The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-03-14

AhN VI WIG HNFANuft~
(They bow, smilingl.
Mhnlcy Ito Muriell--Do you think
you can amuse a wounded warrior,
Muriel. until come back 10 take him
of your hands He doesn't dance be.
cause he's wounded-that's what he
says--but It's only an excuse for lazi.
ness.
Muriel-1 am sure Capt. Norman
couldn't be lazy. 4 man who has done
Il Manlcy and Norman exchange
meaning Rianees) has done
"A siS.mi'e walk by himself this aft.
sFnoon doesn't deserve TO be called
lazy. tManlcy goes out, Norman looks
rather gloomy.)
Manlcy--l Tctire--conquered. (Exit
l.. Muriel and Norman VI DOWN.
Norman didn't ssc you during my
walk this afternoon. Mas Wilton.
Muricl-No! Well, you see. was
learning TO ride a bicycle. OF course
] ought TO have learnt years ago
Nhenit was fashlonablc-bu wouldn't
begin then.
NormAn-Jusi because you didn't
want TO do thp conventional thing. Ell
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. papa wouldn't
5uy ME bike.
NOrman-But you are--l mean, I've
heard you her-er-unconvcn
tional. aren't you?
Murirl-l don't know. ] am afraid
never stopped 10 think about Il. /
haven't thought about anything ex-
cept the bicycle since had Il. can't
1t takes up all my time
Norman--Not thought about any.
thing else? Not thought about the
war, and the troops coming homer
Neutrality-suspicious. n little. be.
cause ! had To. They al talk about
nothing else at home, and 20 I can't
help hearing something. But I'm an
Dutcast, you know. with a little world
OF my own outside other peoples Ny
present world 10 my bicycle.
Nurman-But how WAS It you didn't
overtnkc me this afternoon II you were
riding?
Muricl-Excusc me. didn't say
was riding. said | was learning 10
ride. That's quite different, and makes
you very tired.
Norman I'm sorry you didn't catch
me UP. might have helped you.
MuricI Thanks. did ntarly catch
YOU up once, and ! rang my bell hard
so hard, in fact, that had to get OF
my machine TO do il properly; but
you didn't look round. You we're deep
In thought
Norman--Yes, I WIS. You know in
where / live. there was
such a crush when our fellows came
home that they couldn't march. and
they asked me to devise some sch me
for keeping the women the people
hack when the next contingent arrives.
| was thinking out plan this after
noon.
Muricl--Arc the women such a ter.
riblc nuisance, then?
Norman Wcll--er--yrs i'm.
pulsive, you know. Break up the ranks.
All that sort Of thing
Muriel--roor women! I'm glad I'm
not like that.
NofmRn-lt isn't right, you know.
Auiiel-No. can understand that
\ man who hus-cr-r received Kiss
from woman without asking for it,
mistake the impulse Of the
moment for-er-somcthing else. That
would be pity
Norman Don't you think II usually
is-er-something else when soldiers
are concernrd2
Muriel-M Most decidedly not. Soldiers
run away with that idea
Women are grateful and enthusiastic,
and rather hysterlcal. That's ALL
They are certainly not ia love with
the soldiers they rave over.
Norman-Nou don't think so?
Muriel-Sure Of Il.
Norman getting n tribe nearer Nu-
riel, and speaking in lower tone -
Is II possible. Miss Wilton, that the
enthusiasm We have heard so much
about ia not real?
Muriel-Not all OF II. I've no doubt
some OF IL is. 10 you have a brother
or--s-husband, you naturally feel
glad to see him back safe and sound;
out then haven't brother--or a bus.
the ARMY mean ! haven't
a brother and, Of course. you know
their eyes meet, and she buihes
Norman-Yes, IL must be nice to
have some one looking out for you
when you come blackstone one who
really careE-some one
Muriel-But | thought you had a
sister. Capt. Norman?
Norman-0h, but sisters don't count
they look out for some one else'z
brothers, suppose.
Muriel--That's not fair on the sis
tiers.
Norman--0h, but they do.
Muriei--Weil, the next time there's
n war, and Won go out, Ill look out for
you when you come back.
Norman--You will? That's good Of
you 20 say that,
Mariel-Islt? From what I've hesrd,
! thought that
Norman-fes?
Mariel--I--er--hard know--f mean
that docking ON the grousdl was told
there were others who--cr-, looked out
for you this time, and ] thought
p'raps--
Norman-Yon're wrong. really
thiak that--er--my sister might have
come; bur she was looking for her
future husband. a long pause. He
looks intentiy at her. She looks away.
Thru their eyes meet and she looEs
away again. He gets nearer 10 her
and holds her right hsnd.l
Norman I'm going TO ask you to do
You've told me you're not
In love with soldiers. want you
10 try and be In love with one Of them
--who is--ever 70 Hluch--in love--with
you. (He draws her near him and
kisses her.l
Muriel Tin los wAisperl--I said--
Mr.. Mani<y tsad me yoa
thought every woman was IN love with
you. fI.oosing up and speaking cool
ly.l He was all wrong, Msxnt hsy