Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-11-23
POOR TOM.

Of deep red roses.
"Poor Tom" she begins; "he is the
most uncertain man | ever knew. Why,
it is almost one whole long year since
met him. and he has not proposed yet.
IL does seem improbable, III admit" sur
veying her fair image in the glass. sop
portunitiesl Why, he has had plenty Of
them. We first met at Mrs. Lanes tea,
second at Mrs Browns ball. Oh, he had
Just the grandest chance therel We were
in the conservatory alone for fully half An
hour. The music walled softly through
the air, the fragrant flowers, the tender
ripple Of the fountain, and well, my
mirror encouraged me very much on my
appearance ! wore perfect dream of a
gown, pink chiffon and silver. IL was real
ly poem.
"Yet he is generous-howers, bon bons,
books, notes, adores mamma, dotes on
papa, aud Willie, my small brother, he
fairly eats him. These are good signs,
but he IL, | believe, timid. | shall not
give him another chance to propose TO me,
and, o Tom dear old Tom would have
accepted you," sobbing, "but fate has de
cided against us. You are lost to me for
ever. | shall never, never give you
another chance Hark | hear him com
ing now"
She brings forth another basket Of fiow.
ers and casts his roses aside.
He enters the room little hastily; sees
the object Of his thoughts; stands still.
Dat in hand.
She, indifferently; "Ah, Mr.. Revere, is
that your ! did not hear you come in"
"Nes, Miss Heartwell."
"Do come and look at these beautiful
flowers Colonel White has sent me He is
such an adorable old gentleman, Is he notf
Yet wait Did | call him oldi Pardon
me, my dear colonel, making a low cour
tesy to vacant chair, "you are not old,
really. i, for one, rather prefer an aged
/ man They are so clever, sociable and
captivating, and" "-laughing-"theym make
such ideal lovers"
~ should imagine so, "a their long
suffering with gout makes them familiar
with pain"
"Painl What is paini" In a puzzled
voice, "Do lovers suffer painS"
"Some," coldly.
"Ahi am glad / am not lover. My
very dear Mr.. Revere, sincerely hope you
do not suffer as a lover"
"No, my dear Miss Heartwell, I do
not"
She walks three times up and down the
room, then comes back TO the basket of
|
flowers.
Very coldly, "what exquisite taste the
dear colonel does showp'
"Too gaudy for refined taste, ! venture
to say"
"I think, Mr. Revere, you have ventured
too far" icily.
81 shall venture still farther and say
think IL outrageous for that old man to
run around with other women, as his wife
has not been in the ground "A year yet"
Holly, ellis wife is not In the ground,
he told me so himself"
"NoW surprised.
"She il cremated.'
He takes three turns around the room,
then takes from his coat IA bunch Of vio-
lets.
"See, Miss Heartwell, what exquisite
taste the charming little widow, Mrs JOY,
has. | pleaded for "A flower, these violets
were her own choice"
II detest violets, the odor IL too heavy.
l cannot remain in n room with them"
"You surely would not have me discard
them'" surprised.
81 would" madly. "I tell you, detest
them. detest that widow Joy. She is a
painted, made up, jealous woman"
"But. Bessie"--
"Yes, she is painted and made up.
know the druggist where she buys her
paint and her dressmaker told me she was
made up"
Bessie" calmly.
Wildly; "I tell you, Tom, hate her,
and if you are her friend you cannot be
mine-and the perfume of these violets is
making me faint fcel'-
She leans back; he puts his arm around
her for support.
| Very softly HReSsia -
"Tom," tenderly.
"Mrs. Joy does paint, Bessie; / believe
you. rubbed some off the other even
ing"
"You must have been very close" She
draws herself from him.
81 was, dear-we were dancing"
"Oh, Tom, dear old Tomp'
He puts his arm around her.
"And, Tom, do think Colonel White
has very gaudy taste"
eyes, dear"
"And, Tom, do throw those violets
away. am faint from the odor."
al cannot, darling. / know they are
your favorite flowers. This is the bunch
you gave me last night"
Kissing the violets: "Oh Tom, how
could your The dear, sweet, fragrant
thingsp'
!
-because"-
"Why, Tomp"
Because love you. Is it yesi'
Was it yesp
"Now, Tom, darling, you shall know
the truth. Colonel White did not send
me those flowers. Papa is ill, and his
Office boy sent them TO him"
"The dear, pretty flowersl What quiet
taste that boy has''
eyes quite refined, Tom"
"Bessie, darling"
"Yes, my love"
"Say yes again"
Softly :" Yes Cattle " Schnellerman.
! 1--WE CANNOT