Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24

1 JOY iueut most people WOuiO prefer 10 sntn.
At german chaperons are considered by the
young folks particularly useless. unless they
| are dancing chaperons, and in that case they
aren't really chaperons at all
|
Her Correspondents.
| JACKS room, ,cith JACK in Il. He is frap.ping
up and dozen, hands in pockets, jacket half Of has
shoulders, Jin-iously smoking perfectly empty
pipe.
! JACK (sdccgely soliioquiziss bcfsoeen pefs).-
Glad wrote it. Glad 1 sent it. Glad I've
broken with her. Only sorry didn't do it
sooner. Flirt Thorough firt Went to see
her. Found her going out. With man. Young
man. Good-looking. Also stylish. She says
and dare up interrupt Wish her very
good evening. Which means very bad one.
Fling off, Lie awake all night. Morning. write
letter ending engagement Post it Meant to
60 to Europe instantly; This noon. But thought
her yet? Hope it has. No; don't. Hope it
hasn't Ethel. (Daxhes doom p;pe, looks at
tcdtca: 3:45. and she'll get it by the five
o'clock delivery. Even now I've time to go up
| there and see her before il comes-time enough
But what do 1 want to do that for? Haven /
any strength of mind2 Clears 9U jacGet.) Or
firrness? Puts coat Or resolution?
Babies face AID hands, brushes hdir.) Or de-
termination? (H,aTTes into ulster and arctics. }
/
(Siaattstes hat) No; by Jove, haven't. Era,
rsianing.)
ErHEL's r1rlor. JACK, slightly heated and
tremendously dgitdted; to ,rtons enter ETHEL.
ETHEL IE9ndty smiling and not at all con-
sclous) Why, dear!
JACK (a,os,eardiy).-Ah!-hem!-good after
| ETHEL (instantly conpreltending).-O Jack !,
what a foolish, good, blind. quick-tempered
| stupid you are, You're the most ridiculous
l hat ov,1y Off, try
| me almost to death, and sometimes YOU re too
funny for anything. This time you're funny !.
Ha, ha ha ha.
JACK attempting dignty).-May ask
ETHEL Stoughing).-Oh, yes; you may ask
but whether I can get breath enough to
| answer is another matter-ha. ha. ha. ha
JACK (,ciR. a sort Of shapae.fdced hdugl.tiness).
If you can do nothing but jeor at me, I'd
better-(naoces to go)
ETHEL (ptliing HIM dozen into r).-Don't
be silly, Jack. You know you don't mean to
go-you're only pretending-and you wouldn't
be able to. if you meant it-goose!
JACK leelplessly).-Yes; l know. Ethel it's
| because love-
it is. That's what you intended to tell me at
the very first, wasn't it? JACK confused }
Well. now, you've told me; III tell you some
thing 1t was my uncle
| JACK.-Eh?
ErHEL.-Yes; Uncle Joe. Just from California.
He's Papa's younger brother. whom you've
| never seen-as was quite evident from your
| behavlor-ha. ha, ha, ha! If you'd waited one
second, you'd have learned all about it and
| JAcK.-O Ethel! what a donkey l am !.
ETHEL (unresisting). Not quite that. but
possibly some other kind Of big. strong. un-
reasoning animal-from your actions, should
say bear Good old jealous JackI Peace
| breaks ont tcitt great rioiei.ce.)
SERVANT (e'ltering late).-Th' letters, Miss
| (Erif SEIyANT.)
| JACK (suddenly recol,ecting). Great heavens !!
ETHEL Examining ette,'s).-Only one for me-
Why, Jack. what ails you? Your absolutely
white Are you ill? You're not? But why do
All!
JACK (apa,D.-rd forgotten all about it!
ETHEL (teah Gerry piqudat air Of being mistress
| ofhe sit,tation).-Now, whom can this be from?
The hand is a man's-yery much like yours,
Jack. The resemblance is quite strong.
JACK apart What a horrible scrape.
ETHEL (lets,ueiy opening hft.1).-And the en-
yelopes like yours, too-and the paper.
(Reads.) MISS Fay" Must be from some
shopkeeper on business. (Reads.) "Wten you
Well, well! What do you think of that, Jack?
JACK (perspring 'cid dgony).-I don't-I
| can't
ETHEL CtoughtfuIy).- DO you suppose this
person is really where he said he should be
when 1 read these lines?
JACK (,oincing). -Merciful powers!
ETHEL Cresuning).-''-ot.tside Of Sandy
Hook. nerer to see goa again" At any rate,
this isn't from a shopkeeper. (Heuds) you
hare tired me out, ! don't know but that it
may be, thought Reads and ledue you
forever" JACK groans.) You don't appear
| interested, and it is stuff, l acknowledge
| JACK g''odns dgdia.) Let's go on. though. Just
for fun. Reads "-jforeeer, not 10 re,norse-'
, dear me, should hope not. 8Reads) ''-'ohich
JACK CdpG'f),-I wish l were dead,
ETHEL docking hard at him)--My corre-
spondent seems rather severe, doesn't he, Jack?
(Reads.) but do ledue you to one rho is far
my superior no doubt No doubt. truly. iny
| JACK. ETHEL continues). ''-in merit as he is
| in good fortune" how very Johnsonian and
| prize-essayish my correspondent H. Jack
(isedds. and tcho is, ,-ast, scortty of your
You really worthy Of my love?
JACK (despt,,d'el.-O Ethel! Stop! l.
ETHEL (ptatingher hand on his mouth Quiet.
Jack! I've not finished reading my letter .
(Redds) He cannot tore you more than -
can't you, Jack?-(reaGs) '-looed you onoes'-
ali. past tense-(redds) nor less than Ioue you
| nO,o-"
JACK (,cisdly).-Ethel. Please don't!
ETHEL (quietty).-My correspondent is Just
little wee grain brutal, isn't he, Jack? (Reads.)
opinion about that, Jack? (Reads.) "fae-
,cea, cruel girl" do hear my correspondent
spout. Jack "-and neper think more or
JACK Drying to snatch er).--I must have il
ETHEL QsoSding him of aud reading).-
"YOws-"
JACK.-Don't read-oh, don't read the sig
ETHEL.-''-most-"
JACK.-Don't, oh, don't!
ETHEL.-"-sinctrty- Gears up letter and
hro,cs in g'dte.) 1 can't imagine who my cor
respondent may be--can you-Jack?
JACK an grateful ddordtion). You darling
girl! (Second and atis time lasting reconcile
alton. Only, some n,inutes at1e'-)
ETHEL tds'ednaity). I'm afraid I'm sorry
destroyed that letter.
MdnIey H. Pix.
Things Swallowed.