The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-29
lway from me and hidden them under he

all the characters Tor the last ten genera
tons, so that you may understand why
they ale compelled to act as they do later
on, it is a short one, and before the 0bjec-
tionable Character had time to distinguish
himself again, the curtain went down and
he went out, probably for beer.
All through the act the few remarks
which Sophy had eondescended to address
to me had had an acid flavor about them
that I did not relish, and, as she showed no
signs of returning to sweet reasonableness
when the interval began, for once in my life
| was glad to see-Barker.
"Hullo Swaddle, he said, coming from
behind somewhere, and appropriating the
temporarily vacant place in front of me-.
"What are you doing here?
Wherever | meet Barker he asks me
what l am doing there, in a tone which
implies that l haye no right to be anywhere
without his leave.
"Oh !" l replied, nothing much. [
brought Miss Bell, that's all. -
'Ah Miss Bell, hesaid, treating Sophy
to stare which began in curiosity and
ended in admiration. II haven't the
pleasure, l fear. Introduce me, Swaddle,
my boy.
introduced him-what else could |
do?-and I hoped Sophy would snub him.;
but again she disappointed me.
81 have often heard of you, Mr.. Barker"
she said smiling upon him most graciously.
"Nothing to my disadvantage, l hope?'
he replied, laughing, as if he thought that
very simple remark concealed an excellent
joke. Barker always laughed at his own
jokes, and they were generally were well
concealed
"Not at all, said Sophy. "AlgernOn
has always spoken so highly of you that |
have been quite anxious to make your ac-
quaintance,
How easy It's to be deceived in woman !!
How could she have been anxious to make
his acquaintance after the things had told
her about him? And yet, up to that mo-
ment, 1 had always thought sincerity was
one of Sophys greatest charms.
'Swaddle, you are a sly, sly dog, said
Barker, chuckling idiotically. 'Do you
know, Miss Bell, that, until this suspicious
moment, | was ignorant of your very exis-
tence."
am not surprised to hear it, Mr.. Barker,
retorted Sophy, tossing her head "Alger-
non is not at all proud of me, can assure
you.
A more unfounded accusation never pro-
ceeded from a woman's lips, yet | could
not refute it without laying myself open to
an equally groundless charge of jealousy.
had not told Barker of my engage
ment, it is true, but that was because he is
such an interfering beggar. "Ah? he
would have said, II must know the little
girl, Swaddle You must settle down
somewhere near my diggings so that can
look you up in the evening. | know the
very house to suit you. Where are you
buying your furniture? | know a place
- and so on. Indeed, he would have
made me play second fiddle at my very
wedding if he had been asked to it, and
surely it is not jealousy to object to that
They both looked at me as if they ex-
pected an explanation, but as | could not
tell Barker my reasons for reticence there
was an awkward pause in the conversation.
I felt that Barker had once more placed
me in false position, and when L feel
that I am in false position | always blush,
and often say something, which on refee-
ton l regret l was blushing and was
about to speak when the Objectionable
Character saved me by coming back to
claim his scat.
According to the etiquette prevailing in
galleries Barker should have yielded it to
him, and perhaps he would have done so
had not Sophy told him in whisper to
stay where he was.
Ere, governor, said the Objectionable
One, "that's my pitch. y His tone, must
admit was not coneiliatory, and Barker is
a man who must be treated to an ell of
Cancellation before he will yield an inch of
concession.
as it?" he asked. 81 was under the
impression that, like the rest of the theatre,
it belonged to Mr.. Crummles Delawnay."
0Was your" sneered the other. swell,
| was . sitting in it, anyway, during the
whole of the first act; appeal to this lady
and gentleman if | wasn't
Barker made no reply, but beckoned to
the attendant.
''Are these seats reserved 2" he asked
"Wel, no, sir, replied the man. "Not
strictly speaking, they're not. But when
a gent goes out for mouthfnl of fresh air
or what not, it amt considered the thing
to jump in his place in his absence
'Never mind about that, said Barker.
as the right to find it empty when he re-
turns included in the price of admission y
"No, sir, admitted the attendant. "Not
the right exactly, but"
"That will do, thank you, said Barker,
coolly sitting down again.
a'Ere, | say" grumbled the previous
occupier chats not good enough, you
know. You're a precious sight too big
and ugly for there to be any sense in me
talking chucking you out, but if -"