Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-14
A SOCIAL COMEDY,

said suddenly
Lydia was my special friend, and L
had driven over that Afternoon express
ly to see her.
4an't make up your mind about
WHAT" asked Lydia, passing me cup
oe tea.
About Sir George l replied.
why, you'll accept him, OF course
said Lydia.
Il don't know that l SHALL, l replied
a little nettled.
What! You won't? exclaimed Lydia.
mora, you must be mad"
] slipped my tea in silerce.
But you always uned to say that you
admired him"
THAT was before | met Tom," cried.
But you can't marry Tom, SO what
is the use OF talking OF him?' said
Lydia, calmly.
- don't know about that, l replied
coolly.
What! And i've on two hundred
year? My dear girl, think OF it.
We'll" | said, suppressing a sigh, Il
suppose it is Impossible. But L do pre-
Ter Tom, Lydia; it is no use pretending
| don't. | shall meyer, never laIl III
love with anyone else
''Of course you won't DEAR said
Lydia complacently. But that neel-
not prevent your marrying Sir George.
You can so on IoViTg Tom just the
same"
Don't be silly! | said.
&c lpp96fnllU old -
exclaimed presently.
'Nonsense!" cried Lydia. Why
you are Is, and I'm quite sure no one
would take him fer So.
sure they wouldn't. And he certainly
is extremely nice"
You will be able to do just as you
like, said Lydia. You Uill have a low
ely time"
I'D you think so?" l asked irreso-
lutely.
why, yes. Just think! a place IN
Scotland, another in Wales, and you
can always come to town for the sea
son. Then he always goes abroad
each year, so you will be able to Dam
all over tne continent. Oh, | envy you.
You could go to Venice, to Rome
Bother Rome!" l said rudely.
Very Well" Lydia said lcily. stay
a. home, then. Marry Tom, and next
'Ggs | YIBM-lBQ s.IB9G lsBI u l97Lls
for you Will not be able to afford the
luxury of d hansOm-yOu Will look ut
the things in the shop windows and
feel you need new bonnet very bad
ly. But you won't be able tc buy one.
For the simple reason that you won
be able 10 alto I'd it.
"A last years hat! | echoed ruefully.
THAT would be dreadful
But nothing-nothing in comparison
to tie things you would have to put up
with said Lydia cneerfully. You
would want to invite your friends TO
dinner, but you could not give them
bread and cheese. You would be dying
to see the new piece at the Lyceum,
hut that, oil course, would be out OF the
question. You would haze to give up
dances, too, for you wouldn't nave i
gown fit u wear
After all, l said, Il believe l Woul
rather live With Tom in third floor
back than marry anyone else, alpd
mamma VIII settle something Oh me il
! marry
Pooh! my dear child; a mere moth
ing"
Yes" | replied dejectedly. Il sup
pose So. But we must be getting very
poor, for only last week mamma said
that she must be thinking of giving up
the carriage
"Of course, if you married Tom," said
Lydia, you wouldn't be able to keep a
maid"
L shouldn't mind that" l replied.
And you wouIu have TO do all the
busting and the mending and help the
servant With the cooking besides"
We'll, | can make several different
kinds of cake" | said.
L doubt, by the time you have PAID
the rent and taxes, whether you coulG
afford to eat any sort of cake at ALL II
Is the bills, you know. Let me see
she counted on her fingers there
would be the butchers bill, the bakers
bill, the green grocer's bill, the milk
man, the Goodman, and the carpenter
and the plumber to pay, your dress
maker, Toms tailor"
oh, do stop! 1t is too awful! | see
i isuseless to think of Tom any long
er"
Then you agree with me that"
Yes! yes! yes! II shrieked. -
Don't go!" exclaimed Lydia, as
rose to put on my wraps. sit down:
haven finished yet. You will have t.
agree with you; it is quite impossible
Though shall always love him. vii
never, -neyer-never marry Tom.
settle with Tom"
But, Lydia, you forget that Sil
George hasn't actually proposed to m.
yet"
But he is madly in love with Won
sc write to Tom and when he does vo,
can post 1t; you oughtnt to keen hin
III suspense" She pushed a tab1,
with writing materials upon it towar,
me-
What are you going to say" sh
asked.