The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-11
THE TWO MIR. MORTONS.
BIZ CAROLINE M. BEAUMONT.

as we'll admit it, you'd soon have found
1t out---young woman of my acquaint-
Ance. I've been in love with her for five
years, and it's wonder my hair isn't
white; sometimes | think it is turning
gray, but when / spoke to Dolly about
1T, she said not to bother, / was old
enough to be gray anyway. All!
that's where Dolly hurts, and she
knows it, for l am Is years older
than she is, and when that willful
young woman wishes to be particu-
1arly cruel, she treats me with respect.
l know that among my friends am
considered to have fairly good sense;
/ can talk nationally on most subjects,
and l stand well enough in my pro-
fession, at least enabling me to keep
nv head above water. But when I'm
with Dolly. or in her presence. I'm an
ass, drivelng, foolish ass. a lunatic
from an asylum would be a brilliant
conversationalist compared TO me.
And alas! Dolly knows that too. and
size torments me and makes life an
unutterable burden TO me. | start 10
make a sensible remark. when sud-
denly meet Dolly's eyes; then ! STUN
BILE ard say the wrong thing, and she
will remark: "Do you really think
that?" with such wicked look i'm her
beautiful blue eyes, while ] don't think
it at all, but have just said it. And so
It goes. until | wonder sometimes il /
am quite right. When we go 10
dances--I say we. I'm always there If
j know she is going-things are a
little worse than usual, for Dolly
dances past me with beasts and cads of
1nen, and | stand about the wall watch
ing her. She never will give but two
dances to me, so l have nothing to do
in the meantime but watch her.
One night / was desperate. ! had
sent her vioets as usual-she is par
ticularly fond of them. and most of
my money goes that way. Some
times she wears them, and often carries
them, but this night they were no
where to be seen, and in her hand was
one large red rose. went up to her;
appearing to be sorry to see me was
the particular form of torture which
commended itself to her on this es-
Decial night "You here!' she said,
lifting her eyebrows in establishment
and without smile; all put on, of
course, because I am always where
she is.
ooh. no, I'm not here, I'm some
where else;" I said. wittily. She
laughed immoderately.
you're so - funny" she re-
marked, choking.
EYES," said 1, severely, 81 suppose
am funny, very funny-but where are
my violets?"
"Why, had you any violets?"
said she, 81 didn't know-how should
/ know" She said it seriously, but
there was look in her eyes that was
used to; I'd have liked to shake her.
dolly, you know exactly what I
mean; where are my violets?"
vt'If you mean the violets you sent me-"
she replied, with dignity, 81 understood
that after they left you they belonged
to me; do you want them back?" This
freezingly.
ooh, Dolly" 1 said, reduced once
more to my usual condition Of ash
ninity, 81 didn't mean il, dear, 1 don't
want them; only wanted you to wear
them or carry them, you know, dar-
ling"
me, so carried things with high hand.
"The rose was sent me by FRIEND"
abe hesitated, "and 1 suppose have
right to wear what please; but sit
down, don't stand so long, you'll be
firedl" This was an allusion to my
age, and it maddened me.
"You are exceedingly rude!" /
said, turning away and leaving her.
1t was the most severe speech had
ever made to Dolly, and l suffered at
the thought of it. For four days l
didn't go near her or send her violets
once. 1t was an awful four days; ]
neither slept nor ate, but just reviled
myself as a fool for becoming es-
tranged from the only woman in the
world. In my despair l even went so far
rs to take Jane Hunt to dance where
Dolly was sure to see us, and she did.
And when | passed her and she looked
over my head with her small nose in
the air, wished Miss Hunt was in
well, somewhere else, that might rush
over to Dolly, throw myself at her feet,
land kiss them! Yes, 1 acknowledge
that ] have often wished that.
Finally l wrote to her, fully con-
scious that it was very silly letter,
wherein | told her / was merely angry
at myself for not knowing she cared
for red roses, and l sent three
dozen. The answer received was
characteristic:
"You are a silly old goose, and if
you had only waited until / finished
what was saying you would have dis
covered that you sent the rose your
self with the violets. / don't care at
ali for red roses"
But the greatest of my misfortunes
has not yet been set down. There was
another young man, an acquaintance
and admirer Of Dolly's, with exactly
the same name as myself-Richard
Morton. |, of course, had taken huge
dislike to him. in fact hated him (for
Dolly once remarked That he was
nice fellow, and I don't think he had
mn extraordinary affection for me- We
were no relation; was glad Of that. A
few days after had been such a cad to
Dolly / called upon her, and, heaven
1ayoring me, found her alone.
I 4