The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-05

our society. But why coat like miller
should be less respectable than a coat
like a aodtter is one of those things which
imagine no man can fully understand
or explain. A black swallow-tail is cor
rect-is usual-it is the custom. Yes, l
know: but whyP
"Well, George, old boy, how are
you?" cried a hearty voice, as my foot
steps assembled the stairs. t..
"Why, old man, who ever thought of
seeing you and on such o day tooP 1t
is like living in an oven. What has
brought you up to town away from your
shooting and country breezes? You
don't find it very good exchange, l
should think, Bruce" .........
business, George! Business, you
know, must be attended to" he replied,
laughing, at the same time almost shak-
ing my hand off, and using an energy
which would have been impossible with
me on such a day, and which, even
secondhand, found quite exhausting
Business!" echoed. "Why, what
business have goa, except enjoying all
the goods the gods provide you with
All, Brucei you are one of the few lucky
fellows born with silver spoon ready
to feed you (for my old schoolfellow
and friend had well-lined pockets and a
comfortable estate in prospective, as the
only son of o wealthy man OF good
| family.
"Never fear, my boy" he answered
cheerily; the spoon win come to yoat
some day, and sooner than you think,
perhaps. And now am going to carry
you off to the theater to night. Where
shall we gop"
"The theater! Why, we should be
suffocated!" l gasped.
I" Not a bit of it," he answered.
"You shall have as many ices as you
please to cool you. I've only this one
night in town, and I'm not to be banked
of going to the play. You Londoners
don't know what it is to enjoy things as
we countrymen do"
"But why come up for so short a
timer | can put you up as long as you
like, and" -.
80, you'll feel more fit when you
have had your dinner, George. By the
bye, when shall we have ftp am
deucedly hungry, can tell you.'
Hungry" 1 murmured, looking at
my friend in astonishment. swell, old
man, you are a wonder. Fancy anyone
being hungry to-day"
And sure enough he was. acknowl
edged the fact as saw the breast of q
chicken, followed by the wing, merry.
thought, and two legs, vanish before him
like summer lightning, assisted by sew
eral slices of ham, and an alarming
quantity OF vegetables and bread.
watched and envied him his appetite
OF course he had his way, the great big
overpowering fellow! He was some
years older than myself, and had beer
his i" fag'' at Elton. Not that he had
ever bullied me still, was accustomed
to follow out his wishes; and to the the
alter we went. sour Boys was being
acted, and upon that he decided. We
took our places in the stalls; the curtain
rose, and the piece began.
My friend Tom Bruce was instantly
absorbed in the plot-ready to laugh at
all the jokes, and pretty nearly to cry at
the pathetic parts. Soft-hearted old
fellow! l had seen I" Our Boys till
knew just when to expect the tid-bits
SO I was not giving much attention to
| UuO AIlu ULlGD 4 saw
toward the stalls the very same old gen
tleman whom had seen in the hanson
cab some, hours before; and l fell to
wondering if he had managed to rouse
the driver and stop his friend. smiled
as | remembered his excitement, and
looked up at him. To my establishment,
l found him regarding me with a most
annoyed, not to say stern, expression OF
face. supposed he had seen me in
the afternoon, and had noted that was
amused at him, and now was deter
mined to resent ia fact not likely to
be particularly pleasant, as he walked
up and took possession of the very next
seat to the one which occupied. Ihad nc
wish to annoy my neighbor; so fixed
my eyes upon the stage, and tried to be
interested in the actors; but all the time
l was aware that the gentleman in the
next seat was doing me the honor OF
staring intently at me, and that he was
becoming very angry. And then he
said Edward" .0t
A man had taken the place on the
other side of him-thGt | saw without
looking. Could he be Edward? Yet
felt that my neighbours face was turned
toward me. First he had spoken in q
low tone; but now he raised his voice,
and said again Edward" SO suddenly
that it made me jump. Still 1 did moi
turn round, as it was no business of
mine, and did not wish to give my
irascible neighbor any cause of offense.
"Do you hear me, sirp" he continued
hotly. "What is the use of your pre-
tending not to see mep''
By this time Tom Bruce's attention
had been attracted. and 1 was feeling
very uncomfortable, for violent jerking
was going on ct my left coat-sleeve; and
the idea had returned to me that this
excitable gentleman was out of sound
mind, and having the distaste for being
made n NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is
strong in most people, feared lest he
had singled me out to render me absurd
in the eyes of all assembled there. A
more violent tug, however, made ME
turn with an indignant remonstrance.
"To what am indebted, sir, for this
unusual conductPn asked.
"What the deuce are you doing here
at allp" he replied in an angry tone.
{" Mad" said inwardly. ''Mad as a
hatter!'o NEt. ~ iI
"Sir," 1 answered, solemnly 'syoa
must be laboring under some delusion.