Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-30
MADAME ROQUETTE.

y There probably was not a brighter nor a cozier
room In any hoIse In New York than the break
fast-room IN John wheatleighs house. II was
somewhere n the Thirties. Just on Fifth avenue,
OF which a glimpse could % caught through the
east windows, which admitted flood OF sunlight
on the glass and plate and fine damask OF the
table, and brought out the golden lights In Mrs
wheatleigh's brown hair.
There could not have been a more agreeable
couple 20 look upon either-he tall, athletic, with
an open, manly CONFERENCE.-The, pretty, elegant
and wOmanly. They were a happy pair, too. as
happiness goes. and no heavier cloud darkened
their matrimonial sky than the one which was
now towering over the oreakfast-taole. For that
there was a cloud this morning there could be no
possible doubt The fullness about Mrs Wheat
leighs lips. the drOOp OF her Ids and the elevation
OF her eyebrows formed an undeniable pOut. while
her husbands face expressed doubt, anxiety and
annoyance IN turn. Though the atmosphere was
clear when the meal began the doubt had been
lurking IN John Wheatlegh's eyes ever since he
took his seat at the table. IN his heart It ex-
pressed itself in the hesitation between al will tell
her and al won't tell her" The "wOnts had the
best OF it at first; IL seemed unnecessary; there
was no reason why he should, and perhaps Nettie
would not understand ~ which would be very
OF the question: Nettlc was a thoroughly sensible
woman. she had never shown the least trace OF
Jealousy; anything that he would tell her about,
honestly and openly. she would consider right, or
II she did not She would tell him 50 gently and
without any fu,-.
He looked at her as she bent her pretty head
over the morning paper, humming little tune
meanwhile She seened To feel his gaze, aud
glancing up at him, smiled johns heart smOte
ntm- How could he think OF keeping anything
from his sweet little wifel or course he would
tell her-he was half sorry he had promised TO go;
II she objected he wouldn't Just as soon as
finish this egg," thought he. ain the meantime
III think Of the best way 10 tell her"
That was fatal egg for John. He was some
time In dispOsing OF IL; when he had finished
he cleared his throat, and had actually uttered
the initial N-Of his wlfe's name when Mrs. Wheat
leigh cried: "Oh, John, they're going TO play Gym
beline' tonight; won't you take me?'
Wheatleigh's confession He could never tell his
wife, In excuse for not taking her TO the theater
that he was going himself with another lady-Or
at least with q party in which there were other
ladies.
''To-night did you say, Nettie' 1 don't believe
can go tonight"
"Oh. John, why nOt9'
wont tomorrow night doc"
''NO," said Mrs Wheatleigh, looking at the
R Rne.9s ni' Is 'n' only performance Oh o'n0'-
II am going to be out tonight, Nettie: don't
night will be glad TO-"
'You are going to the club, suppose. wish
you did no. spend so much time there. Is this
something 50 important that II can't DC put of?
DO want 10 see 'Cymbeline' so much"
John felt himself weakening, but before giving
In made another faint effort: Il wonder II George
won't 20 with your
"Ny brother has his own friends and his own
engagements" replied Nettie. Il will not ask
him 10 leave them to go with me- since my hus-
band cannot stay away fron his clu1to do so. 1
Now, this seemed very unreasonable and pro-
yokiug TO John. as perhaps indeed it was. IL Mrs
Nheatleign had said nothing at all. and only put
husband would have been at her side In an IN
slant, his arm around her waist, saying: There,
Nettie you shall 90 I'll give up the other thing;
It's OF no consequence, anyhow"
But this Is Just what Nettie did not do. She
showed her vexatiOn. and TO John, who had just
mellOwed his heart TO The point OF yielding TO her.
IL seemed that she showed IL In
way. He felt a quick reaction from his tender
mood and easily hardened his heart. Every well,
Nettle do as You Ike, he said, cOOlly, 81 must be
going downtown"
you were fond enough OF going TO the theater
before we were married, but now. whenever
want 10 see anything particularly there Is always
something IN the way Mrs. Wheatleigh still
spoke httle bitterly. but her tone showed that
she was willing TO be pacfed-
"See here Nettie, IT'S like this" said John: 'Ed.
Wilson, friend OF mine from out OF town. is going
10 DC here tonight, and want 10 show him around
little ahd-and take him To the club perhaps; in
TACT, I've written him promising To meet him.
