Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-08-22

chased a pair of primrose. colored kid
| gloves, and a new lace frill for her
neck, and came home with a heart as
light as feather.
John was all amazement when Avis
triumphantly showed him the tickets.
"Avis, you did not buy these ?" he
exclaimed.
"No, | didn't buy them," she said.
you'll take me, John, won't you p
"Then where did they come from p
"They were-a present." said Avis
wit burning cheeks.
John looked gravely at her.
"And," she added, 81 shall take it
very unkind of you, John, if you refuse
to escort me"
ooh, I'll escort you fast enough, +"
said John simply 81 can't say | APP
prove of opera-going for people in our
rank of life. ]"
"Our rank of life. indeed p flashed
Avis. 81 consider myself as good as
anybody p
Gas good-yes p assented John.
"But there is a fitness in all things,
Avis. It's only rich people that can
indulge themselves with so expensive
an amusement as the opera"
"Well," said Avis brightly, "let us
play, Just this once, that we are rich
people. Patti shall MARBLE us into
Elysium, and we'll forget-a little
while, at least-that we belong to the
hive of working bees"
"Do we want to forget it, Avis !"
"Of course we doP said Avis.
In very trath, the girl almost be-
lieved herself in enchanted land when
she sat that evening in the glittering
parquet CT the Opera House, the
scented, diamond sparkling crowd
around her, the sonnd of the great
cantatrice's voice seeming to lift her
into boundless space.
ooh, listen, John-listen !" she cried
ecstatically. "Oh, if / could always
live like this !"
The opera was Faust, " and as Patti
stood trying on the fatal box of trim
kets before the glass, and warbling the
delicious "Jewel Song" Avis was
aroused from her trance of delight by
slight confusion in the adjoining
seats.
A man had made his way through
the crowd, and laid his hand on John
Weldon's shoulder with an authorita-
tive pressure.
"My friend he said in low voice,
"you are wanted"
John started up, white and breath
less.
"Has anything happened?' said he.
as my sister i'll ?"
"Now don't make fuss" said the
stranger, turning back the lapel of his
coat far enough to display police
mans uniform. "And don't play in
nocent. 1t amt goin to pay. You
are arrested for stealing a lady's purse,
and the quieter you come along with
me the better it will be for all parties. u
So JOHN Weldon was taken away to
the station-house, and Avis was car
ried fainting out into the lobby.
Was it frightful vision or what
was it that had thus blighted her
dream of delight?
She was lying on the sofa the next
noon, her throbbing head bandaged in
cold water, her heart full Of sick terror
when the door opened, and in came
Rebecca.
"You have been to the police court 2
said Avis, starting up. ooh, what did
they say What does it all mean ?"
dts all right enough, said Rebecca
slowly. "No thanks to you, though
Avis Benton It's you and your sense
less pride that have brought this dis
grace upon a man who was never ye
put to shame before his fellow. creatures
You see, there was robbery at Mas
sey's yesterday morning-a lady los
her purse with fifteen pounds, pail
of diamond earrings, and these tive
opera tickets in it, And the thief, it,
likely, flung away the tickets, lest they
should be clue to track him, and TIL
Evil One put 'em directly in you
way, Avis Benton. For the lady knew
the numbers, and the police were Sc
on the track to see who presented tn
tickets!'
Il am very sorry" sighed Avi
with shudder.
"But just as they were cross-exam
ming poor John" added Rebecca, iii
comes the real thief, who had pawne'
the earrings, and had the notes still
unchanged in his possession. And h
confessed everything, and of cours
John was exonerated from all blame.
as he coming back here2" salt
Avis family.
"Not until evening, of course. VIII
should he? Hasn't he his business t
attend to p ~
.Rebecca went away upstairs, an
when she came back the sofa wa
empty, and little note lay on tn
table.
Dear Rebecca, y 1t said. II have gone home.
thank you for yonr kindness. but could not sta
To face John AFTER all my folly. and the trouble
} which have Involved him. Please ask him TO 10
give poor AvIs.p