New Year Resolves.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8017, 2 January 1906, Page 4

New Year Resolves.

; Thb bkdo bocikub o* Mru. Richard Malton. Sob and bu sister, Misa MILLICKKT BoSEXBAUU, ARB DISCOVERED DBESSED FOR A DANCB WHICH U SHORTLY 90 TAKB PLACB. THB QDESrS MAY BEGIN ' TO ARRI7B AMY MOMENT. Mrs. Malton : Gome? Of course he'll cyme. Dick and he have been chums since they were at college. Besides he knows you re to be here. Now consider you refused him a.year ago when he was merely a £im DBer 80a w^k°ut prospects. You liked Millicent: Always—always—for himseif. Mra. Malton : But his share of the pro* posed bargain—. Millicent : Don't put it like that. He never thought of my money; I never thought Of his position. We hadn't an idea or ambition in common—that decided me. We •alked it out so wisely; I showed him love would never counterbalance such differences of conviction He, with his ancestry, was a Socialist and an Athiest and other horrid things ; I, though nothing but the daughter of a diamond merchant had the deepest respect for religion and everything old and conservative. Wo bad endless points of difference ; I wag rather New ayear ago, and that jarred on him, though you wouldn't think an Athiest was likely to care. But he said he got his theological ideas from his father and his ideal«of women from his mother. Mra. Malton: Well, the end of it was that you refused him, and he went to shoot big game. I wonder what unlucky lovers will do when all the big game's shot? He left a mere younger son ; he came back the heir of A great estate. It ought to make a difference. Millicent: His brother's death alters his prospects, not his disposition. Mrs. Malton: You never know—it's evidently altered yours. I Millicent : We were too conscientious, that's all—both of us. I see now we might : have made a happy match. ! Mrs. Malton: Humbug yourself, my dear child, if you can ; but don't imagine you're me. He wasn't possible then ; he is now. Millicent: You are so brutal.

Mrs. Malton: And you are so disingenuous—even with me. Never mind. {A disi tant bell rings.) There's the first of them. It's going to be a great night for me—and you too, I hope. And here's the keys of tho orchid-house I you know it opens out of the conservatory. The conservatory is a blaze of Japanese lanterns, but the orchid-house will be locked up and won't participate in the general revels. He'll ask for an interview if he's still of the same mind, so there you are. (Exeunt.) The orchid-house, dimly lighted by flashes of orange and crimson illumination from the lofty conservatory through which it is approached. The door between is shut, and nothing is visible in orchidhou*e from conservatory. A warm atmosphere ; masses of blossom glimmering dimly through the gloom. A comfortable lounge wilh bank of orchids behind it. At one end of lounge the red lip of a cigarette which wmulers about as the smoker moves it to and from his mouth; at the.other a rustle of drapery and the sigh of a fan. Dance, music, deadened by distance, sounds through pauses cf conversation. The Returned Prodigal: Responsibility? Should think so. Frightful. And nothin' to meet it with but natural dignity. Grand place, Oakdene—a great age. "Yes—great shock. More at home wila tigers than tenants. Millicent: You will have a long time to fteparet The Returned Prodigal: Not "likely—old boy one leg in the grave. Millicent: Your views, too? The Returned Prodignl: Ah yes—convictions of a life time—never charge. Pity poor old Hurry died. I'm not the man. Millicent: I've been thinking so much ibout views myself lately. Yesterday was New Year's Day, you know. ■ The Returned Prodigal: Was it ? 0, yes. First January. That's always New Year's Day, isn't it ? What then ? Mi'iicent: It's a very solemn sort of a day for me, because I go over all mv odd views every year, and make naw resolutions and w> on, and see if any of my opinions have changed. The Return Prodigal (after a moment's sonsideration): By Jove, so do I! Awful tolemn time—New Year. Always make new resolutions myself—first January—hundreds jf 'em. Millicent: They steady one so, and by looking nto our minds we see if we have dereloped or deteriorated. The Returned Prodigal : Good. Look Here, I told you all about myself in the past; C will again, especially as you were so jolly jood as to give me tbis private chat. MilliCvit: The past is sacred; but I remember your opinions only too well. The Returned Prodigal; Developed frightfully Bince then—abroad. Old countryAsiatic customs—difference between our own and Oriental intelligence—chucked Socialism. Great on subordination now. Millicent: I'm glad indeed. Ine Returned Prodigal : Yes—equality's rot—Nature dead against it—look at the difference in dogs. Among other resolves, made one about Free Breakfasts for Poor—that's all right, eh? Millicent: A beautiful thought. You have changed indeed ! The Returned Prodigal : Shall go to chnrch, too, when I drop into Oakdene—example—can't hurt you—nothing when you're used to it Everyone goes. Man's a fool to rely merely on his reason—l was. Millicent: Will you keep these resolves? The Returned Prodigal: Rather—awfully determined chap (pointedly)—dogged—masterful—in some things won't take 44 No " for an (Pause.) Millicent: Such frankness ought to bo rewarded. Would you like to hear some of my New Year resolves ? The Returned Prodigal: Delight in hearin* anything—bet they're beautiful, whatever you've decided to do. Millicent: I'm going to be larger-minded. The Returned Prodigal (dropping cigarette and coming nearer): Yon couldn't be. Millicent: Yes, indeed; I'm prejudiced, narrow, and easily carried away by an idea. Looking bock through the year I see, for instance, that feminine Newness is not what it looked like before. The Returned Prodigal : Of course, of course! You had much too much heart to be ft New woman—always knew yoa had. Millicent : And yoa possess too mach brain to be anything but Conservative—l wmehow felt that. The Returned Prodigal: And do yon still reckon girls shine—public sphere—platform —advancepublic morals—franchise—soon? Millicent: How enrions 1 Another of my New Year resolves is to give np that theory altogether. While yon were away several women appeared ; they meant so well and tried so hard—and that was all. The Returned Prodigal: Dear things—so pathetic ; we who have the brains laugh—augh good natnredly. Let 'em ride bicycles —not hobbies, eh ? Millicent; I'm forgetting allaboutthe time. Where's that key, Mr. Rivers ? Whatever will my sister say 7 The Returned Prodigal: There I Frightmed. Would a New woouui be frightened?

