The Washington times., 1894-03-18
AT TWENTY-ONE.
Reportsd verbatim for TEE TINES,


Reported verbatim for TIE TNRs.l
He-Our 'proper study" has come to be
that Of how much we can believe in our own
pretenses.
She (disdainfully) Tell me again now
that you love me.
He-I do love you. You know that I do.
Oh, Helen, you are so beautiful!
(Helps her of with her opera cloak, under
which is revealed wonderful white silk
gown, soft, and clinging lovingly to her
small slim figure. During the operation he
reverts to his philosophy
Willard and Miss Burroughs, whose pre-
tense is their trade were the realest people In
the house tonight. / think I like you
best at comedy. When Willard de-
SPARED your eyes shonc so sympa-
thetically, and when he carried Miss Bur-
roughs in his arms from the bayfield, your
smile was delicious, thought. Well. Of
course every man thought that who was
with pretty girl.
She (venturing slightly toward danger
under the cover OF ignorance). Thought
what
He-Thought 1 would like to have you
faint in bayfield, under such pleasing cir
| cumstances.
She-But it is winter. (Seats herself and
begins unbuttoning her glove. He may
think from the words if he likes that she
| wishes him to propose drawing-room as the
winter substitute for a bayfield,, but her un-
concerned manner indicates that this Is far,
| far from her mind
He (seeing her generalship and resolving
not to be thus tantalized, ciasping her hand
! with the pretense of helping her, and then
/ holding il very tightly for a moment, without
accelerating the removal Of the glove Faint
right here, won't you? l promise you will
hold you very tightly.
she-Why should 1? 0ugging slightly at her
| hand).
| He-Faint lady ne'er failed to win heart.
She-But don't want your heart.
| He-Give it back then.
She-where is it? must have misplaced
| it.
He-Dont tool with me. remember dis
! tncty when you stole it.
| She-Bah! You said Monday night. "When
time was not still l loved you SO, which dis
tinctly proves that you have not had your
| heart in this existence. / don't believe you
| had one before.
; He-Give me yours, then.
She-I can't pass it around so easily as you
| can feminine disdain for logic)
He-I don't wish youto. will be satisfied
| to keep it-forever.
She-The way you do the letters gave you
to post-forgotten in your coat pocket? There's
| one in it now,
He (making mistake Of releasing her hand
/ to put his own uneasily on the outside OF his
! inner pocket. There's not. l carried it in
! my hand to the box. / remember distinctly
the look OF the box. There's a dab of green
,, paint on the handle OF the slot cover
| She-Look.
| He-I won't. Can't you take my word?
She-Look.
Hc-I won't (puts his hand in his pocket
and wiEhdraws 1t quickly.
She-ABd yet you ask me to love you when
! You refuse ne thiuGs and when you carry my
! forgotten letters around in your pockets?
He-It is for your own good.
She (scornfully)-Which! Iwon't have you
doing things Tor my good.
1 He-Both. You wouldn't have me harm
| youi / couldn't do that. | love you so. We
niaeteen:h-century lovers have not the
strength to be cruel, only 10 be kind. Even
! when We see yOu going wrong we are too
much bewitched by the way you do 1t and too
/ so.t-hearted 10 protest.
She (haif in petulant joking, half in smiling
seriousness You do; yor know you do.
! You refuse TO show me that letter. But what
are we talking in this ridiculous way fo.? /
/ do not love you: never can love you. Please.
please never SPEAK OF II again. There Is an
/ immense seriousness in her voice and face
now.) Yes. you werc right Oh, you are
always right. We are all shams, aFen I we? This
afternoon at the CLUB. Miss Wilson VINO Is so
/ terribly IN earnest atout her conscience. YOU
y know. was trying TO defend herself against
| herself for having said met at home TO
| Charlie Somers when she had curl papers in
, her hair FOR her parry. had never thought
; of il before. but almost convinced her that
she was awsulsy wrong. Isn't it interesting
10 sham belief uni! you almost argue over
yourself. and then lind some one on the other
side and work back to safe shamming ground
again?
He-Helen. we are SO much alike, DO that
all the time. TOO.
She-Yes, have thought we are (hesi-
ta,es)--
He Two souls with out single thought.
She-Wait. l wish TO discuss this affinity
of ours logically. (Then, as coy interjec-
tion.) You can say these things any time.
He-All the time.
She-(Not deignng to heed.) Is it because
we are brighter than most people that we
wind them around our fingers in tina. way?
He-We are brighter. But we don't mind
| them; they mind US.
She-Ye-es.
He-They believe. and We don't We are
! wide enough to reflect both sides. but its ell
width. We are bright, but awiuliy shallow
We are like Howes. We see everything aud
understand. They see only one side. and not
all of that. but they believe in it and act. We
never act.
Sbe-Oh, but Jack.
He-Never
She-But one who is so bright must.
| Think OF our insight into peoples motives.
Think OF how we read their faces and answer
their questions before they speak.
He-That's all part OF my argument.
She-But-
He-Wcll, sometimes l think (assumes a
! slightly different time to hide the sip)-
! sometimes l think We may be little deep.
It's our wills-our wills and Cur education
We cannot concentrate ourselves. We are
deep, but we see so many things that we don't
We don't choose anything.
She Cher eyes helping her words)-Oh. If
| you don't
He-You. OF course choose you always.
That's different matter. That's different
thing entirely. They pause. There has not
been much warmth in her interjection or In
his own immensely praiseworthy effort. It is
SO unsatisfying thing at q not to end q tete-
a-tete by being for u little while in love.)
He (aSain, after n moment, rising II will
go. (Hesitates.) If you will sing me song
1 win go.
She-Oh, don't go. It's only Oooks at her
watch why, it's half-past twelve. CFeels
| quile Happy because the time mas passed SO
quickly and they must be little in loye.)
He-Sing for me little while dishes
among her music.)
| She-Well, one song.
He Singing in an undertone) )-"'Tis the
Language of Love" Brings Marguerite's
song to her, where she has seated herself at
the piano. She sings passionately.)
He-Oh, Helen! you are SO beautiful. (Sotto
voce) do love her.
| She (rising)-Isit it not divine.
He-Yes. Gle puts on his overcoat)
She (extending her hand)-Good night,
Jack (She dwells on his name.)
He-Good night. (He suddenly bends over