Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-06-19

4
and chininess. All the way ] wondered
myself if she would take box, and If th
| mockery OF tete-G-sete was to be kept u
all the evening, but my fears were set q
rest when she requested me at the theatr,
entrance to take seats in the body of til
| house. In obedience TO her Instruction,
directed the man to call for us at clever
ana we entered the theatre. Her frs
| movement, after we were seated, was {
use her t0Tgnette in thorough sweep of th
mouse, after which she settled back with
sigh of relief which I we'll understood
she had seen no one she knew, and shoul
not be obliged to talk to me for appear
anoe's sake.
| The play was ''Marie Antionette," an
the actress, Ristori. had never seen her
ana wooden man as was l experience
pleasure at the thought of witnessing tn
performance.
As it proceeded, could not help seem;
| that my prote1ee (for was not protecting
her for the time being?) turned to me in
| voluntary at times, as If seeking compan
ienshfp IN her appreciation. If fnali,
conquered my pride and met her glanc'
with one Qaies as sympathetic as she couk
have wished, was / to blame? And why
| at that, should she seem offended, and re
frain from looking again in my direction
In that thrilling moment when the des
Pefate Queen catches up the little DauphiI
and holds him up GA the balcony in view
of the hoareely-roaring mob, was calico
back to the fact Of my existence in the
Nineteenth Century and the New World by
touch on my arm, and looking down
perceived that my companions gloved
hand was holding my coat sleeve in a CLASP
like death, and that her face was absolute.
ly pale with feeling. My professional in
stlnct was reused.
This is too much for you," said, au.
thorftative1y, in a low tone; "you will be
ill it you allow yourself to feel it so in
tensely."
She looked at me slowly and wondering.
ly, as if she were just waking from a
sleep; and seeing the position of her hand,
she withdrew it. and her face Redeemed
slightly as she said: 81 beg your pardon,
no wonder you were annoyed; quite for
got myself.o
For the rest of the play. 1 scarcely saw
or heard it (though L hope Ristori will
never know this), for 1 looked at the drama
through the medium of the face beside me.
1 was perfectly safe in watching her, for
she became entirely absorbed again in the
stage. Up to this time / had regarded our
relative positions with feeling of curiosity
and amusement; now something of bitter
ness crept in. / watched the expressions
that fitted over her Observation-Disclosures
sympathy, pity, indignation, disgust, hor-
ror-end guessed family from them some
of the possibilities of her nature; then l
reminded myself how quickly these would
fade away, and her face become monu-
mental in its imn1obility the moment she
should turn to me at the end of the play.
Why was l to be looked at as if were not
a sentient creaturei or as If a fellow-feel-
ing between us would be a species of phe-
nomenon akin to a monstrosiey? By the
time the curtain fell could have taken the
palm from Lucifer, my pride had SO ex-
ceeded its just proportions.
Hercloak was on my arm as we made
our way into the lobby. A cold wind
struck us as we came within range of the
and without a word l put the
heavy silk wrap about her.
81 do not want this" she demonstrated,
replied, rather sternly it seems to me
now: Nevertheless you need it"
1t must,have been ten minutes that we
" aited for her carriage, walking up and
down the sidewalk, attracting attention,
amid all the confusion, by our evident per-
plexity and Impotence. Suddenly she
pointed across the street.
"There he is !" she cried, "that is Jerry;
and he is fast asleep in all this noise, l be-
lieve.o
Shall we go over to him?" asked
She put out the tip OF her boot and re-
my boots are SO thin; couldn't you bring
him over hereT'
mot without leaving you'll could never
make him hear across all this bedlam."
"Well, leave me here; nearly every one
las gone-they are turning QUO the lights,
and no one will see me. Look! 1 will step
behind this pillar and wrap my cloak
lightly about me-"
1 shook my head. "It's not safe: you
must go with me-"
sit is perfectly safei viii you be SO
good as to leave me here and call for my
Otherwise
She had no need to mention an alterna-
i've. l bowed and was sgone before she
Gould say another word. l awoke the
sleeping Jerry, who, it seems had been
ell 81, H.Sf
md was making up for lost time, as he ex-
planned with profuse apologies, and order
ng him TO drive direcly over, threaded
ny way back among the moving carriages
rs fast as possible. 1 had lett my imperi-
JUS and self-willed prOteJee at the back of
he vvstibule, in the shadow of the steps
md of the pillar aforesaid; as 1 turned
Jaw the last group of people enter their
carriage, leaving the vestlbule deserted,
md at the same moment faint, startled
lind the pillar. A man darted past me
With a muttered oath, frightened by the
sound of my footsteps, and something gilt
cred in his hand. reached my charge
It one step, and placed her hand withiR
ny arm.
"Were you frightened?, 1 asked. ibid
hat man say anything to you?"
NO." she said, trembling and then, COM
ng out into the lamp-light, 1 saw how pale
he was. mo, he came up behind me and
aid his h,f hand my mouth
ought to rave stayed with you. am so
lad you have come"
al ought never to have left you'll" lex
laimed, savagely, shocked at her danger,
md ans y beyond measure with myself.
Il shall never forgive myself! Did he
lurt your"
I'll think my arm is bruised little, but
hat is nothing. What is the matter with
Ierry?"
1 explained, not very careful to throw a
avoYable light upon the mans delinquen- !
", for IL he had minded his business this |
Iccident, which had just missed being Sc |
ious, would never have happened. but |
osnd no sympathy from Jerry's mistress |
n my views of his conduct. She did not |
Wonder that he was nearly dead from sleep |
'fter having suffered all the night before |
If she had known of it he should not have |
ome out at all into the night air; there |
vas no one to blame but herself, she wished |
hat distinctly understood; it had all |
,aesed over without any serious harm, and |
he should never speak nor think of it !
gain. go
"That,n thought, sis to re-assure me |
est should fear being reported to the |
|
The suspicion piqued me, and 1 said, re-
Zone thing is certain-I shall |
ever again undertake such a responsible |
y without corresponding right to use |
ny authority"
rously shouldered all the blame, and I |
Vss sorry the moment had uttered il. In /
N instant she became impressive and quiet,
nd could no more have voiced my re-
rets to her than to craven image.
The ride home was long one. l think /
erry in his sleep drove US all over town; |
vhen finally we alighted, she babe me fol-
DIV her in, and in the lirsle reception-reom
ounted out 1--WE one-aollar bills, and laid |
hem in my hand. The blood mounted to