The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-02-02
The Two Mr.. MOrtOns.

found it out-young women Of my a
Qu~aintance. I've been in love with her
for five years, and it's a wonder my
hair isn't white; sometimes l think it
is turning gray, but when l spoke to
Dolly about it, she said not to bother,
that I was old enough to be gray any
way. AhI that's where Dolly hurts,
and she knows it, for I am fifteen 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 1 am
considered to have fairly good sense
l can talk nationally on most subjects,
and l stand we'll enough in my profes
sion, at least enabling me to keep my
head above water. But when I'm with
Dolly, or In her presence, I'm an ass, a
driVeling, foolish ass. A lunatic from
IN asylum would be a brilliant CONVEX
~sationalist compared to me. And, alas
Dolly knows that, too, and she tor
ments M and makes life an u%nutterable
burden to me. l start to make a sen.
sible remark, when suddenly I meet
Dclly's ey es; then I stumble and say
the wrong thing and she will remark:
I'D you really think that9' with such
q wicked look in her beautiful brown
eyes, while 1 don't think it at all, but
have just said it. And so it goes until
1 wonder sometimes it I am quite right.
When we go to dances-I say we, I'm
always there if 1 know she is going
things are a little worse than usual,
for Dolly dances past me with beasts
and cads of men, and l stand about the
wall watching her. She will
give but two dances to me, go l have
nothing to do in the meantime but
watch her.
One night I vas desperate. I had
sent her vIolets as usuel-she ia par
ticularIy fond of them, and most Of
my money goes that way. Sometimes
she wears them and often carries them,
but this night they were nowhere to
be seen, and in her hand was one large
red rose. I went up to her; appear
ing to be sorry to see me was the par
ticular form of torture which common.
ded itself to her on this particular
night. You hereR" she asked, lifting
her eyebrows in astonishment and
without a 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
im~moderasely.
"You're-so-funny," she remarked,
choking.
Yes" 1 said, severely, 81 suppose 1
am funny-very funny-but where are
my v~iolets9"
why, had you-any-violets9" she
asked. II didn't know-how should l
know2"
She said it seriously, but there was q
look in her eyes that 1 was used to; I'd
have liked to shake her.
Dolly, you know exactly what l
mean; where are my v~ioIetsH"
IF you mean the violets you sent
me" she said with dignity, II under.
stood that after they left you they be-
longed to nae; do you want them back3"
This freezingly.
Oh, Dolly" 1 said, reduced once
more to my usual condition Of asinin-
ity, Il didn't mean it dear; I don't
want the id VOL beg your par.
don-of course 1 don't want them; I
only wanted you to wear them or carry
them, you know, darling
But she saw that she had the best of
me, 90 she carried things with a high
hand.
THE rose was sent me by q friend"
she hesitated, land I suppose I have a
right TO wear what l please; but sit
down; don't stand 30 long; you'll be
tiredP' This was an allusion to my
age, and it maddened me.
You are exceeding rudeI' I said,
turning away and leaving her.
It was the most severe speech I had
aver made to Dolly, and I suffered at
the thought of it. For four days I
didn't go nea her or send her violets
one 1t was an awful four days; [
neither slept or ate, but just reviled
myself as q fool for becoming estranged
from the only woman in the world. In
my despair l even went so far as take
Jane Hunt to a dance where Dolly
was sure to see us, and she did. And
when 1 passed her and she looked over
my head with her small nose in the air
1 wished Miss Hunt was in-well,
somewhere else, throw myself at her
teet-and kiss them! Yes, 1 acknowl
-. --snl-I 49,