Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-24

substance of conversation relating to
| flowers in scene H.
Capt. D. with the air Of having made
a discoVery)-So you think Lyster
sent EN-, Ell?
! His Better Ralf-Who else should?
And she won't take them or wear
them, or anything.
Capt. D. Chas a happy thought
P'raps she thinks she looks as we'll
without y know.
His Better Half (sighing audibly)-
Oh, Dick! That isn't the question at
all. Don't you understand, you stupid
boy, that if Mr.. LysCer sent the flowers
he would be anxious for Nora to wear
them?
Capt. D. thoroughly puzzled)-
yes, l understand that well enough:
any fool could. But what have you to
do with it all? Can't Nora please her
self?
His Better Half (murmurs softly
But [ should so have liked to see her
nicely settled.
Capt. D. (has a bright IDEAL see.
You think Lyster wants to marry Nora.
| What little woman it is,
His Better Half thought you I'M
derstood that from the first. (Sotto
Voce.) Men are stupid. (Aloud.)
Any one can see he admires her very
much. And he's such a good match,
DICK; Mrs. Viccars says he can't have
less than five thousand a year.
Capt. D. (skeptical and ungalIant)-
Take half off. l don't know so much
about his being a good match either.
hes not fellow other fellows care for.
His Better Half (scornfully)-Me
say all sorts of things about each other.
They gossip so.
Capt. D. (rather staggered. with vivid
| recolIectlOns OF sundry afternoon teas
and mice long chats" incident thereto,
he has heard of from time to time)
(sotto voce)-By Jove!
His Better Half-What do you know
about Mr.. LysIer. Dick? | ALWAYS
thought he seemed very nice.
Capt. Dts only a general soft OF
feeling some of those chaps at the
club have. CManeuyers heavily to
change subject.) But you were telling
me about Nora
His Better Half falls in with alac-
rIty)-Yes; she asked my advice, and
then did just the opposite. {Sighs.)
And such a match! Five thousand a
year!
Capt. d. (sotto voce. )-Two-five, and
Lyster. H-m-m-m.
His Better Half-And [ believe she'd
made up her mind all the time. Peo-
pie shouldn't ask advice if they don't
mean to take it, should they?
Capt Dts a very commin failing
(sotto Voce, to his refection), specially
among women.
His Better Half Conly hearing what
she was intended)-Yes. And now
Dick, I'm in rather an awkward POSI-
ton, you see. What would you advise
me to do?
Capt. D. Cturns toward her)-Weu, I
should let Nora manage her own af-
fairs; Lyster can look out fer himself:
and If | were you, l should steer clear
of matching all the days Of your life
Continues his dressing.)
HIS Better Half-Oh, [ can't do that!
Capt. DIT is no use with Nora. at
any rate; quite waste of time on your
part, though perhaps you didn't know
His Better Half Intensely excited)-
Is there somebody else? Oh, Who is
it? And why didn't you tell me be-
fore?
Capt. D. (enjoying sensation)-Do
you remember Stronghold?
His Better Half terribly disap-
pointed)-Maj. Stronghold, Oh, no,
Dick! It can't be! Why, he's almost
old enough to be her father! It's i'm
possible!
Capt. D. (only two years younger
than the major, privately thinks his
better half is exaggerating, and feels
IEJured-l don't see why; anyhow, he
was awfully gone on her when the regi-
ment was CHARTERED at Lendal and
Nora and the mater were living there.
l don't think they came to an undor-
standing that's what you say, isn't it?
because he hasn't anything; TO speak
of, that is.
His Better Half (after thinking hard
for fifteen seconds)-And do you think
she really likes him?
Capt. D.-Cant say, I'm sure; she
might have done. He's an awfully
good fellow, out and out the best
know. If they'd settled it at Lendal,
something might have come Of it, but
they didn't, so it dropped. l suppose
he didn't care to ask Nora to go shares
at love in cottage" most folks can't
live on it.
His Better Half-Of course, Nora
could never live in cottage. Hasn't
he house somewhere?
Capt D. (laconically)-Tum
old shanty in Ireland; so he told me.
His Better Half OhoughtfuIly)-
very nice looking, certainly; 1 always
said so; almost as handsome as you
used to be before we were married.
(Glances at Capt D.
Capt. D.-Hope you don't mean to
insinuate I've run off! Because [ don't
feel quite a patriarch yet, at any rate.
STROKES his mustache complacently)
His Better Half watching proceed
ings with interest)-You don't look
your age; Maj. Stronghold does, every
minute. India, l suppose, when he
was young. After all, perhaps, you
haven't gone off so very much
Capt. D. steps toward her)-Its aw-
fully good of you to say so. Are you
sure you mean it? Oh, you must tell