The midland journal., 1893-04-21
SHOOT THAT GIRLw


This romance in high life is strictly
true. The party of the first part and
the party of the second part, as the
lawyers would say, are now living on
Woodward avenue, and the yarn came
to me through that reliable medium,
the young wife's dearest girl friend. )"
1t was one night about three years
ago at the Detroit Opera House. The
Detroit symphony orchestra were giving
concert. Tom Clifford was there
seated in L 63 (the "girl friend showed
me the coupon, which she preserved in
her money-book). Tom liked music.
He didn't know anything about it, but
he liked it. He couldn't tell the differ.
ence between waltz by Chopin or a
Liszt rhapsodie, and if you had asked
him to define the distinguishing feat
dres of a symphony and a concerto or
cantata and oratorio he would have
replied frankly that he didn't know and
that he didn't care rap. Everything
went with him. Although his ignor-
ance of harmony and counterpoint was
.amentable, he had good business
head and was receiving fat salary. He
was bachelor of thirty.
Tom never missed concert or musi.
cal entertainment of any kind, and ao-
cordingly went to hear the symphony
orchestra Right behind Tom, L 81
the dearest friend" has that coupon
preserved also), was q young girl dressed
in the latest manner, with imported hat,
imported dress and imported gloves.
She herself was Partisan importation,
having been there about year. She
was charming girl to look at, slender,
petite, with blue eyes and golden hair.
Moreover she had big bank account,
and it takes long while to walk by
some of her property, in going down.
town. The imported hat was a marvel,
and the entire group behind her could
not see the stage.
During the performance of the first
number she rendered life burden to
Tom. The orchestra was playing the
delightful overture to "Figaro's Mar
liage," and she talked all the while /,
and her friends talked, and she led the
conversation when they were inclined
20 listen to the music. People frowned
I'll around her, but she didn't mind in
:he least.
"Oh, Edith, is that Mrs. L. over
there ? Why, yes, so it is. Have you
heard about her affair abroad? ?"
Yes, dear"
Il thought you had Everybody
has Oh, look, Clara, isn't that a pretty
gown Mrs. W. is wearing p
Yes; but what pity she hasn't a
better figure p
That is so. But don't you think
Jennie W. has sweet figure"
And so on. Poor Tom, after endur.
ing about twenty minutes of misery,
'urned and looked squarely into the
blue eyes of the young girl The blue
eyes neither dropped nor were turned
Iside. They merely seemed to say, II
Wonder what that man means ?" after
which the young girl resumed her con.
yersation with greater animation than
,ver. The orchestra was p laying the
lndante movement of O Beethoven
'ymphony, and the ravishing measures
would have been ecstasy to Tom had
ne been seated in any other part of the
heater. The more tempestuops part Of
the composition drowned out the voices
behind him, but then there came q
,alm. one of those thoughtful intense
moments which were to the great COM
poser a reaction after an emotional out
burst As the first violins solemnly,
| softly as a breath, reverted to the orig
NAL theme, the conversation behind the
musical devotee became louder. Then
rom lost his patience, and. speaking so
hat every one in the immediate vicin:
ity heard him, said;
why don't some one shoot that grip
There was an astonished silence be.
nind him. while all around arose q
'nicker. During the balance of the
concert it was as silent as the grave in
Toms neighborhood. But somehow he
felt uncomfortable and almost wished
ne had not spoken. When the concert
was over he stole Q glance at the girl.
Her face was pale and cold. Tom also
observed that she was very attractive
with her head nestling in the white fur
of her opera cloak. She did not glance
At him, but proudly swept up the aisle.
Tom hastened after her and watched
her enter her carriage. What brute
| ami" he thought, as the coachman
touched the spirited span and the car,
riage disappeared in the distance. But
he didn't give the matter any attention
subsequently.
1t Glanced, few months later, that
Tom donned his dress suit and went to
the charity ball. No one knows why he
I lid it, for he never danced, and GER
tainly cared little for balls or recep.
lions. As the girl friend says, lit must
have been fates' At any rate Tom was
there, not knowing What to do with
himself in the gay and giddy throng.
One of Toms friends, gay and giddy
~fhtter, who had entree anywhere. es,
pied him, and, seizing him by the arm,