Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-30

| a
| 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 a married
man without his wife. l wish I'd told her /,
| However am in for it now l suppose"
He left the train and went to a theatre
where 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 ne made sudden
resolution. Il shan't dine with them at any
| rate; I'll 60 home and take dinner with
| Nettie; I'll compromise on that" He sat
down and wrote:
| DEAR WILSON: am very sorry, but I find
II impossible 10 get away in time to take dinner
| with you this evening. 1 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 a 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 noble play.
He put the three tickets into the envelope
with his note and sealed it, thinking to him
self meanwhile: 81 wish there was some
way out Of the whole business-I might say
was ill-poor little Nettie, Madame Rou-
quette,' indeed, Pshawi"
Then he called messenger, dispatched his
letter, and in so doing laid the train to a
pretty mine, which by evening might ex-
! plode 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. He was reckoned one
OF the shrewdest and Reconstructed 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 smile. could you get the tick
cts, John, dear! o, Pm so gladl Cynthia
will go. How wish, though, it was you'll"
'Indeed, wish it was, Nettie. Iwould
| break this engagement to- night if could
| but Wilson is an old friend and | would not
like to offend him"
"And l wouldn't like TO have you either,
dear. l was cross this morning, wasn't II
l 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"
Eyes, quite WELL Nettie; little head
ache, that is all"
Mrs. Wheatleigh was not quite dressed
when her husband came to bid her goodbye
"rll 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"
He fumbled hastily in his pocket and
drew out the three tickets. Madame
Roquette-that's mine''-he heard Nettie on
the stairs-these other two are hers-dou't
come down, dear; there they are"
You foolish boy" said Nettie, ''you are
sure you are quite well, John. There-good
night"
Cynthia was not quite ready when the
cab stopped at her door. Her toilet was
matter requiring great preparation; pres
emily, though, she came running out
slow are you, dear Nettie?-so good of
you to think of me so ofteni Isn't Mr.
Wheatleigh goipgl Just we twol How
nice! What is 'Cymbeline' Nettie!
Shakespeare, isn't it, don't think ever
read it's it a tragedyl How nicer'
mo, Mr.. Wheatleigh 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 we.
Did the cabmsn make mistake. 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 moment, ladies'"
20, how provoking" said Nettie "How
could John have made a mistake! He knew
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, Cynthiar'
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-t awn when Cynthia said: Met
tie, so long as we have the tickets, why
shouldn't we go to see Madame Roquetten
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 |
he have been so careless, when he knew |
she wanted so much to see this play! 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
anne RoQuette' was not to be seen every
day. ''Bennie de Forrest was telling me all
about it last night, Nettie,'' she said, The
says it is simply grand, and that Floria
de Brassi is the loveliest, most bewitching
thing! The men are all wild about her.
She sings a topical song or something,
called Now He's a Married Man that
brings down the house. Benuie saws. |