The record-union., 1897-12-07
Quite Unaccustomed.


Scene-The home of Miss Dimple. Ia
BILE, chairs, sofa at back, gas to turn
low
The door opens and Miss Dimple
ushers in Mr.. Poppleton.
Miss Dimple-It was SO nice of you
to come and see me ON such a stormy
evening.
Mr.. Poppleton-It's an ample reward
to find you at home, Miss Dimple. How
nice and familiar the room looks. Let
me see. I don't think I've passed an
evening here for two whole years.
rs it as long as that? 1 remember
that the last time you came 1 showed
you my new Ajax-my very first
wheel"
Il was riding a Roland then, My,
what an old wobbler that wheel was.
Yes, and the very next Saturday
night we took a spin together"
What a. nice memory you have, Mr..
Poppleton. I wonder how many miles
we have spun since then? Dear, dear.
what a wonderful difference wheels
have made in our lives."
Haven't they? Before the wheels
came, you know, 1 used to call on you
here three or four times a week. What
awfully jolly times we had,"
Didn't We? Do you remember the
corn we popped one night over the
grate?'
Don't T? Never saw such smoky corn
in my life. Say, l can't tell you how
glad I am it stormed tonight"
well, it's awfully nice of you to say
SO. We did have good times. didn't
we?"
"I should say we did. Please don't
tell anybody Miss Dimple, but 1 am
willing to confess that l do get a little
tired sometimes of being out on my
wheel every night"
MIR. Poppleton, don't breathe it to
SOUL but 1 feel the same way my
SELF
What a delightful bond of sympa-
thy 1 am actually beginning to wish
that we might renew our old-time in
door meets. Do you know, it is really
pleasure to sit on an upholstered
chair again''
TRY the sofa, Mr. Poppleton. I real
" think YOU will find it still more
Reminiscent? It's the same, isn't
it?"
"Yes. Newly covered and varnished.
i Ou cIt uQtCh DIT ItiIl6UlUtd1IS OlQ
friends
sOh, I remember everything in the
room. Aunt Susan's picture, and the
album, and the Japanese sword your
uncle brought from Yokohama, and
There, there, don't inventory them,
please Mr.. Poppleton. Since wheels
became the rage nobody ever uses the
parlor and there isn't new thing in
it. You don't know how odd it is to see
you in those clothes, Mr. Poppleton."
Il feel odd, Miss Dimple, 1 assure
YOU Sort of a stuffy feeling, like 700
many bedclothes. Look a frightful guy
without my bicycle togs, don't II"
No, indeed, you look awfully nice-I
mean-I mean it is nice for change"
Thank you, Miss Dimple, you are
very considerate of my feelings. 1 am
rot really as comfortable as l look
TOO bad. I hope it will wear away.
But you are not saying a word about
my new frock?"
Il have been admiring it immensely.
Isn't it long? 1t makes you look SO tall.
and so beauti-I mean, so tall"
Thank you, Mr.. Poppleton, you flat
ter like a courtier. One would think you
didn't lick my bicycle costume the nttlest
bit"
Your bicycle costume is all very well
in its place, Miss Dimple-and it's place.
occasionally, is on the shelf But, really.
I'm enjoying the evening immensely.
It's so pleasant to let your eyes rest
once in awhile, and not be eternally on
the lookout for scorchers. And then YOU
know, too, it's delightful to be able to
tell naturally and not have to raise
your voice. If you would sit on the
soft here by me. Miss Dimple. it would
suggest that feeling of close companion
ship which comes with the tandem
without any of it's disadvantages
You are quite a humorist, Mr.. Pop
pleton. There. is that better?"
Ever so much better. Do you re-
member one evening, in the long ago.
when we were sitting here, and I-may
turn down the Iamp-I mean the gas,
Miss Dimple?"
Els it smoking?"
"Ye-es, it's smoking. There, that
seems SO much more cozy. AS said,