The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01

one feel like going to see it in spite of one,s
self; don't you think sol"
~ suppose it does, Cynthia; 1 never heard
any thing about it."
The operetta had begun when thew On.
tered the theater. A little man acoo,n-
panied by two handsome ladies was RAISING
a great commotion about something with on
usher. Nettie just glanced at them Il che
passed. Their seats were in the Orchestra
and the house seemed quite full, with the
exception of one chair adjoining their own.
Cynthia Invested herself of her Jacket at
once and prepared to enjoy herself.
1--WE can put our things on that seat newt
to you, Nettie; if anybody comes Wen take
them away again." she said.
Nettie placed Cynthias coat in the vacant
seat, and as she did so her eyes fell ON the
man beyond it; he was staring at her with
wide open eyes and hanging jaw; he looked
quite stupefed. The man was her husband
"Why, Johnl how came you hereq |
thoughts this surprise, or joke-what
does it mean, John?"
"Nettie," he said, hastily, ''there has beeu
a mistake; found it out and camel mean
let US go quickly-quickly, Nettier, He
rose to his feet; Nettie was quite bewildered
while Cynthia stared-"Quick, Nettie-"
"Ah, Wheatleigh, I've found you, have ~
cried little man bustling up; ''such a deuce
of a time I've had. What on earth did YOU
mean by sending me one ticket for this
place and two for somewhere else, Lord
knows wherel I've been having fine row
back there, and the girls are as mad as
hornets. Maud didn't like it when you didn't
come to dinner, anyhow o, | o@Hus
you jolly scolding. How did W6.@ n
such bull? Are these the seats bpes The
usher will try to straighten the fling out If
these ladies will kindly let hi see their
coupons. May be" His lords were
drowned in burst Of applaus Flora de
Brassi, as the young Prince ballard, had
bounded on the stage-a gloryt blonde mar
and silk fleshings. Nettie he not an lcea OF
what the trouble was about she looked at
her husband, who was outstanding. his
face was white, his lips loved, but she
could not hear the words The usher was
saying something to Cyntla, who was help
lessly fumbling at her BE- for the coupons
Nettie had handed her vlen they came i'll;
but what was this the pman on the stage
was singing her hands PISSED to her heart,
and her eyes rolled up irmock agonyi
"Ah sweet seeded one!
All, poor delted one!
He'll fool yo if he can.
Now he's rlrried man,
Ha-a!
Now he's a1arried man"
Nettie comprehend every thing in a
flash The little ma and the two hand
some women standing back there belonged
to her husbands pary-through some mis-
take she and Cynthb were in their places,
and they were tryilg to get them out She
rose to her feet AM turned TO her husband
with indignant eys. "Nettie, come with
me,n he said, in low voice. 81 will explain
every thing" Netth felt a strong revulsion;
she grasped Cynthis by the wrist and bur
ried her away. "One moment, ladies-I
mean no offense," said the little man-'by
Jove, Wheatleigh, they've gonem
In the aisle they almost ran into man
staggering under great basket OF flowers;
the odor made Nettie faint.
AS for Cynthiashe only knew that some
thing dreadful had happened Nettie was
deathly pale and looked straight before her,
not having uttered a word since they left
the theater. Cynthia took her two hands
and held them tight, not knowing what else
to do. How terrible it all was, yet how
wildly excitingl She recalled John Wheat
leigh's haggard face, the excitable voice of
the little man, the well-bred amPnement
with Which the two women had sarded
seen those women before, -s--sSd. ~ rs
such an adventure that poor Cynthia found
herself taking a kind of guilty joy in the
situation. And Nettie-how stonily she
stared before her; she didn't look like Nettie
Wheatleigh at all. Would it be in the papers
in the mornings Would Nettie get di-
vorce? Every body would know that she
had been there and had seen it all, and would
come to her for the particulars Cynthia
fairly grew giddy at the prospect of her
coming Importance. Now they were at Net
ties house, she must go in she could not
leave the poor girl while she looked like
that. Then Nettie spoke for the first time.
Come in the house." she said, hoarsely
''tell the man to wait"
She ran upstairs and flung herself upon
the bed, face downward. Cynthia gently
took off her bonnet and would have bathed
her face, but Nette motioned her away.
She did not cry or make sound, but only
buried her face in the pillows as though she
felt a thousand eyes upon her and was
ashamed
There was violent ring at the bell and
John Wheatleigh came rushing up the
stairs She sprang to her feet.
"Nettie darling, where are you' 0,
Nettie, don't look at me like that-let me
tell you! Miss Odds please go into the next
room for few moments; must speak to
my wife alone"
stop; remain where you are, Cynthia.
DO you not see that whatever you have to
say to me must be said before her-nowm
"Nettie, dearest, it was all mistake
That was Ned Wilson, his wife and her
sister. l was going with them, you see-to
meet them, that is, and l mixed the tickets
up-I gave you'll ought to have told you"
ut was shameful" she said, in a low,
hard voice, Ito humiliate me before all
those people, before Cynthia, before"-she
shuddered-"those two women"
"Nettie, | swear l meant to tell you.at
the table this morning, the words were on
my very lips to tell you. 1 had written to
Ned Wilson then, but had made up NY
mind not to go if you didn't want me b,
and just as | was going to speak you askedne
to take you-then we had that siI,Syfrfle
quarrel, and 1 foolshly went away without
telling you. If you knew how miserable |
had felt all day-it was that that made me
send-O God she doesn't believe me y, and
the poor boy covered his face with his
hands and gave great sob. Then n was
that the true and beautiful womanlv in
stinct arose and showed itself in the de-
spised Cynthia.
"Nettie," she said, firmly, you are max
ing too much of this; your husband has
done no Wrong-look at him, Nettie He