The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-09-01

He remembered Miss Ethel very well; q
handsome girl she was, too, but not hand
somer than her sister, Mrs. Wilson. "Of
course they couldnv have asked Nettie;
they don't know her. I'm hanged though,
II think It's the thing TO invite married
man without his wife wish I'd told her
However, am in for IL now, I suppose"
He left the train and went to a theatre
where a great artist was playing Shaks-
perean dramas, and bought two places for
"Cymbeline" Then he went on TO his
office. All morning, however, he was alb
sont-minded and low-spirited; he let several
good opportunities on the exchange pass
unnoticed About noon he made sudden
resolution. ~ shan't dine with them at any
rate; I'll go home and take dinner with
Nettie; Pll compromise on that" He sat
down and wrote:
"DEAR WILSON: I am very sorry, but find
IL impossible to get away In time to take dinner
with you this evening. shall Join you at the
theater though. and therefore enclose the three
tickets for yourself and ladies, to whom please
make my compliments and regrets at being
obliged to forgo part of the pleasure OF the
evening. Faithfully, WHEATLEIGH."
Comic opera was form of entertainment
which John Wheatland loathed, yet here he
had consigned himself to enduring three
en-, while refusing to go with his wife to
witness a noble play.
He put the three tickets into tho envelope
with his note and sealed it, thinking to him
self meanwhile: ~ wish there was some
way out of the whole busncss-I might say
was ill-poor little Nettiel Madame Rou-
| quette,' indeed Pshawr'
Then he called messenger, dispatched his
| letter, and in so doing laid the train to a
pretty mine, which by evening might OK.
plode with formidable result
You will probably guess what John
Wheatleigh did in his absent-minded,
self-reproachful state of mind, 80 there need
| be no secret about it. He was reckoned one
of the shrewdest and teenest-witted men on
the cotton exchange yet he did now what
shrewd and keen-witted men sometimes do
committed an egregious blunder.
| He had in his pocket six theater tickets
All were red, and of the same general ap-
pearance. He inclosed the two tickets he
had bought for his wife, and one operetta
ticket in the note to his friend Wilson, and
thus the three tickets he retained, one for
himself and two for Nettie, were all for
MADAME Rouquette."
| When he came home to dinner Nettie met
him with a smile. "Could you get the tick
cts, John, deari o, Im so glad! Cynthia
will go. How wish, though, it was youw
"Indeed, wish it was, Nettie. would
break this engagement tonight II I could,
but Wilson is an old friend and would not
like to offend him."
| "And wouldn't like 10 have you either,
dear l was cross this morning, wasn't II
was sorry for it though, afterward. Please
forgive me, John, dear-you are always
good to me-" and she put her arms around
his neck and kissed him. "Aren't you well,
joint You look pale"
ayes, quite well, Nettie; a little head
ache, that is ALL"
Mrs. Wheatleigh was not quite dressed
when her husband came to bid her goodbye.
"I'll try to be back as soon as you are, Net
tie," he said, as he kissed her. He was on
the stair when his wife called to him:
John, you haven't given me the tickets l.
don't come back; I'll run down to you."
He fumbled hastily in his pocket and
drew out the three tickets. MADAME
Roquette-thats mine''-he heard Nettie on
the stairs-these other two are hers-don't
come down, dear; there they are."
"You foolish boy" said Nettie, 'you are
sure you are quite well, joint There-good
night.'
Cynthia was not quite ready when the
cab stopped at her door. Her toilet was a
matter requiring great preparation; pres
emily, though, she came running out.
"How are you, dear Nettiel-so good of
you to think of me so often Isn't Mr..
Wheatleigh going! Just we twO3 How
nice! What is Cymbeline.' Nettie
Shakespeare, isn't it, don't think ever
read it's it tragedys How nicep'
''No, Mr.. Whestleigh couldn't go tonight" !"
explained Nettie, she had an important en-.
| gagement with business friend at the
club"
Cynthia ratified on telling Nettie of all her
comings, and goings since their last meeting
until they reached the theater. They en-
tered the house and Nettie handed her
tickets to the man at the gate
YOU'RE in the wrong place, ladies'" said
he; "these tickets don't belong here"
"Dear me-" said Nettie, 'where are wei
Did the cabmsn make q mistakel Aren't
you playing 'Cymbeline'
"Yes ma'am, but these tickets are for
Madame Roquette,' at an uptown house.
The address is on your tickets-please step
aside o moment, ladies'"
20, how provoking" said Nettie. "How
could John have made q nlistakel He knew
| it was 'Cymbeline' / wanted to see-we
talked of it quite awhile"
"Perhaps they will exchange them at the
box-office" suggested Cynthia.
So no, they won't do that" replied Net
tie, taking out her purse: 1--WE must buy
new tickets. Dear me, have only enough
here to pay the csbmanl Have you any
money, Cynthial"
Cynthia humbly acknowledged to not
having penny.
'Well, there is nothing to do then, but to
drive home," said Nettie. 20, am so dis.
appointed' They found cab and were
rolling up-tawn when Cynthia said: "Net
tie, so long as we have the tickets, why
shouldn't we go to see Madame Roquettel'
hear it is splendid. Floria dc Brassi sings
in it, you know. If we don't like It we can
come away in little WHILE"
"Very well, Cynthia" replied Nettle,
alphabetically. She was thinking how could
he have been SO careless, when he knew
she wanted so much to see this playl But
she had invited Cynthia to go with her and
felt bound to make the best Of the matter.
Cynthia hastily put her head out OF the
window and told the man where to drive
Secretly she was delighted at the change
in the programme. Shakespeare was very
NICE of course, but such thing as "Mad.
| anna Rnuuatteo yyas not to la aean everv