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

am coming over to New York on Thursday
with my wife and her sister-you remember
Ethel OF course. We want to go somewhere in
the evening. and would be delighted to have you
ioin US at the Hoffman House at six for dinner,
and make a partie carree. hear the operetta
of Madame Roquette' is very good; may COM
mission YOU to secure four places for our party
and don't fail to meet us? My wife wishes to
be remembered. Yours truly, e. H. WILSON"
''Confound il" he muttered, Il don't like
it: wish hadn't been in such hurry to
accept his invitation"
He remembered Miss Ethel very well;
handsome girl she was, too but not hand
somer than her sister, Mrs. Wilson. ''Of
course they couldn't have asked Nettie;
they don't know her. I'm hanged, though,
if | think it's the thing to invite married
man without his wife. wish I'd told her |
However, l am in for it now, 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
sent-minded and low-spirited; he let several
good opportunities on the exchange pass
unnoticed. About noon he made a sudden
resolution. 81 shan't dine with them at any
rate; I'll go home and take dinner with
Nettie; I'll compromise on that He sat
down AMI wrote:
DEAR WILSON: am very sorry, but find
it impossible to got 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
hours of iingling music and prancing WON
en-, while refusing to go with his wife to
witness a noble play.
He put the three tickets into the envelope
with his note and sealed it, thinking to him
self meanwhile: II wish there was some
way out of the whole business-I might say
was ill-poor little Nettie! Madame Rou-
quette,' indeed! Pshaw!n
Then he calleda messenger, dispatched his
letter, and in so doing laid the train to a
pretty mine, which by evening might ex-
plodo with formidable result.
You will probably guess what John
Wheatleigh did in his absent-minded,
self-reproachful state of mind, so there need
be no secret about it. lie was reckoned one
of the shrewdest and keenest-witted men on
the cotton exchange, yet he did now what
shrewd and keen-witted men sometimes do
committed an cgregious blundcr.
He had in his pocket six theater tickets.
All were red, and of the same general APP
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 smile. Gould you get the tick
cts, John, dearl o, Pm so glad Cynthia
will go. How I wish, though, it was your
Indeed, l wish it was, Nettie. would
break this engagement night il l could
but Wilson is an old friend and l would not
like to offend him"
"And l wouldn't like 10 have you either
dear. l was cross this morning wasn't II
l was sorry forit 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 we'll
-" es, Ndu1te wen, Nettie; little head.
ache, that is all"
Mrs. Wheatleigh was not quite dressed
when her husband came to bid her goodbye.
''pll 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 /
don't come back; I'll run down to you.n
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.n
You foolish boy" said Nettie, s'you are
sure you are quite well, Johna There-good
night"
Cynthia was not quite ready when the
cab stopped at her door. Her toilet was a
matter requiring great preparation; pres
entity, though, she came running out
"How are you, dear Nettie?-so good of
you to think of me so often! Isn't Mr..
Wheatleigh going! Just we two9 How
nice! What is 'Cymbeline' Nettie?
Shakespeare, isn't it? Idon't think l ever
read it's it tragcdyl How nicen'
"No, Mr.. Wheatleigh couldn't go tonight"
explained Nettie, she had an important en-
gagement with a 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 cabman make mistakes. Aren't
you playing 'Cymbeline'
Eyes ma'am, but these tickets are for
Madame Roquette,' at an uptown house.
The address is on your tickets-please step
aside a moment ladies'
20, how provokiug,n said Nettie. "How
could John have made mistakel He knew
it was 'Cymbeline' l wanted to see-we
talked of it quite awhile"
perhaps they will exchange them at the
box-office" suggested Cynthia.
20, no, they won't do that" replied Net
tie, taking out her purse: 1--WE must buy
new tickets. Dear me, l have only enough
here to pay the cabman Have you any
money, Cynthiaa"
Cynthia humbly acknowledged to not
having penny.
well, there is nothing to do, then, but to
drive home" said Nettie 10, am so dis
appointedp' 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 Roquette!
hear it is splendid. Floria de Brassi sings
in it, you know. If we don't like it we can
come away in little while"
Every well, Cynthia" replied Nettie,
alphabetically. She was thinking how could