The Worthington advance., 1874-11-20
A MIXED MESS.
By ELLA WHEELER.

1t all happened through boys blum
der, and because Of it four people were
wrctched for six-month, and came
very near making fools Of themselves
for life. lt takes so little to make a
fool OF young person in love, you
know.
.Janauschek was playing in matinee
at the Academy Of Music, Milwaukee.
She was just finishing her comedy of
''Come Here,' when my heroinc-who
sat in the upper row Of the parquette
circle, not far from the door, and whom
l shall call Jessica Gray, because it is
not her namc,-turned pair Of liquid
eyes toward the door for the fortieth
time, and gave little start. Not that
she was very much surprised to sec
Jack Wilson (which is not his name
either, mind you,) standing just inside
the door looking over the audience
searchingly, with his big eyes-for she
had expected he would come, and had
been watching for him. And there he
was, looking for her. But just the
moment their eyes met, they both
looked off in the most Indifferent man
ner imaginable, and tried to make it
seem accidental that they had seen
each other at all.
The fact was, Jessica and Jack had
been lovers-not engaged, you know,
but drifting to that point, w hen they
quarrellcd. The quarrel was foolish
one, as such quarrels usually are, yet
lovers quarrels have made whole lives
miserable.
Jack called one day and asked Jessica
to attend the theatre with him that
evening, and Jessica, who had been 60
ing to parties and rides and plays all
the week, said: 'Oh, Jack, would like
to go, but really I must stay at home
tonight and finish some work l begun
ages ago! If I don't stay at home once
in while I'll never accomplish any.
thing. So excuse me this once, and I'll
60 some other time gladly; besides
have cold and ought not to go out" :"
She smiled very sweetly, and Jack ex.
cused her, and went his way not all un.
happy over Jessica's refusal. But a
few hours later, when he saw Bob Bris.
bow driving his bay nag up Spring
street at a break neck pace, with Jessi.
ca at his side, he felt like breaking a
few commandments and both their
necks. 'Work to do; a cold, indeed!"
he repeated. every fine excuses for
the miserable flirt to palm off on me. :"
And he never went near her for two
weeks. Then one day he called, but by
this time Jcssica was so angry she would
not see him, and said ''Not at home' to
The servant, in voice loud enough for
him to hear, and. lest he had not heard,
sat by the window where he could see
her, when he shut the gate. eff he
chooses to suspect me Of meanness, and
deceit, and never come near me for two
weeks, he can wait for his explanation
till l choose to make it, thought our
indignant lady.
The fact was, Carrie Somers, dear
friend Of Jessica' S, had received tele-
gram calling her to Chicago to tho bed.
side Of sister and she sent Bob Bris-
bow, who boarded there, and who had
just come home to tea, to bring Jcssica
to assist her in getting ready and say
goodbye, and that was how she came
to be riding with him. But Bob was
good looking and favoritc with the
fair ones, and Jack saw good opening
for jealousy.
Well, week, ten days, rolled by, and
those two absurd creatures met on the
street and bowed::coolly, and went their
separate ways, rs wretched as need be,
when one word would have set all right.
Jessica bore it as long as she could, and
then she sensibly made up her mind to
explain all to. Jack. and at least clear
herself in his eyes. So after a mo.
ment's hesitation-shc saw Jack enter
the Academy that aftcrnoon-shc took
her programme and with lead pencil
from her portmonnaie, heavily marked
the heading Of the comedy-rendering
the two words ''Come Here'' particular
ly noticeable. Then she motioned an
usher, a boy of fourteen or there
abouts, who stood near, and
handing him the programme said,
"Please give this to that medium.
sized, rather tall gentleman, with the
light hat and dark mustache who is
standing by the door. Say Miss Gray
sent it, Now what should a mali.
cious fate do, while she was whispering
this message to the usher, but canse