Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-12
IN AN opERAeGAss
The Bank Director and His maulc Mirror

mai VINO sat IN the row OF orchestra
chairs in front o fine, at The Lady OF
Lyons.
l had been watching him closely, ON
account of his odd physiognomy. He
had a big face, carefully shaven, ex-
cept behind the jaws, and a throat
beard, leaving his chin clear. His
mouth looked as fit had been pressed
fat BY a determined hand, aud had
never since been able to reassert it.
self. His eyes, big, too, were heavily
indignant in expression, suggesting
that he had never quite gotten over
tho affrOnt which nature had put
upon him by fixing his lips perma-
nently in that shape.
| took his lorgnette with thanks,
and gazed through it at the Pau
line of the evening; but as | leaned
over to hand it back, Wait a mo-
ment, he said, looking fall at me in a
rather singular way, you haven I
seen the best of it. Hold it up, small
end down, at half-arm'S length, and
see what the effect will be.
Doing as he suggested, | met with
no unusual result. lie saw, from my
face, that | was puzzled, and, bending
so near as not to attract attention
from those around us, he asked F:
" Don't you see a woman's face look
ing up out ofthe lens?'
No" said l, rather CURLY, think
ing that he joked too Familiarity for
the brevity Of our acquaintance, and
that he had perhaps been drinking
too much. | mutely insisted on his
taking the opera-glasses again, and
drew back into my own chair. leaving
him rather Disconnected. He soon
got over this and continued to follow
the acting, though without lively in
terest and with an air of reyerie.
noticed. also. that he did not use his
glass on the stage, nor on the audi
enee, either; but he several times
lifted it in the way he had pointed out
to me, and-after adjusting il to suit
himself-contemplated the large end
with rapt absorption.
/ began to consider. had noticed
on the convex glass surface broken re-
Elections from different parts Of the
theater-the central cluster of lights,
or dim fragments of the gold Ornamen-
tation on the gallery, and a Liliputian
host of spectators, among whom were
some of the ladies in charming cos
tunes behind us or at the side. These
had fitted over it as | changed the
angle but the images were so minute
that | hadn't thought of them in con-
nection with the lorgnette-Owner's
eccentric inquiry Ii now struck me
that he might have more Imagination
or better eyes than |.
So, at the end Of the play, while he
be was putting on his %oyercoat, |
touched him on the shoulder and told
him | had 4 wOrdtO say when we could
get into the lobby. Having reached
it, | asked him if he could direct me,
a stranger in the city, TO a good place
near by where ! could get supper be-
fore Going back to my hotel. He told
me Of one, and | instantly asked him
to come with me. I'm curious to
know something more, | added.
about that ~opera-glass of yours. I'm
afraid / didn understand it.
He appeared pleased, and after a
moment accepted my proposal TO sup
together.
Speaking in confidence, said he,
as he went along the street, I'm not
sure my wife will like it, MY staying
out any later. She's already jealous
Of my going to the theater, when l do
90 around. Though she don't say so,
yet she fancies there's some woman in
the case, you understand. Then, af-
ter a pause, if she only knew There
Is a woman in the'-hcre he shook
the leather reeeptical in which he wa
carrying the glass-'literally, a woman
in the cus-. Ha, hai'
The revival of this fantasy and his
odd frankness quickened my curiosity.
At our restaurant there were fOrtu
nately little boxes partitioned OF at
the side, with curtains in front and,
taking refuge in one of these, | ordered
a supper Of roast oysters and a beve-
rage which we we're weak enough to
call punch, and which was strong
enough to bear the Opprobrium Of that
name.
Now for enlightenment, said l.
when the glasses were reflled.
My companion had taken off his hat
in Difference to the oysters. His fat
pressed mouth, his indignant eyes, his
crimson forehead and gray hair ~jutting
up oddly behind his head, all con.
trasted strangely with the singular tale
he proceeded to relate.
You see he began, I'm plain
man without any show of romance.
I'm leyel-headed in my affairs, and
we'll known in business circles.
don't 60 in for amusements or pleas
gres, aud you couldn't hire me to read
a novel. But there's Ore thing in my
experience that would astonish my
business acquaintances, if they knew
it. ] tell you because you are a
stranger, and I've taken a fancy t.
you, and | think it may do you good
as a young man, TO learn how to look
below the surface"
Here the narrator gave a sly chuckle
glaucing toward the lOrgnette (Which
stood on the table, in a way hat sug.
gested a double meaning.
| married late" he went on; "anC
some years ago, before my wedding,
was at the theater one night. when
Young lady Of decided beauty anC
fashion attracted my notice. She die
moro than that she made me fee
what | hadn't felt since | was a bow
When | went home to my bachelo.
quarters that night I he'd to admi
that | was in love. | WASH a societ,
man, 30 my chances of seeing he
again were few but | found out afte