The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-04
AL A MISTAKE.
Poor Tom Was Not Quito So Bashrul n,
She Thought Him.


She is discovered leaning over n hoel,ot 80
deep red roses.
Poor Tom" she begins. "IIc is the most
uncertain man ever knew. Why, it is al
most one whole long year since met him.
anu ne has not proposed yet. Opportuni-
Sies! why, he has had plenty of them.
Oh, he had just the grlndest chance Mt Mrs
Browns ball! We were in the conseryn.
tory Tor fully half an hour wore u per
1ect dream of gown--he was perfectly
calm and talked politics.
iheh' again, our rides before brcakfn
In the park. And in my riding habit am
really sublime. But he was dull and talked
wall street. When think of the sails and
my whlte suit, confess almost hate that
man. No, not hate him. But he is timid.
90 believe Then all those games of ten
MS ana two full months at Newport and
he-horrible thing!-raved over natures
charms hr'-desperatcly-"h is so dis
gustingly distressing shall not give him
another chance; and oh, Tom! dear old
Toni l would have accepted you'-sob-
plng"-but flute has decided against us.
You are lost to me forever. l shall never.
never give you another chance. Hank! 1
hear him coming now"
She brings forth another basket of flow
ers and casts his roses aside
lie enters the room n little hastily.
She (indifferently) All, Mr. Revere, is
that your did not hear you come in.
Yes, Miss Heartwcll."
DO come and look mt these beautiful
flowers Colonel White has sent me. He is
SUCH an adorable old gentleman, is he not?
l, for one, rather prefer an aged man. They
are so clever, social and captivating. andn
-laughing-"they make such ideal lovers
: w hat exquisite taste the dear colonel does
shown
Too pa,ldy for refined taste, venture
to say"
VI think, Mr.. Revere, you have venturcd
too far''-icly.
II shall venture still further and say
mink II outrageous for that old man to run
around with Other women ana his wife not
dead II year yet" She fumes.
lie takes three turns around the room
then takes from his coat n bunch of violcts
See, Miss Heartwell, what charminp
taste the charming little widow, Mrs. Jov.
has pleaded for II flower These violets
were her own choice"
II dctest violcts. The odor is too heavy
cannot remain in n room with them"
You surely would not have me discard
themy'-surprsed.
Il would'-madly. 81 tell you 1 dctest
them. detest that Widow JOY. She is a
painted, made up, jealous woman"
But, Bessie"-
Wildly-"I tell you, Tom, / hate her.
and if you are her friend you cannot be
mine-and the perfume of those violets is
making me faint-I feel'-
She leans back He puts his arm around
her for support.
Very softly-"Bessie."
'Tom''-tcndcrly.
Mrs. JOY does paint, Bessie. l believe
you, | rubbed some off the other even
ing"
You must have been very close" She
draws herself from him.
Il was, dear-we were dancing"
oh, Tom, dear old Tomp He puts his
arms around her. 'And, Tom, 1 do think
Colonel White has very gaudy taste.n
Yes, DEAR
And, Tom. do throw those violets away.
am faint from their odor"
u cannot, darling. know they are your
favorite flowers. This is the bunch Won
gave me last night"
Kissing the violets-"Oh, Tom, how could
your The dear, sweet, fragrant thingsr'
II could, sweetheart, because because
because"--
"Why, Tom3"
Because l love you. Is it yes?"
Softly-"Yes"
Now, Tom, darling, you shall know the
truth. Colonel White did not send mo
those flowers. Papa is ill, and his partner
sent them to him."
The dear pretty nowersl What quiet
taste his partner hasr'
Yes; quite refined, Tom"
Bessie, darling"
Yes, my love"
Say yes again"
Softly-"Yes. "-Syracuse Herald.