The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-16
AS THEY SLIPPED THEIR SODA.

40 tneY StfpEO If1eiH SOONs
Fateful story Of Duet whore the Con
traito Was Trine Weak.
20, dear" cried the girl with tn,
white gloves, IL am so hungry that
really must have cream soda"
$50 am ~ said the girl with tremen
dous sleeves, IL always take something
solid about H."
$50 do ]; but such an awful thing
happened at the musicale last nigh
that it's wonder I've any appetite a
all"
| "Do tell me all about it," cried the
girl with the tremendous sleeves, a!
she tasted her soda. 81 haven't knowr
you long, but ever since you gave me
that lovely cure for sunburn and intro
duced me to your cousin Tom I've felt
as though we had been friends fol
ages"
"Yes, indeed. and as soon as found
that you were living next door to Frank
l knew that we were meant to be bosom
friends"
"But do tell me what happened at
the musicale. Couldn't you keep any
powder on your face, or did the heat
take all the curl out Of your hair?"
"Worse even than that. I'll tell you
all about it. You remember that 1 told
that young Narcissus was inclined to
be quite attentive, and as he has so
much money felt it my duty to en-
courage him; just to keep him out Of
mischief"
"What noble girl you are!"
Ialways try to do my duty" said the
girl with the white gloves, /" though my
efforts are not always appreciated. Why,
for six months 1 allowed poor Alick to
be as devoted as he liked just because
he was so much in love with me, and
after all the mean thing wasn't satis-
fed and led him on. The idea!'
"How ungrateful. But do tell me
about the musicale"
"Well, in the first place 1 couldn't t
wear my smartest gown because was
asked to sing duet with Ida--you see
it is SO tight that can't get my breath
in it, much less my voice"
"What'a pity"
wasn't it? But of course wanted
to sing. Our voices don't harmonize
very well, but our complexions do.
Well, Mr.. Narcissus was there and was
quite attentive during the early part
of the evening. He would have been
more SO but for Jennie. 1t was really
shocking the way she ran after him.
Why, when asked him to get me some
claret cup, meaning to get away from
her, she actually went with him to get
1t. do hate maneuvering, don't you?"
Indeed do. L"
"Yes; and the very first chance got
I gave him hint that, while she was
my dearest friend, she was awfully
mercenary, though not as ill-tempered
as Helen, to whom he had asked to be
introduced. l felt it my duty"
"Of course, you"
''Well, l told him that the heat made
me faint, SO we went into the conserv-
atory and, don't you think, just as I
had gotten the conversation into the
proper channels that scheming Jennie
come after me with Ida's brother to
say that it was time for the duet. And
she actually had the insolence to sug-
gest to Mr.. Narcissus that they stay
there where it was cool and listen,
when the music room faced the lake
and was deliciously cool"
''The little wretc'l why
'Yes, indeed, and when l went in 1
found she had come for me fifteen min
utes too soon, for they had just begun
to look for Ida's music and the accom-
panist had her gloves and rings to take
off. Well, was SO angry that could
scarcely see the notes, for was afraid
Jennie would talk all the while SO he
hear"
"But he came to congratulate you?'
20, yes, and that was the worst part
of the whole affair. l smiled and said:
%, don't believe you heard it all-you
were SO absorbed with Jennie Of
course, didn't mean it, but wanted
him to deny it, SO could tell her."
"Of course. What did he say?"
20, it was awful! He flushed up and
said: %, yes, heard it all and it
would have been lovely if you had only
q good contralto to sing with YOU o,
thought should die"
"But what was wrong? -"
20, nothing, only was the contralto,
that was all.''-Chicapo Tribune.