The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-02-10
ETY., am L? Would you like you: future
wife to flirt with other men?

Cecil-But Minnie does: she did hirt
W 18th that fellow. Her cousin" in,
deed! Confound him!
ST. Aubyn-Well, shouldn't want to
Jose her if 1 were you. She's very
jelly little girl, and awfully pretty, not
to mention the prospects-ahd they
count, you know, old fellow! But she's
game, and if you pull her in too tight
you will lose her, that's about all.s
Cecil (furiously)-If that id cousin
Of hers is at this idiotic garden party
tomorrow, and she goes en- with him
as she, did the other evening, she may
go to-anywhere, for aught care! i
swear I'll throw her over!
st. Aubyn-You've said that before,
and had to. repent in dust and ashes,
and wear sackcloth, and eat humble pie,
and go
Cecil-This time I mean it! Calls
for another brandy, which he swallows
at one gulp, losses down the coin, and
exit.)
St. ,Aubyn-Poor Cecil!
Scene III-A secluded walk In a charming
garden in the suburbs. eGlimpses of bright
toilets to be seen through the Strawberries;
distant laughter;a strains of dances from
Hungarian band; popping of champagne
icorks, etc. ETC. Hon. Cecil TreVelyan,
fierce, gloomy and alone, seated out of
sight in an arbor near the farther end of
the walk: Lillian and Tom Wentworth, en-
tering the walk together, slowly, from be-
yond the farther end. -s>& a4@E
Time-4:45 p. m.
aa Lillian (softly, with momentary
glance round)-It's awfully good OF you
to walk about out here with me, with
out wanting to know why asked you
to do it.
Tom-I'd walk about, with you, for
hours-in the desert of Sahara, If you
wanted me to. Gently insinuates his
hand among the voluminous clouds OF
the pale-green chiffon sleeye.) s-
Lillian Qaughing)-Thank you; but
l don't like deserts.
Tonne more do l. Let's. have a
rest in this commissioning arbor.
Lilian-No! oh no! Spiders and
things, l expect; (quickens her pace)
perhaps it's damp or something. There's
seat little farther on; we.can sit
there, if you like. GM
Cecil Gas they pass the sarbor, under
his breath) -Then that girl was tell
ing the truth! DIN the fellowl He's
taking her arm! 2 III 10
Lillian (seats herself with her back
towards the arbor)AMr:: Wentworth.
I-I-er-I want you to make love to
me?
Y Tom with alacrity)-My darling!
Lillian (imperatiyely)-Hush! Don't
(she bushes and looks confused) l
mean. it's not to be real, you know.
Tom-Oh! but it is very real. l assure
you es ts~a sssef
Lilian-IA want to explain There's
some one in that arbor- @@: s.
Tom (sitting farther off, in some
alarm) the person! Who
is it? Why didn't they keep away?
Lillian with the tips of her daintily
gloved fingers on his hand)-No, you.
needn't mind (stops in embarrassment
at Toms astonished look). Your Cousin
Minnie
Toni don't want to talk about my
Cousin Minnie., You don't think l care
for Minnie, do you?
g Lillian Crushing into her subject)-I
But Cecil Trevelyan does. And he.
made a perfect brute of himself about
you, when she danced with you the
other highland he doesn't know I'm
here-and I've got On Minnies dress
(contemplates' her skirts with satisfac-
ton for half minute).
Tom (taking advantage of the pause)
1t ought to be yours, then; you look
too charming!
Lilian-Nonsense! And he's in that
arbor. and thinks I'm Minnie, and-and
so-(with a desperate audacity)-will
you su,>&
Tom beginning to understand, TAX
ing her hand in both of his, and looking
fondly at her downcast eyes)-I will-if
you'll let it stand, darling. Lillian, is
there any reason why it shouldn't be
realp t@
forgetting Cecil in the arbor, and Min
ME, and everyone else)-I-perhaps-
you
Tom (also forgetting Cecil in the ar
Dor, and Minnie, and everyone else)-
Tell me. Is there? (He draws her to-
wards him; their lips meet, ETC., etc.,
ad lib.)
Cecil (who has advanced unnoticed
under cover of this tender passage)-
When I've settled your scoundrel of a
cousin. Minnie, I'll trouble you to speak
Il few words to me!
(Tom rises angrily. Cecil catches
sight of Lilian's face and is struck
speechless. MADAME
Presence OF Mind.
One of the most remarkable instances
of presence of mind on record was that