Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23
Written for The Evening Star
AN EVENING CONVERSATION.

What Occurred at n Little Catherine
Where All Were "Delishted."
The other night. in company with two of
my girl friends. 1 called upon Miss Smith,
with whom We found two or three other
girls. While we were laughing and talk
Ing Mr.. James and Mr.. Mack two young
men OF the dudish order, were ushered in
After general introductions the gentlemen
retired to the extreme opposite side of the
room and gazed around for several minutes
upon the pictures, the flowers and the girls,
who giggled necessarily. Finally the girl
whom we were visiting whispered in a
coaxing tone to her friend beside her on
the sofa, Wont you play on the pianor'
mo, I can't; but Flossie will IL you will
ask her.
'Flossie. play something" Miss Smith
said
Il can't" replied that young lady, shrug-
| ging her shoulders in the most approved
| fashion.
Indeed you can, for have heard you.
| Please!'
There was a general chorus of voices:
Please"
"Oh. indeed! you play beautifully; you
Know you can, urged another young lady,
| whose frequent reiteration of this remark
led one to believe that it was her stock ex-
| preston.
II can't play. Let some one else." and
Fiossle acted the part CT a spoiled child
who was being asked to show off some
| cute requirement She liked to be coax
ed, because 1t brought her and her accom-
phshment before the company in a promi-
| nent way.
Please sing something" said Mr.. James.
| with bashful glance at Flossie
| Dor urged Mr.. Mack, who always en-
phased his friends small remarks.
ad fnossie became very shy and Just wasn't
attention pleased her very much. She
| Maud" ''
u would If I could" replied Maud.
| ON, yes, you can; 60 onv'
| mo, won't" Maud said. and nv this
| time the kittenish manner Of Flossie had
ansferred itself to her.
II think you might. Maudie. don't you
Know how nicely you used to play when
but l won't TELL" another girl said in a
| Knowing, mysterious way
Maudie blushed and said, ~ think Won
are awful mean. / will never tell you any
thing more" and she looked really angry.
The rest OF the girls giggled and looked
| silly. After long. embarrassing silence
some one ventured to remark that MI.
NO. I never sing" drawled that young
gentleman.
Mr.. Mack. who had the air of a gentle
man who would next be asked sat in smil-
ing anticipation. His hopes were not
Mr.: Mack. please sing something" said
Miss Smith, persuasively.
Go on and sing. frankie" urged his
companion. Sing, DO You Know I'm So
| Shy" At this all of the company Joined
MIR. James In giggle, and poor Mr. Mack
was very much distressed and blushed to
the roots Of his red hair, outlying the pink
Il can't sing" he stammered, yet he felt
we'll pleased with himself and proud that
the company knew that he could sing and
that he had sung before.
Again the chorus Of voices coaxed the
little dude to sing, though If his voice were
IN proportion to his physique it was very
| small.
"Pleasev "Tryw "Dor was heard on
Go on, Mack and sing something's But
Mack looked more like taking "somethine'
| to strengthen him. IF Mack sings 1 will +"
The attention. to Mr.. Mack's relief. was
turned to his friend James.
will you sing too, Flossie and Maud?
Miss Smith asked.
Yes, Wen sing" the girls answered; but
their laugh was not inspiring Of confidence
III sing II Miss Maud will play" James
said, though I'm awfully out Of practice
you know going to dance every night
does fellow up" The company was quite
on6eieving that Mr. James should ''go to
dance every night"
Some time was spent in unsuccessful eff
forts to get Miss Maud to the piano. Then
Fiossie reluctantly consented to accompany
Mr.. James. but hardly had she struck three
chords before she rose and said rather pet
tishly, Il can't play" Some one else was
asked. but she couldn't play without her
music"
"Maudie, you please play" said a quiet
girl, who had said nothing during the en-
tire evening.
II can't"
'Oh. indeed! you play beautifully, you
know you cam" for about the hundredth
time said another girl.
Further conversation Of this character
went on until IL O'Clock. Parting at the
door the young men and girls expressed
themselves as charmed" delighted" ZEN
tranced," and declared one and all that
they had never spent a more enjoyable
evening. But in their hearts they thought
one another the most stupid people alive.
/. NJ. p.