The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-10-27

Wnat the trouble was ABOUT, Sne looked al
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 agonyl
"Ah sweet secluded one!
All. poor deluded one!
He'll fool you II he can.
Now he Q married man,
Ha-ha.
Now he's o married man."
Nettie comprehended every thing In
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 were trying to get them out. She
rose to her feet and turned to her husband
with indignant eyes. 'sNettie, come with
me, he said, in q low voice. 81 win explain
every thing" Nettie felt strong revulsion;
she grasped Cynthia by the wrist and hur-
mean no offense," said the little man-'sby
Jove. Wheatleigh, they've gonei"
In the aisle they almost ran into man
obdkSCk Jug QaQCf q 81 C4t taSkCt VI 80WSfSs
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 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 amazement
with which the two women had regarded
them as they went 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
Wheatleigh at all. Would it be in the papers
In the morningi Would Nettie get d.
vorcel Every body would know that she
had been there and had seen it ali, 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, hoarscly;
s'tell the man to wait"
She ran upstairs and flung herself upon
the bed, face downward. Cynthia gently
took OF her bonnet and would have bathed
her face, but Nettie motioned her away.
She did not cry or make sound, but only
buried her face in the pillows as though she
felt thousand eyes upon her and was
ashamed.
There was violent ring at the bell, and
John Wheatleigh came rushing up the
stairs. She sprang to her feet.
"Nettie, darling, where arc youl. o.
Nettie, don't look at me like that-let me
tell you'll Miss Odds please go into the next
room for 6. few moments; must speak to
my wife alone"
''Stop; remain where you are, Cynthia
Do you not see that whatever you have to
say to me must be said before her-nowln
''Nettie, dearest, it was all q mistake
That was Ned Wilson, his wife and her
sister. Twas going with them, you see-to
meet them, that is, and mixed the tickets
up-1 gave you'll ought to have told YOU"
ut was shameful" she said, in q low,
hard voice, ITO humiliate me before ali
those people, before Cynthia, before''-she
shuddered-'sthose two women.n
'Nettie. swear meant to tell you-at
the table this morning, the words were on
my very lips to tell you. I had written to
Ned Wilson then, but had made up my
mind not to 60 II you didn't want me to,
and just as was going to speak you asked me
to take you-then we had that silly little
quarrel and 1 foolishly went away without
telling you. If you knew how miserable
had felt all day-it was that that made me
scnd-O God she doesn't believe met and
the poor boy covered his face with his
hands and gave q great sob. Then It was
that the true and beautiful womanly in
stinct arose and showed itself in the de-
spised Cynthia
"Nettie, she said, firmly, you are max
ing too much Of this; your husband has
done no wrong-iook at him, Nettie. He
something from you because he
was piqued-it was foolish, but not wicked,
and he was sorry for it before it was made
known to you in the way it was tonight.
know who Mrs. Wilson is, and who her
sister is-he loves you and nobody else.
You can trust me, can't you, when promise
never to speak Of this to any one, and-and
Nettie, shall try to forget it myself.n
20, did not deserve it, John; did not,
lndeedP' and Nettie flung herself sobbiug
On her husbands neck, as Cynthia silently
withdrew.
All his life John Whcatleigh loved Gym
Ehia Olds for those words. The shipper on
her kindly face was as a beautiful smile to
him ever after-her harmless twaddle as
pleasant music
The operetta Of Madame Roquette' had
ong run In the metropolis. The airs were
played on hand organs, by street bands, and
by energetic young ladies on the piano, but
Nettie forRsve her husband freely.
md restored him to her perfect confidence,
The could never hear "Now He's Married
Nan, !" without spasm Of the heart-Ths
EpeeA.