The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-06-06
LOVE IS
BLIND
BY CAROLYN WELLS
COPYRIGHT 1901, BY Carolyn Wells
BY CAROLYN WELLS
Copyright. 1901, By CAROLYN Wells

contemplation Of gifts already received
and excited anticipation Of probab,e
or possible ones to follow. An i'm
pulsive cuckoo shoots out and delivers
his twelve wooden squeaks and snaps
himself In again.
Mrs. Mcllvaine-Twelve o'clock. Kit.
" Will be here soon. She said she'd
call on her way from church-oh. here
you are! (She rises and greets warmly
a young woman of somewhat frivolous
effects) Merry Christmas!
Miss Bates-Merry Christmas vour.
self! oh, Edith, such larks! What do
you think did? (She walks toward a
tableful of Christmas flotsam and let
SAM oh! Who gave you this chatting
dish? How perfectly lovely!
Mrs. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. John. What
have you been up to now, you crazy
girl? You look like a spirit of Christ.
mas with that holly on your coat. And
is this mistletoe pinned to your hat
brim?
Miss Bates-Yes, that's the lark. You
see, just as ! was going in church this
morning l found that spray on the
steps, and it was lovely, and l wanted
1t. So, for lack of a better place to
keep 1t, l stuck 1t In my hat.
Mrs. McIlvaine-With disastrous re-
suits. oh, Kitty, Kitty!
Miss Bates-Yes. Dick Wheeler
kissed me in the yestibule; Captain
Jennings, who has the pew next ours,
leaned over and kissed me during the
prayer, and the vestryman who passed
the plate nearly let it fall when he
came to me, but he neglected his priv
ilege. The choir boys threw kisses to
me, and l expected every minute the
rector would come down and salute
me, but he didn't. After service ]
had fairly to scamper out the door,
and here / am. Did John really give
you this chatting dish? How much
nicer he is as a brother than as q
friend! He gave me a copy of the
"Slstine Madonna" and l have three
already. l wish he'd ask me to be a
sister to him.
| Mrs. McIlvaine-He's much more
likely to ask you to be sister to me.
Miss Bates-Not he! He never pays
the slightest attention to me, and
adore him.
Mrs. McIlvaine-He'll be here direct
ly. Leave your hat OH and see whether
he pays any attention to you or not.
Miss Bates-I will. Is any one else
coming?
Mrs. McIlvaine-Only Mr.. Henderson
and Tom. You won't mind them.
Miss Bates-Oh, no! In a multitude
of risks there is safety.
Mrs. McIlvaine's brother, John Nor
ris, and her husband appear in the
doorway.
McIlvaine-Merry Christmas, girls!
Ohio, madcap Kitty! Gle sees the
mistletoe in her hat and kisses her
heartily)
Morris mot observing the mistletoe)-
All. A special privilege, l suppose. |
mightn't hope for the same, Miss
Bates?
Miss Bates-Not without some en-
enlargement.
Oh-ah-certalnly not.
McIlvalne-Don't you see any encour'
agement, old man, in the-er-atmos'
phere?
Morris (noting Miss Bates frigid
manner ani forbidding face)-No;
can't say that do.
Miss Bates-Of course he doesn't
Why should he? And yet it's tell
ing situation. Good gracious, Edith
Who gave you this paintings
Mrs. McIlvaine- That's one OF
the exigencies of the occasion. christ
mas isn't all beer and skittles.
Miss Bates-What an awful looking
child! Its flesh Is blue.
Morris-Where it isn't green.
Miss Bates-And that pink poodle Is
a daisy.
McIlvaine-Why, that's Impressions
tic. Your low natures can't appreciate
high art. All! Ito Mr. Henderson, who
enters with Bert Barrington) Merry
Christmas, old fellow! Hello, Bert
You're Just in time. Help me hahe
these green's, will you?
Barrington-Sure. Merry Christmas
Mrs. McIlvaine! (He sees mistletoe Il
Kitty's hat) Well, I'll be blessed
Kisses herr -.
Morris-You audacious wretch! D'
Won allow such impertinence, MISS
! Bates?
Miss Bates-Oh, 1 can't resent It I'M
dor observation-disclosures
Rarrington-Ho, no! Never hearo
the bough called by that name before
saw. Kit, you look like poster TOT
Christmas number. ~
Miss Bates-Not l. I'm not tai'
enough. Christmas poster girls are d.
WAYS eight feet high at least.
Morris speaking aside to Kitty
And you're only as high as my neart'
harrington (overhearing him)-Ihen
she's not very tall, for you look as II
vopr heart was In your boots.
n 70