The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-27


Can't he get the music out of it,
though Halloo, here's Ashland !"
Wincing beneathRhis newspaper,
Mr.. Coleman had recognized the
voices as those of two college stu
dents, returning from a lecture at
B. Forgetful at last of travel
stain weariness and headache, he
waited till the youths had left the
car, then walked out at the opposite
end, his whole energies engrossed in
weighing the evidence so gratuit-
ously offered. How far could he
rely on current gossip? What atti-
tude should he assume toward Rue?
Morning found him undecided. He
must be governed by Rue's own
manner. AS test of her feelings
toward him he would ask her for
his sake to withdraw from the oper-
eta. If she loved him she wonld
do this cheerfully. If she wonld
not do it-Mr. Coleman had not
provided for the latter contingency
when Briget ushered him into Mr..
Haywood's parlor.
Miss Rue and Mr.. Lynde were
practising a duet for the operetta,
both too rapt to observe the intru-
der-a fact inexplicable on musical
grounds to poor Mr.. Coleman, who
did not know the notes apart, or
care to know them. According to
his inference, the young people were
absorbed in each other, and he off
in limbo. Under these circum-
stances it may not be strange that
his face, that instant spied by Miss
Rue, was not the face of an amiable
man. 1t promptly reminded Mr..
Lynde of a waiting pupil, and hav-
ing congratulated Mr.. Coleman on
his safe return, he hustled his music
under his arm and departed in
haste.
Miss Rue wheeled the big easy
chair in front of the CRATE, playfully
forced her sullen suitor into it, and
perched herself on its arm to hear
about his journey. Had he been
ill? No? Then he must be fearfully
tired. She knew his head ached.
Should she not try to magnetic it,
and put him to sleepP No, he pre-
ferred that she should not. He had
kept his eyes closed too long al
ready.
} AS well might u zephyr have
attempted to pet an iceberg. With
a shiver Miss Rue slipped from her
perch, and seated herself with her
work in a neighboring rocker
What had come over John? She
had never seen him like this before
He did not seem bit glad to meet
her.
He turned away from the dis
tracing vision, mentally preparing
his brief-this astute lawyer, as
ignorant of the nature of a girl as
an elephant of the structure of q
rose. Presently he began about the
festival. He admitted that Rue had
once confided to him her intention
! of participating in an operetta, but
he had supposed an operetta to be
something like an oratorio, not g
{ tumble of silly love songs. Did she
think it becoming in herself, al
engaged young lady, to carol amor
Gus ditties from morning to nigh
with tuneful swain?
"They are burlesques, John-only
burlesques. If l had dreamed o
your disappearing, l wouldn't have
) promised to sing; but I can't re
tract now"
"Not when l particularly reques
it, Rue ?"
| "Indeed, no, John. l have thu
r leading part. 1 can't refuse now tt
1 act without offending Mr.. Lynde." "
: On the other hand, you can't per
sist in acting without offending me.
"Now, John, do be reasonable
}, How should 1 feel, announcing a
: the next rehearsal that I must be ex
s cused-Mr. Coleman was not Willing
:. to have me connected with the oper
e eta? What would Mr.. Lynd
n think ?"
I "Oh, if his opinion has NOR
1 weight with you than mine, vii
g retire.
= "John, you're too absurd. Can
you see how ridiculous it woul,
= look for me to throw up my paI
= the moment you came home
People would say you are jealou
of Mr.. Lynde."
= "The jacknapes !"
~ "And that you are a BluebearC
II John I'm not sure, bat they'd b
right"
"If Pm tyrant, Rufelle, your
! an amazingly fearless Fatima."
;, II don't propose to be your Fat