The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-26
THE ART OF CONVERSATION.

Il had made up my mind to hate you,"
confessed.
That was unkind," she murmured
But that 1 know you Il
That was inevitable, said Cheedle.
You have known Joseph for years. Mrs.
Wroughtnight, have you not?" asked Mrs.
Cheedle, lingering the cloth.
Il used to think so,' 1 said.
She tried to look if she understood me.
But my idea of him was all wrong" said
l. He is different altogether from the man
I thought he was"
Better or worSe?" said she.
l hesitated.
please don't consider me- said Cheedle.
His face was haggard with apprehension.
But that is just what we are doing" said
Mrs. Cheedle, laughing. Come, Mr..
Wroughtnight, better or worse?"
Neither better or worse replied; "but
merely more ordinary"
Ordinary" gasped Mrs Cheedle.
"Oh, don't know that I object to that,
DEAR said Cheedle sourly.
I'VE are what we are said I, solemnly.
We are not necessarily what our friends
think are, though he rejoined.
NO" I replied; you are not the man I
thought you Were.'
Il am sure you are mistaken in thinking
Joseph is ordinary" said Mrs. Cheedle, very
gravely mo one is more keenly alive to his
failings than l am He has many, many
faults, know; but-he is emphatically not
ordinary
Perhaps normal would be the better
word,'' I ventured.
'Oh, doesn't that mean something sleepy
and slow?" she asked, doubtfully.
ut means something that isn't anything
much,' 1 explained.
Don't you think we had better talk about
scn-ething else?" said Cheedle, uneasily.
"Oh, no." said Mrs. Cheedle; Il think this
is so interesting"
'It is very awkward for me-" he protested.
"We can pretend you not here" she
said.
II can't, though" he rejoined.
.! know just what you think about Jo-
makes jokes he never thinks"
Il did not even know he made jokes" I
said. And I know he thinks he does.''
So Joseph has very fine sense of humor,''
she said, Indignantly. That the first
thing that struck me about him. ~
Il thought you always said, dear be-
gan Cheedle, but she interrupted him promtly.
There were other things, of course" she
said; but that was the first. Shall I tell Mr.
Wroughtnight what you said that night
when-"
Perhaps it might not interest him." said
"Oh, yes, it WILL" said I, but without en-
thusaSm.
He said" began Mrs. Cheedle. "oh, but
first 1 must tell you what led up to it,
L really don't think Wroughtnight will
care about it, my DEAR said Cheedle.
Here I played supplicant and the story was
rela ted to me. An hour passed in the telling.
I will merely remark that if my time is to
be wasted 1 prefer to waste it myself
Very, very droll," 1 said; when the story
ended.
Now" cried Mrs. Cheedle, flushed with
triumph; will you ever say again that Jo-
seph has no sense of humor?"
I had said no such thing, but 1 replied,
meekly: L will never again be so foolish
why, it would make a story" said she.
"Or mar one thought 1.
You write things" she limited.
only my own things said L.
Il don't suppose Joseph would object to"
why, DEAR said Cheedle; is isn't half
good enough for Wroughtnight''
You are so modest she sighed
That isn't your fault, Mrs. Cheedle,' said
I, to console her.
mo; do what 1 cam she admitted laugh
ing.
The weather has been remarkably fine
lately" said Cheedle Won't you try one of
these, old chap? 1 wonder who will get in
for Romleigh?'
His speech was feverish and hurried
Talking seems to have joined letter-writ-
ing in the vast limbo of lost arts" 1 OBJ
served.
That is what you always say, dear" said
Mrs. Cheedle.
Conversation nowadays consists mainly of
repetitions and personalities" 1 continued
Everywhere you hear the same thing said
and the same people mentioned"
How did you put that Josie?" asked Mrs
Cheedle.
1.-The whole thing should be a matter of
give and take 1 continued. 1T is Just as
wrong to monopolize the conversa ton as if
is to contribute nothing to it, We sbould
strive to be entertaining, but we should also
show readiness to be entertained"
Refill your glass, old chap, said Cheedle
THANK you," SAID l. The art of conver-
Sation-
That syphon is bit leaky I'm afraid"
said Cheedle. Try the other''
1.-The art of conversation-' began again
| NJ remember now what it was you said +"
cried Mrs. Cheedle, starting from a reverie
1T was nothing to do with the art of con
versation, after all. 1t was about the wav
people behave on the Continent. Of course
l ticra1n Srnnn into