS az has ,cdtch.) Now where the deuce is
terrace
iEra 10 left. As he disappears, Miss Lauder
dale. dodtng Toby an leash, appears upon
NE hnd'ng Talks 10 dog IN he n,at,dlt,
d@9nc9e usually addressed by intelligent
people n unintet!cttal dogs
Mss l. Yes he was little love. he was
(Sedts herse.f on landing and be1ins ,rorktaq at
some Kind IF ret ,rorh.) OF all days for Kitty
to go lame! And she is the only mount take
any comfort in No hunt for me today.
Sorry-tOr them. (Lduqhs and puts dozen her
'oork) hate this sort of thing. Always de-
tested need!ework. It's well enough when
you re talking with any one--h man, for in
stance 1t bridges little awkward silences. and
is often quite effective. But alone it becomes
her Knees, and looks Gredni,ty dozen 6Ae stars
wonder If Dick isn't coming down this morn
ng2 That sprained wrist isn't going 20 keep
him in bed. L hope. It's really Lonesome.
l1dkes up ,rork again. told Tom at break
fast should be in the house the most O. the
morning. And to think of his going off with
the pink coats after that. Tommy isn't wise
in his generation. Still (ta,.yhs ,oftly), per-
haps he IL, after all 81 Ia je,ysesse sdcdd door
opens; Tom enters haA) Why, Tom, how you
startled me! supposed you were following
the hounds, leading the hunt, shouting Tally
no :" and all that.
Tom (sentime'stally, and sitting on the stair
Just 5eto,c). You thought that, and you alone
here?
Mss l.. Qbriskly). Alone, but not lonely.
Ton. ALI! l presume there is a hidden
meaning in that remark. 1t means. prima
tacie go; really, however, think you prefer
me to stay: At any rate (Leans back conyorta-
biy). shall for while.
Miss l.. What analyst you are! Do you
happen to have joined the Society for PSYCHE
Tom. Do you mean am searching for
Psyche? Yes. You don't know how like my
ideal Of her you are you sit there.
Miss L. How delightful! Thanks, so much!
How versatile you are! You can turn your
phrases to suit every emergency. Only yester-
Tom. Good-natured OF you, I'm sure. Harry
agreed. of course.
Miss l.. Oh, yes. He said you talked very
we'll.
-. Tom (,eiM asp1-ity). Threw the accent on
Kate (innocently). What accent? Harry
doesn't talk with an accent. Here (tossinq his
oou Of rorsted); try and be useful Is well as
ornamental.
Tom. What are you making-a tennis net,
or Is it a net for fishes?
Mss l.. hate tennis, and am no fisher.
Tom Not even in the apostolic sense?
Mss L. Pardon me?
Tom (not altogether pleased to haze to erplain
has NOT. Wasn't your uncle a clergyman?
Where is your early education? I meant a
fisher of men, OF course.
Miss L. (chiHingly). The net isn't spread for
you.
Tom (aughing). No, but seem to have run
into it. Still, if am intruding, I'll go.
lSits quite stil.
Miss L. All. but you don't go! If you expect
me to urge you to remain, you're doomed to
disappointment: Why don't you go?
Tom (,oih elaborate air Of Indifference. Nat
ural perverseEess alone bids me stay
Mss L. Natural perverseness alone! Compli-
mentary l wonder why you are so disagreea-
Lie this morning.
Tom. I'm not.
Mass L. DE gusttbus non. (Silence a moment
Miss L. pre;ends to be busy ,ciM her cork, Sud
de.ly) Why aren't you with the hunt this morn
Miss L. AL on account of Kitty. Why aren't
Tom A reason quite cognate-all on account
of Kate
Miss l.. How graceful! Don't stir Gas he at
tempt. to come nearer). You'll tangs that skein,
and at present you re really serviccable
Tom, You remind me Of one of the Fates
spinning there.
Mass L. A thousand thanks. They're ugly
old women, aren't they2
Ton" That's Michael Angeles conception of
a Fate. Now my Fate
"SS I.' on, "u ~ oe your rate! mats
good-natured Of you!
Tom (despair,agty). How you twist and tor.
ture my meanings! (Sllence a moment. then
,cih air Of great decision and ,oell-braced cour-
age) Still, as we are talking of Fates, may
rs well say now as any time that could dare
hope for fate 60
[Ledns Orer totcard her ,cith sudden feyror
Just then a cOice is heard aLoUe, sinoinq
She gtces little exclamation and droDs
ball Of toOrsted ,rhich rolls to bottom of
stairs. Tom suH1ty pursues ii, and re-
turns
Miss L. It's Dicky. He's on the third floor.
Sit on the lower step and he won't see YOU.
Dick from aboUe, ouer the baiusters). Good
morning, Katherine. All through breakfast
Miss L. (,oith an air Of greet c0nce,n). Why.
Dick, what did you try to get up for, with YOUR
poor wrist? Yes, all through and OH to the
hunt but Toby. and-a-( hesitates)-Tom.
Tom (iU-nat,aed,y). Honorable mention
after Toby! Many thanks.
Dick What's up with Tom?
Miss L. (,c'th malice GtorethoughO. Nothing
at all serious fancy.
Dick (augaisg). Nose out OF joint2 Poor
Ton, (in undertone to Miss L.). Why didn't didn't
he break his neck instead of spraining wrist?
It's just easy.
Dick Who's talking?
Miss L. (,ciu. sad nendacity). Brown, the
butler, in the breakfast room.
Tom (serereiO. Sapphira!
Dick. I'm coming down. You won't mind
my room gown?
MISS L. No, sha'n't, but expect the Col.
lett girls every minute. and you know what
Dtct oh hang Aha Col,a<t., III, u