Wichita eagle., 1888-08-10

q,
while refusing to 60 with his wife to witness
q noble play.
He put the three tickets into an envelope
with his note and sealed it, thinking to him.
self meanwhile: Il wish there was some way
out of the whole business might say was
ill-poor little Nettiel Nine. Rouquette' in
deed Pshaw!n
Than he called messenger. dispatched his
letter, and in SO doing laid the train to a
pretty mine which by evening might explode
with a formidable result.
You will probably guess what John Wheat
leigh did in his absent minded, self reproach-
full state of mind, SO there need be no secret
about il. He was reckoned one of the sbrewd-
est men on the Cotton Exchange, yet be- did
now what shrewd and keen witted men
sometimes do-committed an egregious
biunder.
He had in his pocket six theatre tickets.
All were red. and Of the same general ap-
pearance He enclosed 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 ho retained, one for
himself and two for Nettie, were all for
NINE. Roquette."
When he came homo to dinner Nettie met
him with a smile. ''Could you get the tickets,
John, dear' Oh, I'm so glad. Cynthia will
go. How wish, though, it was youi"
Indeed, 1 wish it was, Nettie. l would
break this engagement tonight if could,
but Wilson is an old friend and would not
like to offend him"
"And wouldn't like to have you either,
dear 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 "Arent you well,
joint You look pale
Eyes, quite well, Nettie; little headache,
that is all"
Mrs. Wheatleigh was not quite dressed
when her husband came at o'clock to bid
her good-by. am try to be back as soon as
you are, Nettie," he said, as he kissed her.
He was on the stairs when his wife called to
him, John, you haven't given me the
tickets.-don't come back back; I'll run
down to you"
He flrmbled hastily in his pocket and drew
out the three tickets. Nine. Roquette-
that's 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. John! There-good
night"
Cynthia was not ready when the cab
stopped at the door. Her toilet was a matter
requiring great preparation; presently,
though, she came running out.
"How are you, dear NettieAso good of
you to think Of me SO often Isn't Mr..
Wheatleigh goings Just we two? How nice!
What is 'Cymbeline,' Netties Shakespeare,
isn't its don't think l ever read its it a
tragedy How niceI'
mo, Mr. Wheatleigh couldn't go tonight"
explained Nettie, she had an important en-
gagenent with business friend at the club"
Cynthia ratified on, telling Nettie of all her
comings and goings since their last meeting
until they reached tho theatre. They entered
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 wea
Did the cabmap make a mistaken Aren't
you playing 'Cymbelinep"
Eyes, ma'am, but these tickets are for
Nine. Roquette,' at, the uptown house. The
address is on your ticket-please step aside
a moment, ladies'"
''Oh, how provokingm said Nettie. How
could John have made mistakel He knew
it was 'Cylnbeline' I wanted to see-we
talked Of it quite awhile"
Perhaps they will exchange them at the
box office" suggested Cynthia
"Oh, no, they won't do that" replied Net
tie, taking out her purse; eve must buy new
tickets Dear me, have only enough here
to pay the cabman! Have you any money,
CynthiaT'
Cynthia humbly acknowledged to not hay
Ing penny.
"Wen, there is nothing to do, then, but to
drive hone," said Nettie. ''Oh, am so dis
appointed" They found a cab, and wers
rolling uptown, when Cynthia said: ''Nettie,
SO long as as we have the tickets, why
shouldn't we go to see Nine. RoquetteP
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"
Very well, Cynthia" replied Nettie, apa-
thetically. 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
programme. Shakespeare was very nice, of
course, but such thing as Madame Ro-
quette" was not to be seen every day.
"Bennie De Forest was telling me all about
it last night, Nettie," she said; she says it is
simply grand, and that Floria De Brassi is
the loveliest, most bewitching thIngl The
men are all wild about her She sings top
ical song or something, called Now He's
Married Man. that brings down the house,
Bennie says. don't know that l approve
of such things" she added deprecatingly,
''but it's well enough to so oi.cc in while,
especially when everybody is talking about
q thing; it makes one feel like going to SEQ it
in spite of ones self; don't you think soF'
Il suppose IL does, Cynthia, 1 never heard
anything about 1t"
The operetta had begun when they entered
the theater. A little man accompanied by
two handsome lSlies was raising a great
commotion about something with an usher.
Nettie just glanced at them as she passed.
Their seats were IN the orchestra, aud the
house seemed quite full, with the exception
of one chair adjoining stheir own Cynthia
Invested herself OF her jacket at once, aud
prepared to enjoy herself.
I'VE can put our things on that seat next
you, Nettie; if anybody comes Wen take
them away again. she said
Nettie placed Cynthia's coat in the vacant
seat, and as she did SO her eyes fell on tho
man beyond it; he was staring at her with
wide open eyes and hanging jaw; he looked
quite stupefied. The man was her husband.
why, Johnl how came you herea /
this a surprise or a joke-wb0s
does it mean, Johnl'
''Nettie," he said, hastily, there has been
I -, L