Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-07-09

! always blush, and often say something
which on reflection 2 regret. was
blushiRg, and was about to speak when
the Objectionable Character saved me
by coming back to claim his seat.
According to the etiquette prevailing
In galleries Barker should have yielded
it 10 him, and perhaps he would have
done so had not Sophy told him IN
whisper to stay where he was.
"'Ere, governor" said the Objection
able One, "that's my pitch"
His tone, must admit, was not con-
ciliatory, and Barker is man VINO
must be treated TO an ell OF conclliation
before he will yield an inch OF conces-
sion.
sis ftp" he asked. 81 was under the
impression that, like the rest OF the
theatre, it belonged to Mr.. Crummles
Delawnay."
"Was you?" sneered the other. "Well,
I was a-sitting in 1t, anyway, during the
whole of the first act; l appeal to this
lady and gentleman if wasn't?'
Barker made no reply, but beckoned
the attendant
care these seats reserved?" he asked
calmly.
"Well, no, Sir" replied the man.
mot strictly speaking, they're not
Bat when gent goes oSt for mouth
full of fresh air or what not, 1t amt con-
sidered the thing to jump in his place
in his absence"
"Never mind about that" said Bark
err. sis the right 10 find it empty when
he returns included in the price OF ad-
mission?"
"No, Sir" admitted the attendant.
"Not the right exactly, but
THAT will do, thank you" said Bark
er, coolly sitting down again.
"'Ere, 1 say" grumbled the previous
occupier, that's not good enough, you
know. You're precious sight too big
and ugly for there to be any sense in
me talking Of chucking you out, but
if"
"Now look here" said Barker, turn
ing round; ''if You had asked me civ
lily to move l would have done so with
pleasure, but you didn't, so | won't.
Stop. Don't use bad language before
ladies, but take this, and think your
self lucky TO get it,"
This" was shilling, and the Char
acter took it and departed, muttering
some nonsense about being glad to lind
that, after all, the gent was gent, and
knew how to behave as such.
The people round about laughed, and
seemed 10 think Barker had done some
thing clever, though where the clever
ness came In 1 failed to perceive. ANY
one can bribe lout, but II Sophy had
seconded my policy OF Cancellation as she
ought to have done, there would have
been no need to waste money or make
ourselves conspicuous.
OF course, we were conspicuous after
that alteration, which, as Barker was
concerned in it, had not, you may be
sure, been carried on in whispers. Ey-
everybody stared at US, or | thought
they did, which, as far as deetroying my
comfort went, came to the same thing.
Barker, too, behaved disgracefully
throughout the rest Of the performance.
He did his best to flirt with Sophy, who,
however, did not encourage him, but
though sho kept saying, Don't, Mr..
Barker" "YOu shouldn't say such
things" and do be quiet" he went on
saying the things-jokes he thinks them
and he wouldn't be quiet.
He talked to the girls next to him,
whom | am sure he had never seen be-
fore, and, though they had so plainly
resented the advances of the Objection
able Character, they didn't seem to
mind Barker a bit, while even the
devotees, as have called them, smiled
indulgently at him when he made fun
OF the play.
How is it that Barker can do such
things with impunity? If had talked
TO those girls, which Of course l would
not have done without an introduction,
they would probably have snubbed me,
and even If they hadn't Sophy would
have been vexed, yet she simply beamed
on Barker. As for the other people,
they would have told me they had paid
to listen to the actors, or something
equally as cutting, yet they let Barker
chatter on without murmur. How is
IL, l say?
But to proceed. The drama dragged
itself to an end at last. The educa-
tionally acquired gentleness of Gladys
proved too weak to Withstand her natu-
raj tendency To homicidal mania inner
tied from her maternal great-grand
father, who once, when in liquor, shot
Z man of the Barker species. She killed
all her husbands-she had three,
think-and most of her children, and
was led of to durance more or less vile,
while the few surviving characters
shook their heads and sighed. Then
the curtain went down and we went out,
to catch, as thought bus for the
suburbs, but l reckoned without
Barker.
"Now, you two would like bit Of
SUPPER" said he.
"0h yes, Algernon, please. 1 am so
hungry" exclaimed SOphy, who always
was inclined to speak impulsively.
my dear" demonstrated, "there Is
no time. The last bus leaves st. Paul's
Churchyard at 1870"
"St. Paul's Churchyard!" broke In
Barker in his overbearing way. what
on earth is the man talking about?
Your buses pass this corner"
ooh! Mr.. Barker. Don't you know
we save a penny each by walking to st.
Paul's?" SAID SOphy, very properly, l
thought
Barker burst into his brutal laugh.
Though anxiety to save a penny Is not
a thing to laugh at, l was not sur
prised-at Barker-out way did Sophy
laugh, too? Really women are incom-