The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-17
IDEALS
By Regent Minor.


back in her deck chair with an open book
on her knee. She is dark haired, gray-eyed,
and interesting to the verge of prettiness.
Mr.. Archie Campbell, in a white linen
tropical suit, paper in his hands, lies in
the shadow of a neighboring boat. H is
dark and good-looking, but rather under
the medium height.
Mrs. Mathews, an elderly lady with d
very severe countenance, mods over her
knitting further up the deck.
y OILY with sigh of relief
last I've got rid of that horrid old
bore of d colonel. Such an ideal day.
Such wicked waste to spend it talking
to him! 1 wonder where--O! here he
is. (She subsidies into her book as
Archie Campbell strolls up
Archie-Any body's chair, Miss Tith-
erige, or may l have it?
Molly with slightly annoyed ex-
pression) -WeI, it was the colonels:
but l suppose you may sit there till
he comes back. l don't suppose he'd
mind. (She relapses into her book with
an Indifferent air.
Archie aside -Wouldn't he, thought
(Aloud) | don't suppose he would
He's not bad old boy if he'd only shut
up about the depreciating rupee and
not be always boring us with
Molly Gnterrupting, sharply)-Don't
talk, please, l want to read.
Archie-So sorry-I won't say an
other word! / want to read, too.
"a long silence ensues, during which
they both appear TO be reading in
tently.)
Molly Suddenly leaning back and
looking at the sea)-O! what an ideal
day! Such color in the sea and the
sky
Archie Gnterrupting, sharply -
Don't talk, please, l want to read.
Molly with offended dignity)-I sup
pose | may speak to myself.
Archie-O! certainly. On a loud
aside It's considered rather 'ratty.
Molly (scornfully)-I don't under
stand your slang!
Archie-Well, you needn't be so Of
Tended then if you don't understand it,
Molly with extreme dignIty)-It is
considered very rude to talk to people
in language they do not understand.
Archie (also with dignity)-I sup
pose | may speak to myself.
Molly-O! certainly.
(Another long pause ensues, during
which both appear to be earnestly read
ing. Molly looks up, looks at Archie,
frowns, and signs heavily. Archie goes
on reading. Molly signs louder. Archie
shivers as if cold, but stil goes on read
ing. Molly gives a third huge sigh, and
Archie looks up
Archie-Surely, a breeze spring
ing up?
Molly-No. only me signing.
Archie-O. Gle relapses into his pa
per-
Molly with sudden decision)-Mr.
Campbell!
Archie Cooking up, eagerly)-Miss
Titherige. An ice or lemon squash,
OF both?
Molly-Neither, thanks. But you
might talk a little, think. You're sw-
fully dull to-day.
Archie (folding up his paper with
alacrity)-So sorry, l thought you
meant what you said You do ssme-
times. you KNOW!
Molly-Only when I'm i'll or angry.
Archie-And you're not either now,
are you? Uooks at her tenderly.)
What shall we talk about? Let me
see We had weather and tropics the
first day; second day, books and music;
third politics and religion; fourth,
generalities about people; fifth, per
sonalities about the passengers-that
was yesterday. Well, now suppose we
try personalities about ourselves to-
day. | know! You tell me all my
faults, and I'll tell you all yours
Molly-rhanll you. That would be
giving me all the weight of the CONVEX
sation, and l want you to talk. Conf
dentially and seriously Do you know
we are boring each other horribly?
Confess! we've exhausted each other,
and want to quarrel, don't we?
Archie Cooking at her earnestly
Do we?
Molly-Yes. One always eXhausts
people on long voyages. don't you
know? Coming out, | walked clean
through-yes, right clean through: all
the passengers in the first week. Fact!
Thirty-tive people, and not a soul 10
speak to after the first week.
Archie-Of course, you read all the
rest of the way, and kept a diary. Girls
always keep a diary when there's moth
ing going on, and never when there is
Why is that?
Molly-IIow stupid you are! Because
it is so difficult when you have some
thing to tell. Don't you see? Anyon.
can spin things out, but it takes
genius to stew them down! o. litera-
ture I'm talking COW, and | can feel
you are listening. Now you talk! I'm
tired. and want a rest. Your conversa-
ton always has such a-somno-som-
nip-soncmi- O bother! It's too hot!
You know what sort OF effect your talk
ing has on me. There! go ahead!
(She lies back in her chair ara closes
her eyes. lie sits silent and watches
herr
Molly Opening her eyes suddenly
Ho! On second thoughts, | won't,
though! | always sleep with my mouth
wide open, and it isn't becoming.
shouldn't mind your seeing me, as you
must be hardened to my winning ways