The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-05
IT WAS A DREAM.

muslin, her blond hair in classic knot,
end her feet i'll coQuettish blue and
white canvas slippers idly prodding the
lazy old Maltese tabby lying just ont of
range of tho rocker.
Mrs. Warrenton sighed deeply and
looked at her guest sideways.
Good gracious, Bob, you are enough
to provoke saint" she broke ont, with
sudden petulance
eff you were anything but the great
dull boy that you are, = continued his
hostess aggrievcdly, You would see
that l am dying of stagnation- YOU re
the only interesting person know, and
now You come here and talk about the
hot weather and look out OF the window
and don't offer al original suggestion or
n new idea when I'm fairly verging OH
intellectual starvation. Do something,
say something or go home!''
1.-THE weather is too warm for much
mental energy, but l think if you famed
me for five minutes l might evolve n
thought. I'd go home only it's shut ND
for the summer, and I'm sick of the
club and you are the only available
amusement. -
Mrs. Warrcnton arose majcstically,
possessed herself Of Il large palm leaf fan
and began tanning the thinker
"1ou're sure You re thinking? Don't
dare to go to Slecp!" she c:e laimed rs
the brows unlimited into peaceful Sc
renity. ''rimcs up!'
Mr.. Vinton Enclosed his eyes and sat
bolt upright
you look said he imclcvantlv,
like Dresden china shcphcrdess in all
those white rutfles and pink ribbon Put
OH the big hat with pink roses, and YOU
can play Phyllis -
rs that all you've thought out?"
mo" continued Bob radiantly.
Give thought further You play Phyl-
lis, and I'll be Strcphon and we'll go
to Arcadia.
Suppose, Bob, you should tip me
OVER
"Strephon, remember, Strephon.r'
prompted Bob as he padded out slowly
into the stream i'll the red glow of the
sunset skies.
We'll, Strephon, thenI' and Mrs.
WaTenton dabbled her finger tips i'll
the water and forgot to repeat her qucs-
ton. Il didn't know the Charles was
so beautiful. What S all that green bank
and bridges and shady nookcry up
there:'
Arcadia " said Bob sentcntiously.
Mrs. Warcnton leaned back, nestled
her pretty head against the shawls and
looked picturesque.
Mr.. Ninton padded industriouslv and
gaZcd straight ahead toward his dcstina-
ton.
"You look ever so handsome i'm vmr
shirt sleeves | always like men better
in their shirt slccvcs-thcy'rc - much
more picturesque. WHY don't you plnt
yonr next hero i'll shirt sleeves, pad
ding canoe with il pretty girl-thut's
l, OF course, " looking sentiment ut HIM.
Look sentiment ut me- Phyllis, ana
[ will " said Bob lightly.
"All right, Strephon but what shall
we talk about"
DO you remember, Phyllis the aft
erhoon L taught You To skate ont on the
marshes: And going home in the early
dark winter afternoon You slipped on
the ice and hurt Your ankle and cried
yon were only a girl of II thc,i-what
apretty girl, though!-.nd put my arm
around You and helped You home and
kissed you sweetheart kiss in he base
ment vestibulc. That was good many
years ago, Phyllis
lyon wcrc IL nice hoy. Strcphon bu,
you were always bold, " said Mrs War.
renton. And then She added. with Il
touch of coquctry, Would you believe
1T, I've the valentino you sent mc-thc
one III box with pink roses and Cupid,',
II used to think you'd settle down to
marrying me when YOU tired of flirting
with Jack Wamenton That's why /
didn't shoot him before he ever married
you, Nell''--
Phyllis, Phyllis, y she interrupted,
smiling. But he did not smile.
Phyllis, mcan-but my going off
to Rome that summer was a fit of piouc
You said you didn't care, and when |
came back you were married, and I'm
sure I've acted like an angel ever since.
/ wonder if you over did care?'
II wonderP" murmured Mrs Warren
ton dreamily. "And now" she contin
ned, you're going to marry that nice
little girl of yours down at Newport and
be steadygoing Benedict and never
any more spend afternoons in Arcadia
with Phyllis"
"Factr returned Bob little bitter
ly, and as streak of dying sunlight
struck across his face through the