Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07
The Way 1t Might Be.

HCENE: Shttn9 room OF an uptOtcH hOuse,
evidently belonging 10 comfortably ,cell-to-do
people. A fire burns in the open CRATE, but ii
needs trimming and more coal. 7'tco or three
books lie open, face do,cn,cdrds. on TIE table,
| and ere,y burner on a large chandelier as ot
| full blaze. Seated in uneasy char gazing
modify at his boots, is Nan. Appearances
seem 10 denote that the Man is Married. A
clock on the nontel strikes seren Hnkhng
strokes ,rih all the accuracy Of the French
| timeptece.
TIE MAN (stir,1ng slightly. Hump.
Twenty-Five minutes past three. No woman
can make me believe that it is necessary for her
to be out at such an hour as this. By Jove. l
won't believe H. Crises, goes 10 he ,rindo,c
usual argument with the driver on the side
walk, I suppose. All, well! (Sighs. and re-
turns 10 chair. Picks up half-smoked cigar
and relights IL. Pulls hard a, IL for tro or
/ three puFs. then Hro,cs IL in the tire.) Con-
found a cigar when it's once out. I'll light ND
| a fresh one, although I'm nervous now through
smoking too much Goes 10 ornamental cigar
/ Dor and raises iid). Empty, by Jupiter Now.
| I'd like to know what becomes of my cigars
don't smoke them, and there's no man in the
house. What was that? (Listens). Nothing.
| Great Scott, When is this sort of thing going
to end? think III finish it all up and go back
to the governor. I'm always saying so, but
| don't do ii. A deep, bass roice is heard sing
/ ing "Td-rd-ra boom-de-oy,' some distance
do'en the street, nth considerable ral'enfdndo).
/ wonder il that's. Pshawl 1t can't be-
| A cab drives up TO the door nth much hoof-
chatter. A short discussion follotcs its stopping,
,rhich as ended by voice saying: "4H right,
| Old man. Here, take this and get yourse!f a
| drink. Iguess hdfH square H." The front
| door bangs The cab dries d,rdy
| Enter sitting room,d Woman. There ts a joy
Gus flush on her face, an electric sparkle in her
! eyes. She ,oalks steadily, but ,cih suspicious
| precision.
TIE WOMAN. What still up, dearis? I
thought you would be in bed long ago.
The MAN: Why should 20 to bed? I can
not sleep.
The WOMAN: Nonsense. darling. Pure i'm
agination brought on by nervousness and-and
whatever else it is.
The MAN: Where have you been?
! The WOMAN (tdiing off her wraps): Well.
dear. I'll tell You how il was. / met Mrs. Go
| lightly this afternoon-hadn't seen her since
! goodness knows when, you know-and we went
! INTO fryhards' and got "a cup of chocolate.
| Well. you know yourself how hungry half a
| dozen-cups of chocolate will make any one 80
she insisted on my going to dine with her.
The MAN (iciiy); Couldn't you have let me
know. instead of allowing me to imagine all
| sorts of things2
The WOMAN (couring'y): Foolish boy. What
could you imagine? did try to telephone you,
but the wires were all out Of order.
| ,,,osaan,-au 80 was 'Ae N"''eA "i'n
Tur Woy.S ,,ass.n,ar how, Will a..
ling. you see-(then in tones Of intense sur
prise but, do you mean to tell me that no
messenger boy has been here?
! Tur w. WI ~ m .,a;
| thing. But then. you know messenger boys
never do deliver messages. Look in any comic
paper in the country and you'll find it so.
| The MAN: Did You send messenger?
T1.a+s ~
| Tur M. MA ,n,, 81 = ,oea.arsxoro
Tur Wnv,D T,.;,t s,1S,a,, o,.nris'H' M ,r,
| mr. do Won mot wish mo 10 toll y,u al ahort 10
| TUEN.S. Yes IL Won will
| TuY Woa.x. 'rbat,a ina, what xvas o,;no n
| do II Won hadn't nersisteJ in ;ntsrrnnt;ma ,,s
| We'll I mat Mrs Cavhod,, ,ybor, I baIn,t sa.n
for
THE Max (iuteroos;nol. you said inst nov =,
was Mrs. GoIieb,ly Won met 'N'' '''" =
Tup WoN.S. Eonsanse my dear IL ,~.s
Mrs Gavbodv tnow via; am ts,,;ne
about. I hadn't seen her since
| Tur Ma. Yon certainly told ma that II ro,
Mrs C;oIiohtlv Won mat oTa tbat ~ ,sas shs Wv,
had not seen for 'A' ''0
THE WOMAN: Do Won suppose 7 don't know
! whom I've seen tonigbt2
The M.S: / snnnose Won do Itnov
dom,
TYR Wov.x. Tbat,s al r;,ht !, r.s Mr..
| Gaybodv. Besides (,rith n Sudden houobC
! what's the matter with nv meeting them both;
! THF MAN (,rIjrjUo IN, question:. Wall On
| on. After Won moi Mrs (,aybody nv C,I;ah,iS
or whichever il wa e"'
| TYR vows. Yes Well n. v.. sov;,c ,v.
| went 10 dine tooo,her .,a ,hcn as camssa I
had IN return .bn conrtesv in sor,o ,ra, GO ~,
wen, ronnd n The c,nh rbara yvas on $50; ~ we
tant comnoitt.a ,oaat;,o thaua - IN P ~
nhu,a5 -, .,.",,5 III hn, winch WIS
re- NJ. EIae,t"i,i u nere am
s,rnl, ,t;n,Irn ,,.r, ~. ~ oe,
a;,ho. ~ thjs n,aa,,n", 80, IL In, 'uppose'
80 20 " '-' 'so vi 'A7 ui"hoi P'ece"-
i''h -. vr l,,..,.....,. NJ MI,
,;a;n,,,I Ms Ssu ~ '.1 M !u WY! nov
Wv, snn,o Lii, We van WIN n'eh' ION
- ~ rus, Nupp' yu',s'ny unn trytny
100 W. 'na' you ats al ie9uiEe M 'ne
W. wi gu ii'n W BooSe. We toia
you al 80, NM" IN, W ~" ~ pis mee. guy
i iub mus ,s. ,o,se ''e Ike VIC oear' oariihs
haDo, WAY sou "fe'
lhE MAJ; anu you suppose that snch an
= su''I leu, 10. sus noors Oh Tor
'u IL anu unAc'' nate s"hcfeuf
| hE WohN: opne, now. dearest, aoh ne
s ipu sho" ;. love !o"' even II nave
'eTu ia'ins a nsIe.
IHk MAN: Eeiepratins. Anu what right
I nave you 10 eeieoFa'e! "ha' were you ceie-
orm.ine;
ihE MoMAS (dosroc'edty); "ha' were we
| ceic ora,hss ~,
menrs silenceJ: WHY. of course. / thought