The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-29
THEIR LITTLE GAME.


ship, but He Liked 1t.
A certain Engishman. who may be
known as Lord c., was visiting an
American city, where society received
him with open arms at the same time
that it acknowledged in private the ex-
IRENE difficulty it found in entertaining
him. His lordship would not talk; per-
haps he could not. At any rate, he
showed very little interest in most topics
Of conversation. and seemed deplorably
obtuse to the point OF a good story. Only
one person, brilliant woman named
Mrs. A, had the least success in wax
ing him to a semblance of conversational
life. and she was consequently saddled
with the task of amusing him ut what
ever gathering they appeared.
Lord c. will take you out TO din
ner, my dear" her hostess would whis-
per. Now do your best to amuse him,
won't you, for 1 do want the dinner to
be success, and his long silences are so
depressing"
At first the situation was rather anus
ing TO the victim so constantly laid on the
block Of conversation, but there came
a time when she was heartily tired Of it,
and frankly acknowledged TO herself that
she was talked out"
Time went on, however. as time has a
way Of doing. and one evening came the
farewell dinner to Lord c.. He was
20 leave town the next morning, ana his
hostess sought out his entertainer with
| the we'll worn request:
Now do make him talk, dear. He will
| sit beside you as usual"
But Mrs. A had a headache, and
| moreover her wits had deserted her. she
| had talked Of everything with this non
committal man, from the House or LORDS
| to fox-hunting, and she felt absolutely
| homeless of finding another subject In
| which he might take even a fleeing IN
terest. A bright idea occurred 10 her,
and she said to him. In a low tone, as
| soon as they were seated at table;
Il have a headache tonight, and 1t
| doesn't seem to me that l can talk. Yet
we must say something or be thought
very peculiar, so l will turn To you and
| say in an animated tone. 'One-two-
| threeY You can reply, with great earn
| estness 'Four-hve-slX!
ct will become argumentative and as
sert. en-eight-nine-ten! and you
can gently contradict me by counting up
! 10 twenty. So we can continue TOT
whole evening without having TO exert
| ourselves to think"
The idea struck the Englishman as
being exceedingly funny. and the plan
IVES forthwith carried out. The lady was
| animated. the gentleman amused. In fac''
| ne broke into such outlaws or laughter
| that the rest of the table ceased TALKING
| TO listen, but in vain Both were Discreet
| and at such crises counted In almost IN
| audible tones.
After dinner, so delighted was Lord
G with the game that he insisted on
| following lis companion into corner
| and playing IL until 10 O'clock. when ne
| left her exhausted but triumphant he
| had no sooner gone than MS hostess
| rushed over to Mrs. A ard exclaimed:
| How did you do II? May l ask what
| roused him TO such interestY
But the culprit shook her head seri-
ously and replied, 1T was entirely con-
| fidential. " -,
The story was too good to keep, now
ever. and she told it to several intimate
| friends. One of them, young man VINO
| did not know the Englishman In question.
once repeated il in Canadian housenold
where re was visitor. He ola not
scrunle TO set forth the Englishman's gem
eral obtuseness and density, and when
he had finished a gentleman whose name
he had not caught said with quiet EN-
| phasis: -.
"She may have been making game OF
me. but IL was the pieasantest evening
| I ever spent in my life and forgive her.
| 1t was Lord c., and the apasneo
Young man could not help feeling that
his lordship had the better OF it.-fouth
| Communion.