Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-09
THE TWO Mr.. mORTONs.

Dolly In the most maddenine,
tantalizing, perverse and charming
II might as well admit it. you d
soon have found it out-young VIC
man OF my acquaintance. l had
been in love with her for Eve years
aud it's u wonder my hair 10 not
white; sometimes | think tits turn.
ing gray, but when spoke 20 Dol.
iy about II, she said not to bother,
| was old enough to be gray any
way. All ! that's where Dolly hurts,
and she knows it, for am I5 years
older than she 10, and when tha,
willful young woman wishes TO be
particularly 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 l stand well enough
in my profession. at least enabling
me to keep my head above water.
Bot when I'm with Dolly, or in her
presence, I'm an ass, a driveling.
foolish ass. A lunatic from an
asylum would be e brilliant convcr-
sationalist compared to me. Aud
,alas +, Dolly knows thst too, and
she tormen.s me and makes life an
unutterable burden TO me. start
to make a sensible remark, when
: suddenly / meet Dolly's eyes; then
| stumble and say the wrong thing,
and she will remark, "Do you real
ly think that 20 with such wicked
look in her beautiful blue eyes,
while | don't think it at all, but
have just said it. And so it goes
until ] wonder sometimes il | am
quite right. When we 60 to dances
Il say we, I'm always there if |
know she is going-things are lit
tie worse than usual, for Dolly
dances past me with the beasts and
.cads of men, and stand about the
wall watching her. She never will
give but two dances to me, 50 have
nothing to do in the meantime but
watch her.
One night was desperate. /
had sent her some violets as usual
as she is particularly fond OF
them, and most of my money goes
that way. Sometimes she wears
them, and often carries them. but
this night they were 10 where to
be seen, and in her hand was one
large red rose. / went up to her;
appearing to be sorry to see me was
the particular form of torture which
ommended itself to ber on this es-
pecial night.
"You here - she said lifting her
eyebrows in establishment and with
out a smile; all put on, of course,
because | am always where she is.
"Oh, no, I'm not here, I'm some
where else." said wIttily.
! She laughed immoderately.
You're-so-funny," she re-
marked, choking.
Yes said ], severely, Il suppose
| am funny. very funny-but where
are my violets p
'Why, had you-any-violets ?
said she. didn't know-how
should | know?
She said it seriously, eut there
was u look in her eyes that | was
used to: I'd have liked to shake
her.
Dolly, you know exactly what !
mean: where are my violets ?
If you mean the violets you sent
me- she replied with dignity, Il
understood that after they left you
they belonged to me; do you want
them back 2 This freezingly.
'0h, Dolly | said, reduced once
more to my usual condition OF asis-
ninity. Il didn't mean it, dear; /
don't want the ID beg your
pardon, OF course don't want them;
| only wanted you to wear them or
carry them, you know, darling
But she saw that she had the best
of me, so carried things with a high
hand.
The rose was sent me BY y
/ friend she hesitated, 'and / sup
pose | have q right to wear what l
please; bat sit down, don't stand
so long, you'll be tired y
This was an allusion to my age,
and it maddened me.
sYou are exceedingly rude " |
said, turning away and leaving her.
1t was the NEST severe speech |
had ever made 4, Dolly, and | suf-