The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-25
"ENGAGED"

"she's engaged again" remarked
Polly. nodding her head at the au.
burn-haired Downing girl who went
sailing by in Abingdon Dare's new
cart.
''It's his fifth or sixth trial, too,
isn't itT' | asked, shaking out the
reins and tucking the rugs under Pol
ly's intinhestimal toes. Some people
never get serious"
Polly looked medtative.
well" she remarked, jabbng the
pin into her hat more securely, that
depends on what you mean by 'seri-
ous.' An engagement may be serious
without ending in matrimony."
Serious for the one who gets left?"
I asked. swapping the whip viciously
over the back OF the roam.
'Nonsense One always means to
be married when one gets engaged.
That's what makes 1t an engagement.
Otherwise 1t would be merely-er-
that is"
Merely what7' inquired, looking
up sidewise under Pollys hat.
''Oh, Irritation. or an affair But
real bonsiide engagement is nothing
more or less than a dress rehearsal
for matrimony Sometimes the origi
nal rehearsing company are mar
ried at once: but generally the lead
ing man and the leading lady are
changed several times before you can
find two who just fit the opposing
roles"
why, Polly Lee. I'm surprised. l
suppose all your engagements have
proved invaluable experience. Doubt
less even this one, with me as lead
ing man, is proving"
| Invaluable experience" acquiesced
Polly, nodding her feathers; "oh, yes;
invaluable. I've learned everything
about the stage business of manag.
ing a man since became engaged to
you. For instance, before then, 1
used to take the center of the stage
on every occasion. I'd let a man sit
like a groom or an understudy beside
me all afternoon, while l displayed
my accomplishments as a whip in
stead of letting him show Off with q
four-in-hsnd or a tandem, while
| played the part Of limelight and kept
up with the applause. Why, what are
you whipping that horse forT'
| Was II" l snapped, a bit startled.
1t was the off horse, and 1t struck me
that he was more off than usual that
| afternoon.
| IL was wondering" l snapped,
"how many rehearsals 1t took to make
| you so letter perfect mean how
many rehearsals before you graduated
at my expense
81 haven't graduated yet" remarked
Polly.
| l jumped. "Oh!"
"The commencement exercises don't
commence until you 20 to the altar.
That is when the rehearsals end and
the curtain rolls up and the tragedy
or the comedy or the melodrama be-
| gins in real earnest"
| Wont you set the date for the
| commencement exercises, Pollyw
pleaded softly.
| Have you no regard for etiquette,
Mr.. HeavyfeatherT' remarked Polly.
"That was Mrs. Gadsby Victoria, and
she saw you"
Saw me what?'
Saw you looking at me that way
and trying to get hold of my hand"
! Il didn'tw / said Indignantly and
ambiguously.
"A girls first rehearsal for matri-
mony," went on Polly, ignoring me,
usually takes place when she is
| about seventeen. She is exactly like
young actress making her debut in
| Juliet. She plays with fire, but with
out poise or method. She rants and
RACES and overdoes. There is nothing
subtle about her. If she should mar
ry the man that she thinks at that
time she is madly in love with"
"Well?" | had to prod Polly, for
| just then we turned corner in the
circle and the authenticated Downing
| girl and Abingdon Dare flashed past
us, and Polly turned to stare after
them.
We'll" she went on, there would
be about as bad a smash-up as there
| would be If the man who sold you
this team of horses hadn't tried them
In harness together before he mated
them. Now, suppose both of those
were off horses"
| smiled comprehendingly.
1T takes several rehearsals to
make a girl letter perfect in the lit.
! tie game of matrimony. The first
time girl falls in love all she knows
about man is that he is good
waltzer and wears. the proper collars,
that his hair curls at the edges, and
that he doesn't tread on her frocks."
WAS your first leading man like
that, PollyT
"No-that is-I've forgotten. But
! they're all alike. The girl who mar
ries her first love has a life lesson be-
fore her. It's like taking the leading
part in a difficult play at a few mo-
ments' notice. She knows as much
! ahont handling man cn oil how