The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-07-21

home and take dinner with Nettie; I'll com
promise on that He sat down and wrote:
DEAR WILSON, am very sorry, but
| find IL impossible TO get away in time TO take
dinner with you this evening. | shall JOIN
You at the theatre, though, and therefore Gu
| close the three tickets for yourself and the
ladies, TO whom please make my compli-
ments and regrets at being obliged 10 forego
a part of the pleasure of the evening Faith
| fully, WHEATLEIGH
Comic opera was a form of entertainment
which John Wheatleigh loathed, yet here he
had consigned himself % enduring three
hours of juggling music and prancing women,
while refusing TO go with his wife to witness
n noble play.
He put the three tickets into an envelope
with his note and sealed 1t, thinking To HIM
self meanwhile: II wish there was some way
out of the whole busineSs-l might say was
ill-poor little Nettiel Nine Rouquette' in
deed! Pshawm
Than he called n 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 shrewd
est 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 theatre tickets.
All were red. and of the same general APP
pearance He enclosed the two tickets he
had bought for his wife and one operetta
ticket in the note 10 his friend Wilson, and
thus the three tickets he retained, one for
himself and two for Nettie, were all for
Mime. Roquette"
When he came home to dinner Nette met
him with smile Gould you got the tickets,
John, dear' Oh, Pm so glad! Cynthia will
go. How | wish, though, it was your
Indeed wish it was Nettie. | 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 il, 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
joint You look pale"
Eyes, quito we'll, Nettie; little headache,
that is all"
Mrs. Wheatleigh was not quite dressed
when her husband came at o'clock 70 bid
her good by "I'll try TO be back as soon Us
you are, Nettie,' no said, IN 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 fumbled hastily in his pocket and drew
out the three tickets Mime. Roquette-
that's mine'-he heard Nettie on the stairs
these other two are hers-don't come down,
dear; there they are"
"You foo ish boy" said Nettie, you are
sure you are quite well johns 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 Nettie,-so good Of
you TO think of me so often Isn't Mr..
WheatlciSh gongt just we two. How nice!
What is 'Cymbelno,' Nettief Shakespeare,
isn't it, don't think ever read it's it a
tragedy How nice!'
mo, Mr.. Wheatleigh couldn't go tonight"
explained Nettio, "he had an important en-
gagement with a business friend at the club"
Cynthia ratified on, telling Nettie of all her
and gonSs since their last meeting
until they reached the 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 we'
Did the cabman make n mlstakei Aren't
you playing 'CymbelineF"
"Yes, maam, but these tickets are for
Mime. Roquette,' at the uptown house. The
address is on your ticket-please step aside
moment, ladies'"
"Oh, how provokingl" said Nettie. "How
could John have made a mistake! He knew
1t was 'Cymbeline' | 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; 1--WE must buy new
tickets Dear mo, have only enough here
to pay the cabmanl Have you any money,
Cynthiar
Cynthia humbly acknowledged to not hav-
ing penny.
"Well, there is nothing to do, then, but to
uflNe npfllc, Stl'l LNclJit. oilt uHi 81 uiS-
appointedp They found cab, and were
rolling uptown, when Cynthia said: "Nettie,
so long IA as we have the tickets, why
shouldn't we go to see Mime, Roquettef
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, 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 tho
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-
quetten was not to DO seen every day
"Bennie De Forest was telling me all about
it last night, Nette," she said; she says it is
simply grand, and that Floria De Brassi is
tho loveliest, most 'bewitching thing The
men are all wild about her. She sings top
ical song or something, called Now He's a
Married Man., that brings down the house,
Bonnie says don't know that | approve
of such things" she added deprecatingly,
"but it's we'll enough to 60 oRcc IN while,
ALL ,yh J,y 10 talbtpcy nlnpt