Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-12-19
THE TWO MIR. MORTONS.
nx CARoL1Nn NJ. BEAUMONT.

1t out-young woman OF my ncqualnt-
once. I've been in love with her for five
years, and it's wonder my hair isn't
white; sometimes 1 think 1t is turning
gray, but when spoke to Dolly about
1t, she said not to bother, l was old
enough to be gray anyway. All!
that's where Dolly hurts, and she
knows it, for am is years older
than she is, and when that willful
young woman wishes TO be particu-
larly cruel, she treats me with respect
know that among my friends am
considered to have fairly good sense;
/ can talk nationally on most subjects,
and 1 stand we'll enough in my pro-
fession, Mt least enabling me to keep
my head above water. But when I'm
with Dolly, or in her presence, I'm an
ass, driveling, foolish ass. A lunatic
conversationalist compared TO me.
And alasl Dolly knows that too, and
che torments me and makes life an
unutterable burden to me. 1 start to
make a sensible remark, when sud-
denly meet Dolly's eyes; then 1 STUN
bic and say the wrong thing, and she
will remark: "Do you really think
that?'' with such a wicked look in her
beautiful blue eyes, while don't think
1t at all. but have just said it. And so
1t goes until 1 wonder sometimes if l
am quite right. When we go TO
dances-I say we, I'm always there if
/ know she is going-things are a
little worse than usual, for Dolly
dances past me with beasts and cads of
men, 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 1 was desperate. had
sent her yioiets 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. l 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-
pecial night. you here!" she said,
lifting her eyebrows in astonishment
and without smile; all put on, of
course, because 1 am always where
she is.
"Oh, no, I'm not here, I'm some
where else;" 1 said, wittily. She
laughed immoderately.
"You're - so funny" she re-
marked, choking.
yes" said I, severely, 81 suppose
am funny. very funny-but where arc
my violets?"
"Why, had you = any violets?"
said she, 81 didn't lSnow--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 l
mean; where are my violets?"
"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.
"Oh, Dolly" 1 said, reduced once
more to my usual condition of ash
ninity, 81 didn't mean il, dear, / don't
want them; l only wanted you to wear
them or carry them, you know, dar-
ling"
But she saw that she had the best of
me, so carried things with high hand.
"The rose was sent me by friend"
she hesitated, 'and l suppose ] have
Int to wear what please; but sit
0 n, don't stand so long, you'll be
Ha'!" This was an allusion to my
and it maddened me.
Iou are exceedingly rude!"
said, turning away and leaving her.
1t was the most severe speech l had
ever made to Dolly, and suffered at
the thought of it. For four days
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 n fool for becoming es-
trapged from the only woman in the
world. In my despair I even went so far
as 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 I might rush
over to Dolly. throw myself at her feet,
--and kiss them! Yes, ] acknowledge
that have often wished that.
Finally I 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 I sent three
dozen. The answer l received was
characteristic:
"You are silly old goose, and il
you had only waited until l finished
what was saying you would have dis
covered that you sent the rose your
self with the violets. 1 don't care al
ali for red roses"
But the greatest of my misfortunes
has not yet been set down. There was
another young man, an acquaintance
and sdmirer o.. Dolly's, with exactly
the same name as myself-Richard
Morton. I. of course. had taken huge
dislike to him. in fact hated him (for
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