The herald., 1895-04-14
THE REAL REASON
By Violet Hunt
SCENE:
A villa at Nice
PERSONS.


for an answer. Let things be as they
xere before.
Gle rye, grimacing-H How can they?
Neflv--Oh. why not? We shall always
be good friends. Shall we not the best
friends in the world?
George--Of, course | wonder
how many people You have said that to?
As.maiiy as you have efused?
Nelly, plaintively-P Please, George, is
there any reason why you should be so
George Aren't thew all bitter?
Nelly g gorge, l am not we'll enough to
stand this kind of thing; you had better
Gtorge- Don't send me away. please.
Neiiy.s win behave myself.
Nelly. arranging cushion behind her
bacE-lNery we'll. B.. Remember that 1 am
here for my health Stay and talk to me.
BY allsneans. only let us talk of some
thing, eIse.l :, ssf
Gcorge-It's rather difficult, isn't it?
Nelly Very well. then, talk about that.
if ittsoothes you only talk
George Certainly Well, III
try.s. Nelly, I should like to
Seliy--whats III answer any questions
George-Ahlho little you care
sNellv=-I OOU care dUOuG
I've beensill.s What do you want to know?
George Tell me tell me {.
why'you won't marry me? Give me a
reason at least.
Nelly-Oh, George, how you do plague
one! Because | don't love you,
Gsorge-But we are such pals -
Nelly-That isn't love.
Geoige-Were. you ever in love?
Nelly, -hastily--No, of course not. :.
I'm only nineteen. -. What put
that idea into your head?
George-Well, if you want to know,
your mother did. 1t never would
Nelly. ughing-Tnings don't occur to
yon! s..5. But what did my mother
say? insist on knowing--and I mustn't
be contradictedl
George All right, don't get excited,
dear L.I Il tell, you anything you like to
ask. IS n
'Neliy-How dare She?
'Georke--Well, you know; Nelly, you
have been a little out of sorts lately
that was why old Maxton ordered you
abroad land you got moping last season
and you didn't look happy your
sister said you talked in your sleep-and
there was something about a photograph
you had under yoir pllow-and she re-
collected a dance you went to and came
back crying
Nely--Go on.
George-This is what your sister said.
And your brother noticed you were al
ways So eager to get HIM to make UP
parties for the Msidenhead Aquatic Club
:. and nothing else seemed to inter-
Nelly--Wel, and what of that? Why
shouldn't it interest me?
George woE getting more and NOR, more embar.
club: you know wish you
wouldn't make me tell you.
Nelly, laughing violently And so my
kind mother and brother concluded 1t
was you | was pining for in secret. and
mdking-a fool of myself about, How too
awfully funny -. B. My uear George
didift never occur to you that other men
are memoers of that club beside you?
George on see was 30 anxious t.
believe it--(hastilylI don't, now. | am
sure. -. 1t is some one who be-
longs to the Aquatic, then. that you
care for?
Nelly Don't be silly. George, OF
course not. but was SO much amused at
you and mother deciding that you we're
the person who was making me misera
others. There is Mr.. Chorley-
George-Such. a bounder. You could
not possibly care for him
Nelly-Certainly not. Go on. Men ton
some OF the other members.
George Brandt, lie used to drive you
all down to-Richm md
Nelly And cover me. with dust! No.
not-Mr.~B rand.v~Go on
= George What's the use of going on?
You say it ) none of them.
Neily-It abuses one. I'm an invalid.
There are lots OF them you have not M H.
TONED yet.
George There's that awful tiirt, Frank
Graham, + was forgetting him. You know
him, Tthink-l've met him at your house.
Nelly--He' goes every where-awfully
much in it. =. ..- ....t
George-Girls like him. | believe
Oh. Nelly, it isn't Frank Graham?
Eelly-It isn't Frank Graham-it isn't
anybody. Please Danish that idea from
your mind a. once
FGeorge-l'will as you tell me to. And
can imagine your caring for Frank
Graham. Rather an ass, isn't he? but in
formally. good-looking, | admit.
0Nelly-There you re quite wrong. He's
awfully, clever and quite ordinary-look-
George-Nelly, you are contradictions
50. However. it doesn't matter. so
long as you don't care about him. I've
seen him about a good deal lately with the
little what's. her.name,
Nelly--Who,. now?
George-The little big eyed girl who
came out last season. Miss Poltimore.
Nelly-Oh- Mamie Poltimore. We visit
With the Poltimores, YOU know
Iherets nothing in it, I assure YOU Frank
could never care for an empty headed little
thihg like that. -1..-,
George Think not? rather
wonder he. didp't fall in love with YOU.
Nelly, bitterly Everybody isn't iu love
withsme.s- q.
;, George Well lam, at any rate
Nelly -
NellyTGive mi another cushion, George.
and don propose to me again. for Heav-
q, s sake.
George But if you aren't in love with
anNone- else, why do you always refuse
mel?
Nelly Shall ! tell you the real reason?
George Do! Do! 1t will show me you
trust illp, at least.
-Nellys-.3Well. it is this don't
ever ~ eab to marry anyone at all!
George Oh, that stale old reason
Wbnter always say .that-to let a fellow
dow 'ensy!
Nelly. But. l.. mean it. =. Now,
George. go away, and let me rest little.
Goodbye. Stop, there the facteur. Let
tiers from England You can go and take
mine iron, him and bring them to me.
George goes. She turns, takes carte
devisit photograph from under her pill
l"w and kisses it passionately--Ye We
:o'-t hopeless passion. it's quite true.
iefiiars i isn't quite hopeless-addres
III ff,e Photography were nice to me
s,Mn,-l rncs, but, George saws you are
II IT. 80 Won afei n mef-renlaces tho