The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-08-01
A DUOLOGUE.

Qn the shape of two letters; the first
written by a handsome, attractive
man of the world, born in Richmond,
Va, in 1859, but from childhood a
resident of New York; the second let
ter, written in reply to the first, by a
New York woman, born somewhere
about 1864, charming, lovely and mar
ried-but unhappily.)
New York, Feb. %, 1S94.-Oh, My
Dear, Dear Mrs. Peggy: Haven't you
realized why you haven't seen me
these last three days? 1t is because l
have seen no one and nothing but you!
There, it is out! And unless your wo-
mans instinct has been very much
Annoying q couldn't say wOol-gather-
ing apropos of it,, you must have seen
and known days, weeks ago.
I've tried to go away. I've chosen
ever so many routes, gone several
times to the station, and twice ven
bought a ticket; but while what we
poor fools call our better judgment
oioSSSo my WY ioit" pouS away
from town, my heart full of love-and
heavy, because l feel you will say
for you to receive, or at any rate to
return that love, would be wrong-my
heart ,(God bless IT'D held me back
fast, in the place where you see the
sun shine and the moon rise. Can you
make head or tail of me, my darling
Mrs. Peggy? which of course 1 must
not call you unless you grant me per
mission; will you?
But to go back no further than yes
terday: l had been only two days
away from you, yet having sworn to
myself the night before that l would
not go to see you in the morning, l
found l couldn't sleep at all, because l
had nothing to wake up for. And then
what a day! AS if it weren't enough
to have you in my heart, l had you
ION the BRAIN" too. Everywhere |
went 1 saw only Mrs. Peggy, and
myriads of her! Think of myriads of
Mrs. Peggys, when there is really only
one in the whole wide world, only
could be one, and she, besides, is more
than two-thirds heavenly. When l
boarded a street car it seemed to mt
that Mrs. Peggy rang the bell, and in
side there We're ows and rows of her,
and every strap had another nan than
me hanging on it all down the aisle.
Even at lunch she was with me, the
Carte du Juror was a la Peggy. And
all my business letters were signed
with her name, big and vanishing.
Every store l passed on Broadway be-
longed to you, and Sarony had no one
else pictured in his windows. The
violets the men sold on Twenty-third
street smiled like YOU eyes, and lily
o~f-the-valley tears hung sympathetic
ally for me beside them. l couldn't
stand it any longer! l glanced up at
the Fifth Avenue hotel clock-it was
Mrs. Peggy minutes past Mrs. Peggy.
and l came On here to my club to
make a fool or a beast-or what?-of
myself. l haven't been able, appar-
entity, to make my declarations seri,
ously! That is because of two rea,
sons; first, l didn't want to brighten
you, OIL anger you, or have you laugh
at me, either; | thought it was safer
to invite you to laugh with me; and
second, l was afraid you might be less
likely to believe a serious declaration
from me, we have been OH such jolly
joky terms, you II | Il love even t.
, write those three words together. ant
| would like to join them with al
everlasting adamantine little chain o,
hearts, which l am afraid is wofull!
silly for a great strong man who once
had a beard to say.) Perhaps you will
be angry with this letter. anyway
, but | have honestly tried to take al
few liberties as possible, and though
l .o,o ,f tho a1inctir0S ~ n trid
more cordial than usual, still | con
, tinue calling you ,"even when
? have to put it in afterwards with
caret, for a witness! But l shall stol
all that-yes, | must; it is all to-
trivial. Besides it is beating aroun'
the bush. l would rather beat agains
the bars. The facts are these-you ar
. not happy.
There is no love lost-ever to b
found-between you and your hus
= band; this dare to write because yo
have confessed as much to me. Why
then, shouldn't at least tell you tina
| do love you? 1t is a necessity 70
me to say it, or | shall go mad wit
4 it's being hushed so long into silence
| while | see you starving of any love
! if not for mine. And, God help III
but l can't help hoping, thinkin:
\ dreaming, or what you choose to ca
} it. that my step coming has been
pleasant sound to your ears. my han
clasp welcome to your hand, M
5 chances answered in your deep-se
= eyes. | love you and that is why
10 haven't been to see you. The las
% time l called could scarcely keep IN
IS lips from seeking yours. and | hay
y long ago gave up trying to keep m
Is thoughts from that; when you can
. into my room, the flowing drapery {
your sleeve brushed against me-
Is affected me like an exquisite sweep {
i harp strings, it was as if an unsee
IS paradise wing had blessed me, and fC
!, Il moment | was quite dizzy. Pc
y haps you will remember how distrac
ed | was the whole afternoon. | reca
two times that you withdrew 20,
darling little slippers further back IL
der your skirt, catching my satyr ey
s upon them. This is only Il silly d
+. tail, but | mean by It'll had to sta
ly away those three days for which yC
te reproach me. Send me some wor,
Are you angry with me? viii Y,
ever speak to me again? Or are yC
IL only disappointed with me-, whio
would be worse! Or do you'll can