Griggs courier., 1888-09-07
one feel Ike going to see it in spite of oneN

one feel Ike going to see it in spite of oneN
self: don't you think 500"
III suppose it does, Cynthia; never neari
any thing about it,
The operetta had begun when they cn-
tered the theater. A little man accom-
panied by two handsome ladies was raising
a great commotion about something with an
usher. Nettie just glanced at them as she
passed. Their seats were in the orchestra,
and the house seemed quite full, with the
exception of one chair adjoining their own.
Cynthia divested herself of her jacket at
once and prepared to enjoy herself.
1--WE can put our things on that seat next
to you Nettie: if anybody comes We'll take
them away again." she said.
Nettie placed Cynthia's 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 stupeied. The man was her husband.
"Why, Johnl how came you herel I
thoughts this surprise, or joke-what
does it mean, John!'
"Nettie," he said, hastily, ''there has been
mistake; found it out and camel mean
let us go quickly-quickly, Nettie" He
rose to his feet; Nettie was quite bewildered,
while Cynthia stared-"Quick, Nettie-'
"Ah, Wheatleigh, I've found you, have II"
cried little man bustling up; ''such 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 where! 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, can promise
You q jolly scolding How did veu make
such bulls Are these the seats herel The
usher will try to straghten the thing out il
these ladies will kindly let him see their
! coupons May De-'' His words We're
drowned in burst Of applause. Floria dc
Brassi, as the young Prince Gaillard, had
bounded on the stage-a glory of blonde hair
and silk feshings. Nettie had not an idea of
what the trouble was about; she looked at
| her husband, who was still standing. His
face was white, his lips moved. but she
could not hear the words. The usher was
saying something to Cynthia. Who was help
| lessly fumbling at her bag for the coupons
| Nettie had handed her when they came in !;
but what was this the woman on the stage
was singing, her hands pressed to her heart.
and her eyes rolled up in mock agonyi
| ''Ah sweet secluded one
| Ah poor deluded one
| He'll fool you if he can.
! Now he married man.
Ha-ha
Now he's married man.
Nettie comprehended every thing in a
flash. The little man and the two hand.
some women standing back there belonged
to her husbands party-through some mis-.
take she and Cynthia were in their places,
and they We're trying to get them out. She
rose to her feet and turned to her husband
with S,,<1
me-" he said, in a low voice. 81 will explain
every thing" Nettie felt a strong revulsion;
she grasped Cynthia by the wrist and hur.
ried her away "One moment, ladies-I
mean no offense," said the little man-"by
Jove, Wheatleigh, they've gone!''
In the aisle they almost ran into man
staggering under great basket of flowers
the odor made Nettie faint.
AS for Cynthia she 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 exciting! She recalled John Wheat
leigh's haggard face, the excitable voice OF
the little man, the well-bred amazemcnt
with which the two women had regarded
them as they out-she thought she had
seen those women before; indeed, it was
such an adventure that poor Cynthia found
herself taking kind OF guilty Joy in the
situation. And Nettie-how stonily she
stared before her; she didn't look like Nettie
Wheatleighat at all. Would it be in the papers
in the morning! Would Nettie get a 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 watt
She ran upstairs and flung herself upon
the bed, face downward. Cynthia gently
took off her bonnet and would have batheG
her face, but Ncttie motioned her away
She did not cry or make a sound. but only
buried ber 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 Wheatlcigh came rushing up the
stairs. She sprang to her feet.
"Nettie, darling. where are you9 O.
Nettie, don't look at me like that-let me
tell yon! Miss Olds please go into the mex,
room for a few moments; must speak tc
my wife alonen
stop; remain 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 wife and he,
sister. was going with them, you see-te
meet them, that is, and l mixed the tickets
up-l gave you'll ought to have told YOU :
'lt was shameful she said, in a low
hard voice, Ito humiliate me before al
those people. before Cynthia, before"-she
shuddered- those two women"
"Nettie, swear | meant to tell you-a
the table this morning. the words were or
my Very lips to tell you. l had written tt
Ned Wilson then. but | had made up IN,
mind not to go if you didn't want me to
and justas was going to speak you asked me
to take Eou-then we had that silly little
quarrel and foolishly went away withou
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.'' ant