Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-05-28
DECADENCE or COURTINS.
Tale OF Woe of Young Man Who Longed
for "a Joyous Experience.


for a Joyous Experience.
n. Y, Evening Telegram.
~ don't Think said the young
man as lie dreamily pulled on fra
grant Havana, THAT counting can be
quite so attractive in this fin de steele
period us it Was when our fathers and
mothers were adopts at ii. I'm only
beginner, it's true, but base my
opinion on those general principles that
close observation establishes.
''Well," said the older man, whats
your special grievance?"
Its Just this. I'm as good as en-
gagged to dear girl, as you probably
know. don't mind telling you that
We have mutual understanding.
There hasn't been any popping about
the affair, and there isn't likely to be.
No, it was all dreadfuly prosaic. |
had been attentive to Mabel for three
or four weeks last winter, and one
night as we were starting for the Opera
House aud was putting on her wrap,
she said: You do that very nicely,
George.
sit was the only time she had ever
called me by my sponsorial name and
my first impulse was to put my arms
around her But didn't dare to put
any extra strain on it, and knew better.
Besides that my dress coat fits me a
little snug across the shoulder and !
didn't dare to put any extra strain on
il. So said. with son:e little feeling,
| suppose, would do anything for
you, Mabel. Nothing very brilliant
about that, was there? But it was the
best had on the spur of the moment
The dear girl turned around TO me
with her pretty eyes trimming with
laughter. Then she made up mock
serious little mouth and said, ] guess
you would, George. And that is
really all there is to our understanding.
| don't believe knew blessed thing
about the play that night. was
anxious TO get homo with her and give
my pent up feelings little play OF
their own. Did get the chanceY No,
didn't When we reached home,
blame me il her mother didn't open
the door for us Come right in, chill
dren, she said--sbe thinks good deal
of me, and have cup OF bouillon.
Hang the bouiilon drank it, how
ever, and when l went away mamma
saw me TO the door! Now, that's a
sample of the way Pm enjoying my
engagement days and nights. so up
| there three or four times week, but
somehow / don't see Mabel alone-at
least not for more than a minute oil
two. When | do she has on her bic
sleeves, or something else that acts or
me like barbed wire fence, and
don't dare to trespass | did kiss hei
once on tho top stair at the dance al
Middleton's. She was awfully sur
prised."
Il don't wonder" grumbled the
older man.
''She said, 'You silly boy and
rushed back to the dressing room.
suppose she went to see if hadn't
left damp oasis in tho desert of rice
powder. tell you, old man, it's dirt
mean. I've heard that when young
people were engaged it used TO be con
sidered rather a pleasant sensation fol
| them to sit on one chair, but hang il
all! l don't believe there's single
one of those spider legged chairs in
Mabel's home that would stand up fol
two seconds under our united weight. >
Better test 'em," growled the Older
man.
"But l don't know what Mabe
would think of it. She seems So ag
gravatingly cool and self-pcssessed. -
"What does the boy expect?" NUT
tered the older man, as he scowled a
the ceiling through veil of blue
smoke.
"I'll tell you what this sort Of hope
deferred business will drive me Il
pretty soon - said the young man al
be slowly fired up fresh cigar.
81 hope it's something desperate, y
murmured the older man.
Its early marriage" replied The
youth.
The older man grinned sardonically.
"My boy" he said, 1.-The trouble il
not in the decaoent stars-it's in your
self. When you go up there this even
ing take that sweet girl in your arms,
tell her how you love her and present
her with a kiss that will make the
chandeliers Jingle. /"
"And the sleeves?"
"Oh, diam the sleeves!'