Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-30


again" she said
NettIe placed Cynthia's coat in the vacant seat,
and as she did so her eyes fell on the man beyond
IL: ne was staring at her with wide-open eyes and
hanging jaw; he looked quite stupined. The man
was her husband
"Why John, how came you here? thoughts
this surprise, or toke-what does 1t mean,
JOhn?'
"Nette," be said hastily, 'there has been mis-.
take; found 1t out and came to- mean-let US
20 quickly-quickly Nettie." He rose to mis- feet;
Nettle was quite bewidered, while cynthia stared
quick, Nettie-"
s"Ah, Wheatleigh, I've found you have ~ cried
a little man busting up, "sucn deuce OF a time
I've mad; what on earth did you mean by sending
me one ticket Tor this place ana two for some
where else, Lord knows where? I've been having
a nne row back there, and the girls are mad as
hornets Maud didn't like It when you didn't
come 10 dinner anyhow. Oh. can promise you a
jolly scolding How did you make such bull? Are
these the seats here? The usher will try to
Strengthen the thing out II these ladies will kindly
let MIN see thelr coupons; may be" his words
Were drowned In "a burst OF applause. Floria de
Brassl, as the young Prince Gaillard, had bounded
on the stage glc IA OF blonde hsir and silk
neshings. Nettle mad not an idea OF what the
trouble was about; she looked at her husband who
was still standing MS face was white. his lips
moved but she could not hear the words. The
usher was saying something TO cynthia, who was
helplessly IumDllng in her bag for the coupons
NetIle had handed her when they came in-but
what was this the woman on the stage was sing
Ing, her hands pressed TO her heart and her eyes
rolled up In mock agony.
"Ah. sweet secluded one!
All. poor deluded one,
He'll fool you If he can,
Now he's married man.
Now he's married man,
Nette comprehended everything In a flash. The
little man and the two handsome women standing
back there belonged TO her husbands party
through some mistake she and cynthia were in
their places, and they were trying to get them out
She rose to her feet and turned TO ner husband
with indig nant eyeS-s.Nettie come with me y he
said In "A low voice, 81 will explain everything"
There was buZzing sound In her ears-she Ielt
Crrlg. h.a
were saying something in a protesting Jone--WhaJ
was this she heard?-
when your precious little hub.
Says he going to the club"
Floria de Brassi sang this with a wink and a nod
which seemed directed straight at Nettle; she
gaZed at the actress as though fascinated. She
Ieit that II she stood and listened she would hear
from the lips OF this leering, painted woman the
whole story-hear the names OF the two women-
hear her own name perhaps, and the explanation
OF her husbands duplicity-"What's the matter
there, usher? Why don't those people SIT down?'
Game from behind. Nettle felt strong revul5ion:
she grasped Cynthia by the wrist and hurried her
away. lone moment, ladeS-I mean no Offense,"
said the little man-"by Jove, Wheatleigh they We
gone!" In the aisle they almost ran into a man
staggering under great basket OF flowers; the
odor made Nettie faint Hurry, Cynthia, she
whispered.
Now he's q married manila, hav'
she heard Floria de Brassi shrek as she left the
dragging Cynthia after her, and was driven rapidly
h0meNaTd
As for cynthia she only knew something dread
full had happened Nettle 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 10 do. How terrible II ali was vet how
wildly eXcitingl She recalled John Wheatlelgh's
hagSard lace the exctable voice Of the little man.
the wel-bred amazement with which the two
women had regarded them as they passed out
she thought she had seen those women before:
Indeed IL was 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 Wheatletgh
at a Mouia IL oe In tne papers IN the morning?
know that she had been there and had seen it all
and would come 10 her for the particulars. cynthia
Importance. Now they were at Nettie's house. she
must go in; she could not leave the poor girl while
she looked like that. Then Nettie spoke for the
INST time.
'.Come In the house." she said hoarsely; "tell
the man TO watt"
she ran up stairs and flung herself on the bed
face downward. Cynthia gently took OF her
bonnet and would have bathed her face but
Nettle notloned her away. She did not cry or
make sound, tut only buried her face in the pil-
lows as though she felt a thousand eyes upon her.
and was ashamed.
There was violent ring at the bell. and John
Nheatielgh came rushing up the stairs. She
sprang 10 her feet.
'.Nettie, darling, where are you? Oh, Nettie,
don't look at Inc Ike that-let me tell yo,,I Mis-
Olds, please 80 Into the next room for few mo-
nents; must speak TO my wife alone"
stop.rein4in where you are cynthia Do you
not see that whatever you have TO say to me must
be said before her-nOw?"
"Nettie: dearest, it was all a mistake That
was Ned Wilson, his vile and her sister, / was
going with them, you see-to meet them. that Is
an ahd mixed the tickets up-I gave you'll ought
at was shameful" she said, In low hard voice
10 Illuminate lac before all those people, before
cynthia, beIore"-she shuddered-.those two wo-
men,
''Nettie, swear / meant to tell you-at the
table this morning the words were on NV very
lips 70 tel you. mad written 10 Ned Wilson then
Dut had made up my mind not TO 90 II you didn't
want me 10, and just as was going TO SPEAK You
asked me 10 take you-then h ID That silly little
quarrel, aud Iooiishly went away without telling
you III you knew how miserable | had felt ali
day-it was that that Imade Inc send-oh, Coo, She
doesn't believe me-" and the poor 10y covered his
lace with his hands and gave a great sob. For
Nettie looked though She did not even he ar
him. IL seemed 10 her that she could see FIoria
de Brassi with her knuckles ON her hips and her
mead on one side as plainly as though the woman
stood there:
When your precious little hub
Bays he's going to the club"
The air had been impressed indelibly on her brain
during those horrible fve minutes She believed
she coud sing IL just as Florta de BraSsi dd-a
Wild desire came To her TO stand up before him and
Try. Then IL was that the true and beautiful
woihanly instinct arose and showed itself In the
"Nettie," she said firmly, .you are making too
much OF this; your husband has done no wrong
look at him Nettie. lie concealed something from
you because he was plqued-iJ was foolish but not
wicked and he was sorry for 1t before 1t was made
AAfo"n W yOu III the way IL was Tonight Know
VINO Mrs Wilson Is, and who her sister is-they
are good women both OF them. Forgive your nus
Sahd dear Nettie-he loves you and nobody else
lou can trust me can't you when promise never
70 speak OF TINS 10 any one, aLd-and Nettie
shall try TO forget 1t myself"
On dld not deserve IL John, did not indeed,,
and Nettle flung herself, sobbing on her husbands
meek, as Cynthia silently withdrew
All MS life John Mheatleigh loved cynthia Odds
Ior those words. The shipper on her kindly face
was as a Oeautilul smile 10 him ever after-her
hs nill twaddle as pleasant music.
The operetta OF madame Roquetten had a lonr
run In the metropolis. The airs were pIayea on
hand organs by street bands and by eneryetic
Young ladies' on the piano. but although Nettie for
gave her husband freely, and restored him 10 her
perfect CONFIDENCE she could never hear NOW he's
married man" without,a spasm OF the heart