Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17

again. g IS
He. We are wasting time. Louise. must
propose. ana there is no use in your
She. (uneasily)i1 Very well. Henry. II you
But-do 1t well
He. (Edging his chair cautiously nearer to
hers.) think-that 10. L believe-my
chair should be a little bit closer to
yours. Shouldn't it?
She. Be very careful, sir.
He Your tone Is that of q powder maya
zine. How am even to speak of a match
in such a vicinity?
She Cunning away her head. wearily)
will set the dog you!
He Don't take 1t to heart Louise; 1t really
Isn't worth 1t. And please turn your
face SO that you can see me.
She. Take care, Henry-that might spoil
I such a fright?
She. Well: have it as you like it. CMakes
the face3 There, l think I can stand
He. Are you ready?
one. 1es. tHe places his hand on the
arm or her chair SO that his little finger
touches hers.)
She. tsnatehing away her hand) If you do
that again I shall slap you.
are! | thought you were going to play
fair. Instead Of that you are going back
on your word This is not a platonio
iriendship we are acting. Bitterly) We
nave played at that game long enough, 1t
strikes meLever since We used TO climb
trees together. "a pause, then, sulkily)
l didn't hurt you, did L?
she: NO. Henry. but can't you propose
Wlthout-I mean, can't you propose a lit
tie bit further off?
ne: lso1tenlng) Not with any satisfaction.
besldes, Louise. I am your cousin, and
as such l have right to come some
DIT
a brother! ~
She. And surely you are not that-not vet.
at any rate.
He. What do You mean nv thato
sne. only warning, Henry, that II you
oont propose to me in just the manner
anu WIN Just the tone of voice and the
pecuhar charm, that my sensbilities re-
qulfe In such matter. shall have to be
sister to you. and smash the engage
ment- Ihat Is all there is about it; in
Iact' think l shall refuse you anyway
he. Louise. I don't believe you have
the smallest fota of affection for me
She. Well, he shan't be leased any more,
poor little fellow! Henry, one would think
from the expression of your face that
you We're really serious.
he. VINO knows? Perhaps I am. What
would you ray If I were?
She. On. In that case. 1 should refuse you
merrily.
He. wonder IL you mean that Just walt
ready to give me another chance?
She. l have no objection to your trying
again; but. as 1 said before, 1 am very
particular In this matter.
Cde places his hand in the same position
as before, touching her OWN
She. Do you Insist on this?
He. Absolutely. There is nothing like it
for an opening. Don't move. Let us stay
as We are for few moments and look
into the fickering fire together. both Of
Us silent and both of us happy. Now,
don't laugh.
She. I'll try not to, Henry. But If you
knew how funny your nose looks in the
hrehght CA pause) Look here, Henry,
you make me nervous. Unless you leave
off blinking and do something. 1 declare
1 will send you out of the house at once.
He. Don't be. impatient, Louise; and be-
sides. l thought you didn't want me to
propose to you. If you keep on interrupt
ing ME. you will endanser my Inspiration.
"a pause.) Seriously, Louise, suppose 1
should some day fall desperately in love
with you, would you treat me in this
way?
She. Yes.
He. or course I knew you would say SO,
anyway. But get ready again, for 1 am
going to make the next move.
Size. Wait minute. Pizarro is looking at
Us. and he makes me nervous.
He. He looks rather fierce. Perhaps he
doesn't approve Of our relations.
She. and what are our relations. pray?
He. Oh. merely that We pledged to be-
She. l beg your pardon: We are nothing of
the kind. You have never even proposed
to me.
He. Don't be afraid. Louise, am going to,
lnmediateiy Let me see, where were
We? Oh, yes: remember; we were looking
into the fire together. Now l am going
to turn toward you. and look long and
eloqueltly at you, and my eyes are going
to betray my secret.
She. And please tell me how am going TO
relieve my embarrassment during this
long and soulful gaze? Am 1 to hum a
song?
He. Louise. refuse to go on, unless YOU
play your part properly.
She. Then take away your little finger
He. (Sulkily.) l won't.
She Reprovingly) Now, Henry
He. 1 won't.
She. Henry, you are the most obstinate
man / ever saw. Very well, have your
own way! I promise not to hum a song
He. Then here goes! (Gazes at her and
murnurs), Louise?
She. CNervously). What?
He an, going to tell you something which
you must have known for long time
and yet which 1 have hesitated to speak
OF, bec&use-(here he gently possesses
himself of her hand).
She. Must this be done?
He. 1t must. AS l was sayiHE-somethine
which l have hesitated to speak of, be-
cause.-the proceeds to get on one knee
before her. At this action, Pizarrc who
has been watching him intently, steps up
to him. shifts his hair. and begins to lick
his temples).
He. Get out, you miserable brute!
She. Don't speak roughly to him. Henry
He doesn't mean to be rude. Don't be
afraid; he never bites.
He. don't feel perfectly certain about
that. 1 have pair of trousers at home
that tell a different tale. But at any
rate. whether he bites not he is max
ing me ridiculous in your eyes. and /
don't like it. 1 implore you not to laugh
at me, Louse-this is no laughing matter!
Pauses, then continues in growing agi-
tation). Indeed. begin to feel that
was never more serious in my life.
didn't know until tonight-until this very
minute, IN fact-that something has hap
pened to me, Louise. 1t seems to have
come so suddenly that l don't know just
how to tell you about it-Oh, hang it! this