Life — September 17, 1896 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

214 A WRONG ADJUSTMENT. [LJ Neupuisiten readings they say are the fad, Where deep-winded authors of much reputation Read from their unpublished writings and add Figures to bank accounts past moderation. Why are not things more proportioned to need ? Here am I living in fear of my creditors, With bushels of unpublished writings to read And no one will read ’em—not even the editors. J. Edmund V. Cooke. *¢7 AM afraid my boy never will amount to anything. He can’t even tell time.” “Get him a job to read the meter for a gas company.” 'TWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP, sc OW could you?" said Mrs. Jameson reproach- fully, as I stepped from the corridor to where she was standing. “* And you a dancing man, too, Jack ; I really can't forgive you,” she went on. “ That's her unkind,” answered I, holding her hand just an extra sec- ond, ‘when you know what tardiness means to me.” “Oh, Jack, you're incorrigible,” said the dear lady ; ‘*and you are looking almost handsome to-night,” she added. “Oh, I'm gilded with borrowed light,” said I, truthfully enough, for ‘*Polly” was gleaming from my eyes. take it as an idle compliment, and dismissed me with a tap of her fan; none too quickly, however, for I was in a horrible fidget to be off. A quick glance around the ball room told me she wasn't there, and I remembered with a heart-jump that Polly had a predilection for out-of-the-way nooks and shadowy corners. I skirted the edge of the dancers, bowing here and there to beaming chaperons and listless wall flowers, till I was ar- rested by a voice at my side. ‘Oh, Mr. Oliver,” it said, almost pleadingly, ‘‘ do take But she chose to pity on us. fost certainly,” replied I, looking around to see what I was to take pity on, and not feeling surprised to see Mrs. Roche and her forlorn Ethel. I had had too much luck for one night. “There has been such a crush,” she said, as I stepped before them, ‘that Ethel and I have not been able to get a bite of supper.” ‘That's a shame,” answered I, for the poor girl did look hungry. The compassion in my tone was the cause of my undoing. ‘Come, Ethel,” said her mother, without more ado, ** Mr. Oliver will take us to the conservatory for supper;” and before I knew it she had hooked Ethel on to my arm and we were making for the conservatory. “This is charming,” I managed to say, though hardly with spontaneity. > LIFE: “Tt is so good of you,” murmured Ethel; and I could have brained her on the spot ! “* Here will do nicely.” said Mrs. Roche, stopping beneath a huge rubber plant, and we sat down. I had mentally calculated the least that would satisfy them ; they were not to be fubbed off with an ice, that was evident. “Bring us some salad and ices servant. “Yes, sir.” “Wait!” hastily commanded Mrs. Roche. have some bouillon.” “ Bouillon on such a warm night?” questioned I, weakly. “You are so droll,” simpered Ethel, and her mother smiled at my joke ! “Bring us some bouillon, too,” I said. * Yes, sir.” “And have you oysters?” from Mrs. Roche. “Yes, madam.” “And paté?” from Ethel. “Yes, miss. “Oh, bring us everything you've got,” said I, in despair. One would have thought it was the end of Lent instead of a fortnight before its beginning. Yes, sir,” answered the man and fled. Mrs. Jameson's cook is such a jewel; it were a pity to slight him.” was the elder lady's remark, “Yes, indeed,” answered I orally, but mentally I said to myself, “Escape, escape, escape !" and just then I think a twinkle of my lucky star must have shone through the glass roof upon me, for Tim Appleton came by and I clutched him with the grasp of desperation. “I'll be back in a moment,” said 1, when I had him seated, “And I said boldly, to a passing “We must but I felt no qualms in making a mental reservation. LOOKING FORWARD. Aunt ; WELL, TOM, HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR NEW LITTLE SISTER ? Tom : OH, SHE'S GOOD ENOUGH AS A KID, BUT JUST THINK WHAT A TROUBLE SHE'LL BE WHEN SHE GETS A LITTLE OLDER AND I'VE GOT TO CHASE WHISTLERS AWAY FROM THE FRONT STOOP!