ifllhoent: YcJ if I hadn't ioon of ffi* Hew Woman ncout me I shouldn't havi come. Tho Returned 'Prodigal : You came toi auld livng Bj-no. Jolly rum thing—can 1 ' help thinkin' about year ago. Millicent : We agreed to let the eacroc past be past and remain friends—always. _ The Returned Prodigal : Yes—owin 1 t( differences opinion over which had no con trol. But times chango and we change witt 'em—nil the Latin I know, by the way, and don't know that in Latin. Millicent: You mean our New Year resolutions have—have ? The Returned Prodigal: Yes awfully rum—can't you see with your penetration! Seems nie almost good enough try over that old talk again—with all these rippin' good resolutions chucked in—eh? I went and brooded and shot after yoil said " No," and broodin' and shootin' opened my eyea Natural intelligence came to rescue. Saw where wrong. Millicent: You take a much nobler survey of life now. The Returned Prodigal: I do—so do yon. Seems we've mado just tho very resolutions that fit us run double harness. Think just as much alike now as two peas in a pod—eh ? Millicent: I see what you mean; I shall certainly watch your career with deep interest knowing these resolves. The Returned Piodigal; Well, come and watch it close. Come and polish up my re■olutionswhen begin to get off color. Millicent: What do you mean ? The Returned Prodigal (coming close) : What I said a year ago. It's only fair listen because opinions so much modified. But never changed in some respects—love for you just same. Face haunted me—jungle, bungalows—aboard ship—everywhere. You don't Bay "No" this timo? May I? Mrs. Malton on retiring finds note upon her dressing-table. It encloses key of orchid house and runs aa follows: " Dearest—Have gone to bed. Rather upset. His wonderful nature has blossomed in the desert. He appears entirely changed, and is alive to the great Responsibilities of the life which awaits him. Nothing lies between us now. What constancy I I had never been out of his mind I —Your greatly blessed Mill*."