The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-04
THE STORY OF A BOX.

'Harry, you might take me to the the
alter tonight!'
my dear child, on night like this, with
| the thermometer at heaven knows what
/. and not a breath of airn'
/ "Oh, but if we get interested, we shall
/ forget ali about the heat"
"You mayn
"And you will, too; it is only because
| you are bored just now that you feel it SC
! much. 1t is our last week in town,
| Harry, and have been nowhere"
Nowhere! why"-
| "Oh, mean not to any theaters-well,
| hardly anyl Do take me. You will, won't
! you? Let US go to the Thespian. You
know you said the other day that YOU
| would like to see Miss Bertram act again,
and she makes her temperance tonight. F."
In ten minutes l had won the day; an
| hour later we were driving toward the
Strand, and after a little, by lucky
! chance, were seated in two stalls that had
been returned at the last moment
The house was full in spite of the heat,
and the audience was an exceptionally
| brilliant and well dressed one, for Miss
Bertram was an established favorite and
was making her appearance after long
tour in America She was very beauti-
full woman, though, as my husband re-
marked, "a little too full blown now"
"a few years ago." he went on, "she was
splendidly handsome. Half the town went
mad over her"
you among the others?'' gently in
quired.
Il used toscome here pretty often to see
her. I'll admit that. much" he responded.
81 thought as much. | understand now
why you were SO reluctant to come here to-
night. You were afraid of falling under
her spell again.
My husband laughed back at me with
the happy frankness of complete mutual
understanding. We had only been mar
ried a few months, and in my absolute Ger
tainty of my husbands affection it gave me
a foolish pleasure TO play at being jealous,
to pretend to think he had been easily and
frequently captivated before he met me.
And SO this evening l pretended to think
that instead of being overcome by the
heat, as he said he was, he was really the
prey to uncomfortable emotion at the sight
of the captivating actress. Certainly one
could understand an infatuation for her.
She not only had an enchantingly beauti-
full face but in spite of advancing embon-
point her figure was superb. 1t was de-
hghtful to watch the magnificent freedom
of her gait and gestures as she crossed the
stage. AS an actress she hardly satisfied
me; thought her heavy, monotonous, I'M
emotional, wanting in variety and intelli-
gence. But must have been wrong, iudg.
ing from the enthusiastic manner in which
she was applauded.
After the first act / took a good look
around the house, observed with keen in
terest the latest style in hairdressing
picked OUT as only a woman can, the pref
test and best dressed specimens of my own
sex, and remarked on the strange prepon-
derance of bald heads among the other
with an inclusive glance at my husbands
perspiring Uranium. Finally, my vaguely
wandering attention suddenly fixed itself
with vivid interest on the box Immediately
over the stage box TO the left of me.
Three people were occupying it; very
distinguished looking man of about forty
and most charming girl, with lovely
dark eyes and a radiantly happy express
sion. 1t was easy to see that they were
either engaged or land as young matron
myself ] inclined toward the latter belief
just married.
1t is a delightful thing to see two people
raised above everyday life into rariied
atmosphere of happiness, and l watched
them with deep sympathy and interest
Tie third occupant of the box puzzled
me. He was so evidently de trop-the man
and girl SO entirely ignored him. Had they
been completely unaware of his existence
they could not have appeared more uncon-
scioCs OF ii. They never turned their heads
to address one word to him, nor moved
their seats one inch to enable him to have
better view. There he sat, silent and
motionless, with his great dark eyes fixed
eagerly on the stage.
| have (my husband tells me in unfatter-
ing moments) a vivid imagination. l like
20 piece together the casual incidents of
life, to evolve situations, TO guess at the
links that bind people or the feuds that
separate them. But about this young
man could come to no conclusion. Could
he be the brother of the beautiful girl, or
rejected lover compelled by some subtle
web of circumstance TO the intolerable
agony OF looking on 1T tie bliss of another
MANI
The curtain drew up. Miss Bertram was
on the stage. | glanced upward at the
box. All! at last / had solved one part of
the mystery at any ratel In the rapt, hun
cry, adorang, entreaJing expression of the
young mans face, as ne fixed those glow
ing eyes on the beautiful actress, read his |
story-a story of iDfatua1ion and passion |
and reckless self abandonment. He seemed
absolutely unconscious of everything ami |
everybody except Miss Bertram His gaze |
dweat always on her with the same devour- |
ing. burning leok, and followed her every |
movement as II compelled by mesmeric |
influence
l felt intimately interested and sorry. |
My attention kept straying from the drama /
on the stage 20 the real life drama in the |
box
nudged my husband.
Lock. Harry: just glance up TO that t
box one HoGneat-the one Just over TIE
stage box Do look at that young man"
Ny husband turned inditferently around
yeXed at the Interruption.
Young man. shouldn't call him
young" be remarked careless!y. turning
back To the stage again. resolved to wal;
till a more convenient season.
The curtain fell on the second act Miss
Bertram was enthusiastically called for.
and came forward smiling ami bowling. /
could not help looking 10 see how the dark
Young man was affected by has divinity'~
ovation. To my surprise, instead OF joinina
IN 1t he sat as still As a statue though that
---~--- '-.~-s l-~L ----- $1,000 s-.s>, !