Now do be reasonable. Nettie."
Inc cloud lifted from Mrs. Wheatleigh's brow
entirely. Il Will be reasonable, John; OF course
II ycu are engaged with your friend sha'n't in
teIfere. III tell you what might do IL you will
get the tickets. III send over TO cynthia OIds 10
20 with me; she will be glad OF the Chance Well
take CAB and drive 10 the theater and 1t Will be
perfectly safe"
John was glad 20 have the matter settled so
easily but his w1tes sharp speech still ranked a
at once.
al don't Ike your going out at night without an
escort, and don't Ike your going with cynthia
Odds any how. What you see In her TO make you
want 70 continue the intimacy, can't imagine
She Is silly, simpering old girl, without an idea
that she hasn't got from some yellow backed
novel, and a woman whose tongue runs as hers
does Is sure 70 be a dangerous companion"
cynthia Is not so bad you make her out
John: she is foolish about some things know.
and exaggerateS a good deal, but never heard
ler say anything fl-natured about anybody IL
Is pleasure 10 take her out, she enjoys every
thing so much But h you evidently DO not wish
me 10 go 10 the theater 1 shall say no more about
1t
There, my dear you may do as you nke,n said
Jonn- ASK cynthia to 90 with you and Will
bring the tickets tonight" And so all was Sc
rene.
When John wheatIeigh took his seat in the ele-
waited train he drew letter from his pocket-the
letter which caused the little Jar in his home that
had so quickly subsidized He reread IL hastily:
NEWARK " J. April 10
DEAR WHEATLEIGH: am coming over to New York
on thursday with my Miie and her slster-you remem
Der Ethel Of eourss We want to somewhere in the
the Hoffman House at dinner aud MAKE a pGrtis
cdrrse hear the operetta of Madame Eoquette" is
for our party and doh fail to met Us. s0G ~ %fs
wishes to be remembered Yours truly.
"ConfOund It," he muttered, 81 don't Ike it: I
wish hadn't been in such hurry TO accept his
He remembered Miss Ethel very well: a HAND
some girl she was, 700, but not handsomer than
her sister, Mrs Wilson. ''Of course they couldn't
have asked Nettie, they don't know her. I'm
hanged though II think Its the thing TO invite a
married man without his wife. / wish Ia told
her! However. IN In for IL now, suppose"
He left the train and went TO a theiter where a
great artist was playing Shakespearean dramas
and bought two places for 'CymbelineT Then he
went on 10 his O1ice- AL morning, however he
was absent-minded and low-spirfted; he let sew
eral good opportunities on the exchange pass IN
noticed About noon he made 4 sudden RESOLUTION
81 shant dine with them at any rate: I'll 20 home
and take dinner with NetIfe; I'll Compromise on
that He sat down and wrote
DEAR WILSON am very sorry but find il impossible
TO get away IN time 10 take dinner with you this eve
ming i shall Join you at the theater though. aud
therefore incose the three tickets for and The
ladies, 10 whom please make my compliments and
regrets al biEg OBLIGED 20 foregU part OF the pleas
uze q the evening. Faithfully. WHEArIEiGH
Comic opera was a form OF entertainment which
John Whcatleigh loathet, yet here he lad con-
signed himself 10 enduring three hour OF ungliny
music and prlncnS women. while refusing 10 90
with MS wife 70 witness a noble play
He pat the three tickets into the envelope with
his note and sealed It, thinking TO himself mean
While: 81 wish there was some way our or the
Nettiei Madame Koquette' indeed! Pshaw ~
Then he called q messenger, dispatched his LET
ter, and In 50 doing laid the train 20 pretty mine
which by evening might explode with a Formidable
RESULT.
You VIII probably guess Just what John Wheat
reign oid In MS absent-minded self-reproachful
state OF mind, so there need be no secret abOut tI
He was reckoned one OF the shrewdest and keenesf
Witted men on the Cotton Exchange vet he did
now what shrewd and keen-witted men sometimes
do-eOmmitJed an eyregiOus blunder
He had In his pocket SIX theater tickets All
were Tel, and OF the same general appearance
he inclOsed the Two tickets he had bought for his
wife. and one operetta ticket in the note m his
friend Wilson, and thus the three tickets he re-,
falQeI-Oue fur himself rVNO for