The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-02-25

Both are very good in their way, and we
couldn't do without them; but, you see.
their way is not or way, and intended
not to look like 8 respectable member of
our society. But why q coat like miller
should be less respectable than q coat
like q rditer is of those things which
I imagine no man can fully understand
or explain. "A black swallow-tail is'cor-
rect-is usual-it is the custom. Yes, I
know; but why?
"Well, George. old boy, how are
your" cried . hearty voice, as my foot
steps assembled the stairs.
"Why, old man, who ever thought of
seeing you and on such q day too? 1t
is like living in an oven. What has
brought goa up to town, away from your
shooting and country breezesp You
don't find it . very good exchange, I
should think, Bruce - -
"Business, George! Business, you
know, must be attended to, i" he replied,
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! !" 1 echoed. "Why, what
business have you, except enjoying all
the goods the gods provide you with?
All, Bruce! you are one Of the few lucky
fellows born with a silver spoon ready
20 feed your for my old schoolfellow
and friend had well-lined pockets and q
comfortable estate in prospective, as the
only son of q wealthy man of good
familv). : bt, et
ssNever fear, my boy" he answered
cheerily; e the spoon will come to you
some day, and sooner than you think,
perhaps. And now I am going to carry
you off to the theater to. night. Where
shall we go?''
"The theater! Why, we should be
suffocated!" gasped.
"Not q bit of it, he answered.
d" 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
time! l can put you up as long as you
like, and
so, you'll feel more fit when you
have had your dinner, George. By the
bye, when shall we have it? I am
hungry, can tell you"
Hungry" murmured, looking at
my friend in astonishment. "Wel, old
man, you are a wonder. Fancy anyone
being hungry to-day!"
And sure enough he was. I acknowl-
edged the fact as saw the breast of a
chicken, followed by the wing. merry
and two legs, vanish before him
like summer lightning, assisted by sew
eral slices of ham, and an alarming
quantity of vegetables and bread. I
watched and envied him his appetite.
Of course he had his way, the great big
fellow! He was some
years older than myself, and I had been
his s. fag' at Elton. Not that he had
ever b,1llied me; still, l was accustomed
to follow out his wishes; and to the the
alter we went. "Our 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! 1 had seen Our Boys'' till l
knew just when to expect the tid-bits;
so was not giving much attention to
the stage. And then l saw coming
toward the stalls the very same old gen
tleman whom / had seen in the hanson
cab some hours before; and I fell to
if he had managed to rouse
the driver and stop his friend. smiled
as I remembered his excitement, and
looked up at him. To my establishment,
I found him regarding me with most
not to say stern, expression of
face. I supposed he had seen me in
the afternoon, and had noted that was
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 1 occupied. Ihad no
wish to annoy my neighbor; SO l fixed
my eyes upon the stage, and tried to be
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
A man had taken the place on the
other side of him-that I 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 ssEdward!'' SO suddenly
that it made me jump. Still I did not
turn round, as it was no business of
mine, and I did not wish to give my
neighbor any cause of offense.
ssDo you hear me, STRIP he continued
holly. ssWhat is the use of your pre-
tending not to see me?''
By this time Tom Bruce's attention
had been attracted, and I was feeling
very uncomfortable, for violent jerking
vas going on at my left coat-sleeve; and
the idea had returned to me that this
excitabIe gentleman was out of sound
mind, and having the distaste for being
made a ''laughing -stock'-which 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.
ssTo what am indebted, sir, for this