The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-08-11
A FAREWELL
PERFORMANCE

penny OneS-Cdll SMART ptOpIe. ueg
lived in dear little world of their own,
whose inhabitants had nothing what
ever to do but eat, drink and be merry;
a charming sphere where everybody
tried their very hardest 10 be amusing
and amiable, and where nothing was
ever taken seriously-that Is, in public.
The greatest enemy of these Utopians
was boredom. and this they avoided by
being overwhelmingly slipping at
things instead Of imbibing the huge
draughts that ordinary mortals are apt
to indulge in. When they did good
deed they did 1t by stealth and threw
mud at it afterwards; when they spoke
of things human and divine they hid
their true selves and real meaning I'M
der an impenetrable cloak OF fippant
slang and cheap witticisms. Each one
of them was the hero or heroine OF an
external comedy with single part.
Thus. the net result of their acquaint-
anceship was that Doris Verrall had
never got a word of sober sense out OF
Jack Halliday. while Jack Halliday had
never heard syllable OF wisdom issue
rom the delicate lips OF Doris Verrall.
Doris was an only child and mother.
less. She and her father had kept
house together and mutually spoilt one
another these last fifteen years. They
had miniature Mayfair palace all to
themselves. an Arcadia that would
have surprised most OF the Utopians
among whom Doris took her pleasures,
by reason OF its restful simplicity and
quiet affections. Father and daughter
were very fond Of one another, each in
their own way-Mr. VERBAL in a digni-
fed, old-world manner that reminded
one OF Balzac's elderly aristocrats,
while Doris showed her affection by be-
ing dsrespectful. She treated Dad
dy," as she playfully styled Mr.. YER
rail-, like a big spoiled child. and he
was as clay under her fingers.
1t was Sunday evening in June.
The sky was clearing fast after a days
rain, and London looked as If 1t had
just come home from the laundry.
Doris and Mr.. VERBAL. who had gone
down to the park for a mild constitu-
tional. ran up against Jack Halliday,
bent on similar errand. and bore him
home to dinner. He had never dined
en- familie with the Verralls and Won
dered what it would be like The idea
seemed strange at first sight becauS2 it
was new. London men are above all
things creatures OF habit, three-Quar-
ters of whose lives are carefully plan
ned and mapped out for them by that
huge machine society. This saves them
the trouble OF thinking. and other dis
comforts. So Halliday thought for mo-
meht and came TO the conclusion that
Doris was a nice girl and would keep
him in good temper half the even
ing if he kept her amused the other
half. Mr.. VERBAL he hardly knew.
The dinner was a success. All three
enjoyed it-Jack Halliday most of all.
1t was different from the shallow gilt
ter of his everyday life. 1t reminded
him OF Home Sweet Home" and the
domestic Doris. carefully looking after
her white-haired old father was an I'M
expected revelation. 1t seemed strange
to think that this pattern of flial affec.
ton was the cynical, witty and flippant
Doris Verrall he had hitherto known.
For a minute or two the thought made
him uncomfortably sslf-conscious. He
was an intruder, he had no place in the
domestic economy of that household.
no right TO pry into their attachment
and intimacy. This feeling gave way
after the first few moments. No one.
We n mself noticed the incongruity
OF his presence; he was evidently a
welcome guest and belonged to the
picture. Doris had never seen him
so quiet before. To him she seemed a
new being. more like one OF the people
in the books he read in his lonely
chambers than the Miss Verrall of yes
terday When she talked to the old
man the theatre with the solitary ac-
tor seemed to have closed its doors;
but whenever she addressed a remark
to Jack the portals reopened, the foot
lights glared brightly as ever. Perhaps
it was his fault. Habit was stronger
than nature. He could not speak as he
felt. and she took the cue. In spite OF
themselves they could not shake of the
heartless jargon that yelled their true
selves in a mist OF precocious cock
sureness, cynical affection and super
fetal worldiness.
The old gentleman listened amusedly.
He rather enjoyed their curious meth
DDS Of evading sense and sincerity.
There was a certain misapplied clever
ness in 1t all that was new to him and
seemed full OF the pretty vanity and
overlooking vitality of youth-simply
a mood. a mood that had its faults. no
doubt. but was interesting all the same.
He did not know that Jack and Doris
spent the greater part OF their lives
amid similar drivel, and that both in
that instant were tired to death Of 1t
-lOathed it. To them ii sounded out
of place. bad taste, even vulgar. Yet
it was their language: they could not
shake II of. they could not talk to each
other but in that profane tongue. Each
could see the reflection Of their
thoughts in the others eyes, but nelth-
er was strong enough or bold enough
to be real to rebel.
They grew silently after time while
Mr.. VERBAL talked lovingly about
books and pictures md men and wom-
---'-- - = 90 -,'''- - ~nintod tbep,
The old gentleman had a simple, home
ly way about him that was restful.
Doris and Jack listened contentedly,
and again Halliday thought OF the peo-
pie in the books, while the girl looked
encouragingly at her father-even
tenderly, Jack thought. She stayed in
the dining room while the men smoked
a cigarette, and then Mr.. Verrall, with
many apologies, settled In a big arm
chair for his usual after-dinner nap.
1t was nearly dusk, and Jack asked
her to play to him in the twilight, SO
they went up stairs to the drawing
room. Doris seated herself at piano
while he went over to the fireplace and
sank deep into a big chair piled with