On Her Doorsteps

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A lovers' quarrel. All about smoking a cigarette. She insists upon smoking if he does. He objects to women smoking. This is all done good naturedly until he tries to assert man's supremacy over women by taking the cigarette from her and throwing it away. She gets real mad now, gives him back his engagement ring and tells him to go. He does, but no further than the doorstep of her home, where he determines to sit until she comes to him and asks him to return. The rain is pouring in torrents, and every time she looks out the window she sees her lover sitting on the step, drenched and miserable. She orders the servants to drive him from the house. He is attracting attention and creating scandal. The hirelings go; the young "Spartan" bribes them to let him remain at his post, and they report to their mistress that it is impossible to get him to leave. "What's to be done? It's disgraceful. I'll just tell mamma." So she goes to her mother and reports to her the condition of things. The mother goes down to the front door and calls a policeman, whom she asks to make the young man go home. The young fellow explains the case and the policeman simply laughs and moves on. Lovers' quarrels are out of his jurisdiction. Mamma goes back to bed and tells her daughter she must settle it herself. The young beau holds the fort against all comers: milkman, butcher, baker, and all the rest of the early risers stop, laugh, and go on their way thinking him drunk or crazy, but the young man sits on. His girl is frantic, tries to fight against herself and forget him. She can't, "He is wet to the skin and will certainly get his death of cold. Something must be done" and she does it. She goes down to her forlorn and water-soaked "Napoleon" and asks him to come in out of the rain. She is very sorry and it's all her fault. He comes in as quick as his stiffened and aching joints will permit him. They kiss and make up, even as you and I, and there's an end to it. The clock in the steeple strikes three; he looks at his watch, "Yes, three o'clock in the morning." They kiss again and he makes tracks for home and a change of clothing, and so happily endeth a lovers' quarrel. How foolish it all seems, But, after all, isn't it true?