Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-10-14
SOCIAL. COMEDY.

Lydia, | can't make UP my mind l
said suddenly.
Lydia was my special friend, and
had driven over that Afternoon express
ly to see her.
uant make up your mind about
what?" asked Lydia, passing me cup
o. tea.
About Sir George | replied.
why, you'll accept him, OF course
said Lydia.
q don't know that | shall, replied,
little nettled.
What. You won't? exclaimed Lyuia,
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.
u don't know about that" | replied
coolly.
What! And i've on two hundred a
year? My dear girl, think OF it"
We'll" l said, suppressing a sigh, Il
suppose it is impossible. But do pre-
Ter Tom, Lydia; it is no use pretending
/ don't. | shall never, never fall n
love with anyone else
'Of course you went dear, said
Lydia complacently But that neei-
not prevent your marrying Sir George.
You can SO on loyirg Tom just the
same"
Don't be silly | said.
Sir George is dreadfully old, l
exclaimed presently.
Nonsense" cried Lydia. why
you are Is, and im quite sure no one
would take him for SIS.
sure they wouldn't. And he certainly
is extremely nice"
You will be able to do just as YOU
like, said Lydia. You Nill have low
ely time"
I'D you think so?" / asked irreso-
lutely
why, yes. Just think! A place N
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 roam
all over tue continent. Oh, | envy you.
You could go to Venice, to Rome
Bother Rome!" / said rudely.
Very WE'LL Lydia said iclly. stay
a. home, then. Marry Tom, and next
spring wnen you walk down Oxford
street in last years hat-walk, say,
for you will not be able to afford the
luxury OF d hansom-you Will look at
the things in the shop windows and
feel you need a new bonnet very bad
ly. But You won't be able te buy one,
. be able 70 aifo I'd it.
"A last years hat. | echoed ruetHlly.
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, of course, would be out OF the
question. You would haze to give up
daAces, too, for yol wouldn't nave a
gown tit u wear
After all, | said, Il believe woul
rather live With Tom in third floor
back than marry anyone else. and
mamma will settle something Oh me II
| marry.
"Poon my dear child, mere roth
ing.
Yes" / replied dejectedly. ! sup
pose 50. But we must be getting very
poor, for only last week mamma said
that she mnst be thinking Of giving up
the carriage"
"Of course, if you married Tom, said
Lydia, you wouldn't be able to keep
maid
Il shouldn't mind that" | replied.
And you woulu have TO do all the
busting and the mending and help the
servans With the cooking besides
We'll, | can make several different
kinds of cake" | said.
Il doubt, BY the time you have paid
the rent and taxes, whether you could
afford to eat any sort of cake at all. It
Is the bills, you know. Let me see
she counted on her fingers" there
WOULD be the butchers bill. the bakers
bill, the gTeen-grocer's bill, the milk
man, the Goodman, and the carpenter
and the plumber to pay, your dress
maker. Toms tailor"
"Oh. do sip! 1t is too awful! see
IL iEtYaaEe&ac ~ thtpI- IF TIy
err
Then you agree with me that
"Yes' yes yes, 4 shrieked. II
Don't go!' exclaimed Lydia, as
rtse to put on my wraps. sit down,
haven finished yet. You Will have To