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

the elevated train he drew letter from his
letter which caused the little
jar in his home that had so quickly subsidized.
He read it hastily:
'NEwARK. N. j., April 10.-Dear Wheatleigh:
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
join us ut the Hoffman House at six for dinner,
and make partie carree. hear the operetta
of Msdame 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. Z. H. WILSON"
"Confound It" he muttered, II don't like
it; wish hadn't been in such hurry to
accept his invitation.r
He remembered Miss Ethel very well; q
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. Pm hanged, though,
II think it's the thing to invite married
man without his wife. wish I'd told her
However, / am in for 1t now, / suppose"
He left the train and went to 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 he made sudden
resolution. II 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 an I wrote:
DEAR WILSON: am very sorry, but find
II impossible to get 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, WHEArLEIGH."
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 wom-
en-, while refusing to 60 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: 81 wish there was some
way out Of the whole business-I might say
was ill-poor little Nettiel Madame Rou-
quette,' indeed! Pshawp'
Then he called messenger, dispatched his
letter, and in 20 doing laid the train to a
pretty mine, which by evening might ex-
plode with o 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 keenest-witted men on
the cotton exchange, yet he did now what
shrewd and keen witted men sometimes do
committed an egregious blunder.
He had in mis- 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. ''Could you get the tick
cts, John, deari O, I'm 80 gladl Cynthia
will 60. How wish, though, 1t was your
Indeed, wish it was, Nettie. Iwould
break this engagement tonight IL could,
but Wilson is an old friend and would not
like to offend him."
sand Iwouldn't like TO have you either,
dear. l was cross this morning. wasn't II
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 well,
joint You look pale"
Eyes, quite well. Nettie; O 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" be said, as he kissed her. He was on
the stair when his wife called to him:
'John, you haven't given me the tickets l.
don't como 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, syou are
sure you are quite well, joint 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 Nettiei-so good of
you to think Of me so oftenl Isn't Mr..
Wheatleigh goingl Just we twos How
nice! What Is 'Cymbcline.' Netties
isn't it, don't think ever
read it's IT tragedy How nicer'
mo, Mr.. Wheatleigh couldn't 60 tonight"
explained Nettie, 'she had an important en-
with business friend at the
club"
Cynthia ratified on telling Nettie Of all her
and goinRs 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,n said
be; these tickets don't belong here.''
"Dear me-" said Nettie, ''where are wet
Did the cabman make mistakei 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. slow
could John have made mistakei He knew
i was Cymbeline' I wanted to see-we
Eaiked OF it quite awhile"
perhaps they will exchange them at the
box-ofhce" suggested Cynthia
20, no, they won't do that" replied Net