St. Tammany farmer., 1907-01-12

gives his formal consent, I shall be
able to order the trousseau-yes, and
all the presents will come pouring in
Enter Ronald.
Ronald: All, Mabel-alone! l came
early. hoping to get here before your
family arrived. advances to her, and
she to him; embraces herr. Quite
well? That's right. Tea? No thanks,
no tea.
Mabel: / didn't say teal didn't
think it even; it would have sounded
prosaic so-so-immediately after
Ronald (who scarcely seems to hear
Ler, sitting DOWN.: Oh, my dear Ma
bel, must tell you what Tom Richard
son told me to-day when
Mabel: How did you come to see
him?
Ronald: Oh, we had luncheon to-
gether at
Mabel: How did you happen to
lunch together? You always say you
have 10 time for lunch.
Ronald: Well, we didn't exactly go
out to lunch together; met him at
restaurant, and while we were smok.
ing cigarette over our coffee
Mabel: I thought Mr.. Richardson
never smoked.
Ronald: No; he does not.
Mabel: Well how could he be smck-
ing cigarette?
Ronald: Because he did. But that
has absolutely nothing to do with my
story.
Mabel: Oh! of course not. never
said it had. don't see why you should
get cross over simple question,
though. Go on.
Ronald: Well, while we were hav-
ing our coffee, my fathers friend, Sir
Alfred and his wife came in and
Mabel: They did?
Ronald: Well, have just said so.
Mabel: At least you need not be
cross about 1t.
Ronald: They came up to where
we were and
Mabel: Is she pretty?
Ronald: Yes! I think so-lovely
eyes and such voice. Tom bowed
and
Mabel: Does he know them?
Ronald: Well, my dear, do you sup
pose that he would have bowed IL he
had not known them. really
Mabel: How was she dressed?
Ronald: How should l know? I
never looked at her dress. What /
was going to say was
Mabel: Did they sit near you?
Ronald: Yes, at the next table
and while they were sitting down Tom
said they ought to be ashamed Of
themselves because they
Mabel: Did they hear him?
Ronald: Now do you suppose that
Tom would have had SO little sense as
to let them hear what he said? Really,
Mabel, l. (angrilyl.
Mabel: Ronald, If you cannot spea&
Of a simple little incident without fly
ing into a passion we had better
change the subject. What did Mr.
Richards say?
Ronald: He said that Sir Alfred il
SO opposed to our engagement
Mabel: How did he know that?
Ronald: Goodness gracious! there
you go again! Every time I try to tell
you, you begin to interrupt me-and-
Mabel: / only asked you simple
question.
Ronald: Simple! You've asked me
about a million simple questions in the
last ten minutes; and merely because
was going to explain to you that
Tom Richardson told me that
Mabel (rising): / don't wish in the
least to know what Mr.. Tom Richard
son or what anybody else said if you
| cannot tell it to me without flying into
such (excitedly) fearful passion.
You are unkind! shall have my din
ner all alone up in my room tonight,
as it is so painful for you to talk
to me!
| Ronald: Now, my dear, don't lose
you temper; you cannot afford 1t.
Women never look SO plain as when
they lose their tempers.
Mabel: And men never speak 80
! plain as when they have lost theirs.
/ have not lost my temper: ] am per-
1GCLly S0ACtLSOIyJ C6lh.
| (Pause; Ronald lights cigarette.)
Mabel: Oh, Of course-Whenever a
! man cannot argue he smokes.
Ronald: Most of the attempted ar
guments Of woman with man end like
that.
| Mabel: Like what?
Ronald: In smoke.
Mabel (stifay): Ronald, 1 don't
/ think that this is the kind of way to
behave to the girl you are going to
marry. If our life is to be spent like
this, 1t will be misery! (sobs.)
Ronald: On the contrary, think
1t will be delightful You can argue
and can smoke.
Mabel: Do you mean to go on like
this?
Ronald: My dear girl, when you
are perfectly calm l propose to
Mabel: Oh, yes. you are always
proposing" something.
Ronald: Did it once too often-ehi
"a pause of fully four seconds.l Well
| will continue my story. Tom said
that Sir Alfred and his family were
opposed to our match
Mabel: You said all that before.
Ronald: Orewas trying to when you
interrupted me.
Mabel: didn't interrupt you!
Ronald (aside): HIM. better change
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