Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-08-25

plenty of money.
had finished my performance earlier than
usual one night soon aftei this, and was wait
ing for a friend at the stage-door, when Gap tain
Jocelyn came up the dark by-street, smoking
his cigar, and evidently waiting for some one.-
fell back into the shadow of the door and wait
ed, feeling sure he was Oh the watch for Caro-
line.
l was right. She came out presently and
Joined him and putting her hand under his arm
as If it were quite usual thing for him to be
her escort. | followed them al little dis
tance as they walked off, and waited till saw
Joe's wife safe within her own door. The cap
tain detained her OH the doorstep, talking for q
few minutes, and would fain have kept hel
there longer, but she dismissed him with that
pretty imperious way she had with all of us al
times.
Now, as very Old friend of Caroline's,
wasn't going to stand this sort of thing, so
taxed her with it plainly next day, and told
her no good can come of any acquaintance be-
tween her and Captain Jocelyn.
'And no harm need come of it either, you
silly old fellow she said. I've been used to
that sort of attention all my life. There's moth
| ing but the most innocent filtration between
u.s."
'What would Joe think of such an innocent
filtration, Gardiner / asked.
Joe must learn 10 put up with such things
she answered, 'as long as do my duty to him
| can't live without excitement, and admira-
tion, and that sort of thing. Joe oagh, to
know that as well as do
Il should have thought the tiger and the hor-
ses would have given you enough excitement,
| Caroline | said, without running into worse
dingers than the risk of your life.'
But they don't give me halt enough excite
ment,' she answered; and then she took little
watch in a jewe'led case and looked at 1t and
I nt l,.tr r..l I.,lF
way.
| 'Why, what pretty watch, Garry" said l.
.ls that present from Joe?'
| AS ifyou didn't know better than that she
said. Country sccne-panters can't afford TO
buy diamond watches for their wives, Mr..
Waters.
| l tried to lecture her, but she laughed off my
reproaches: and saw her that night with a
bracelet OH her arm which l knew must be
another gift from the captain. lie was in u
stasc-box, and threw her a boquet of choice
flowers after her scene with the tiger. 1t was
the pretiest sight in the would to see her pick
the flowers and offer them to the grim look
animal TO smell, and then snatch them away
with laugh, and retire, courtesying TO the att
dlence, and glancing coquettishly toward the
box where her admirer sat appauding her.
Three weeks went by like this, the captain
, in front every night. kept close watch upon
the pair, for thought that, however she might
carry on her Irritation, Joe's wife was true at
heart, and would not DO him any hurt. She
| was very young and very wilful, but l fancied
my influence would go long way with her in
any desperate emergency. So ! kept an eye
upon her and her admirer, and there was rare
| ly night that did not see the c'ptan's back
turned upon the door of Mrs. Waylie's lodg-
! ings before l went home to my supper.
Joe was not expected home for another week
md to m hI in 81
couple Of days Caroline told me this morning
with evident pleasure, and l was overipyei to
find she did not really care for Captain Jocsyn.
"Not u bit, YOU silly old man." she said 81
like his admin alton and like Ills presents, but
Know tnefe s no ol,S in The N, MoEld worth Joe
Joe comes back. | shall have my bit of fun,
you know, and shall tell Joe all about it; and
rs Captain Jocelyn will have gone to the other
endi the world,he can't object to the presents,
tributes offered to my genius, as the captain
says in his notes"
~ telt by no means sure that Joseph Waylie
would consent TO his wife's retaining these tri-
butes, aud told her as much
"Oh. nonsense she said ; Il can do what |
like with Joe. He'll be quite satisfied when he
sees Captain Jocelyns respectful letters. |
couldn't part with my darling little watch for
the world
when went to the threatre next night, |
found the captain standing talking to Caroline
Just inside the stage door. lie seemed very
earnest, and was begging her to do something
which she said was impossible. 1t was his last
night in the town, you see, and l have very lit
tie doubt that he was asking her to run away
with him-for believe the man was over head
and ears in love with her-and that she was
putting him off in her laughing, coquettsh way.
d won't take your answer now,' he said very
seriously. Il shall wait for you at the door to-
iult In IN
Caroline the answer must be yes.
'She broke away from h i'm hurriedly. fIark.
size said, 'there's the overture and in half an
i, lssur L must be upon the stage
Il passed the captain in the dark passagt, and
few PAGES further on passed some one else
| whose face l could not see, but whose sholt
hurried breathing sounded like that of Il person
/ who had been running. We brushed against
/ one another as we passed, but the man took Ee
nctice of me.
| .lIalf an hour ailelwarL was lounging in d
corner of the ring while Caroline went through
| her performance with the tiger. Captain Joce'
| lyn was in his usual place, with a boquet in his
hand. 1t was New Year night, and the house
was very full. l had been looking alT around
for some time. when was startled by the sight
of a face in the pit. 1t was Joseph Waylie''
face asliy pale, and fixed as death.-a face thai
meant mischief.
'ue has heard something against his wife,,
thought. I'll run round to him directly ! cal
get cut of the ring, and make matters squale.-
Some confounded scandal-monger has got holt
of him and has been poisoning his mind abou
Caroline and the captain knew there ha,
been ! good deal Of talk in the theatre abou
the two--talk which had done my best to pu
down.
Captain Jocelyn threw Lis bouquet whcl
was received with coquettish smile and
bright upward glance that seemed To expires
profound delight. | knew that this was mer
stage play; but how must it have looked 10 ih
jealous mLn, glaring with fixed eyes from hi
place at the back OF the pit | turned to ool
was gone. lie was going round 10 speak to hi
|, wife no doubt. left the ring Immediately .an
, went TO prepare her for the interview, and.
, needful to stand between her and her husband
anger.
Il found her at the wing, triilng with lie
. boquet in an absent manner.
'Have you seen Joe 81 asked.
no. she answered. slIe hasn't come back
has he? | didn't expect him for Il week.
Il know, my dear; but he was in front jus
now, looking as pale as ghost. I'm aiIa,
some one has been talking to him about YOU
'Shc looked rather frightened when | sait
this.
They can't say any harm Of Inc, iflhey speal
tho TRUTH she SAID. Il wonder Joe dldn'
come straight to me though instead of going I,
the front of the house.
I'VE were both wanted in the ring. belpe,
Caroline through her equestrian performance
and saw that she was a little nervous and anXi
GUS about Joe's return. She did not favor th
captain with many more smiles that evening
and she told me to De ready f1l her at the stag
door ten minutes before the performance VA
over.
q want to give Captain Jocelyn the Slip sh,
said: shut dare saw Joe will come to me bef,,r
! I'm ready.
Joe did not appear, however, and she wen
= home with me. | met the captain Oil my way
back aud be asked mn il had bnnn sreiuu MI |