The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-29

uerS' Ihey were anyways ior Two, anu III
had seemed pity not to make use of
them, but unfortunately, | never told
Sophy that l did not pay for our places,
and when that man died suddenly, found
myself pledged, on the strength of prom
Use from him, to take her to see "Gentle
Gladys at the Irreproachable. Our en-
gagement had reached the practically
sentimental stage, when money saved
should mean furniture bought, and l
hoped she would cordially fall in with my
suggestion, that on this occasion weshould
go to the gallery.
She disappointed me. 1 am not mean
man, but I do object to paying eight shil-
lings when you can get practically the
same article for two, and | could not make
Sophy understand that the gallery is, prac-
tically, just the same as the upper circle.
She said she thought I could afford some
thing better, and though l told her it was
not question of what could afford but
of where we should get the best value for
money, she maintained that looking at the
matter in that light took all the pleasure
out of (which is absurd; for what can
be more exhilarating than the thought
that you have made better bargain in
amusement than your neighbors =?
1t was this tendency towards obliquity
of economic vision which made me sorry |
had accustomed her to think | was in the
habit of spending money unnecessarily,
and | wished | had, at least, told her about
those orders. 1t was too late, however, to
do that now, so l met her outside st.
Paul's as per arrangement, hoping that
practical experience of the gallery would
convince her that, considering everything,
especially prices, it was the best part of
the house.
The usual frequenters of the lrreproach-
able gallery are as respectable as the thea
tire itself, which, of course, is saying a
great deal, but that evening, unfortunately,
an Objectionable character had thrust him
self in among them, probably by mistake,
and, still more unfortunately, he sat just
in front of us. We had very good places
in the middle of the second row, and, as |
told Sophy, We ought to enjoy ourselves
thoroughly if We could manage to ignore
our disreputable neighbor.
Unfortunately again, he would not allow
himself to be ignored. believe he meant
well, too, and have no doubt he was con-
sidered, by his usual associates, to be the
very pink of politeness. He had shrimps
in paper bag, oranges in one pocket,
nuts in another, and either chocolate or
chewing tobacco-perhaps both-in a third,
and during the half-hour that elapsed be-
fore the curtain went up, he not only re-
freshed himself with these delicacies, but
generously offered them to his neighbors.
1 think that if Sophy had taken a
shrimp, or even nut, much of the I'M
pleasantness which followed might have
been averted, but she refused his kind
offers in her most icy tone, and the two
girls who sat next to him followed her ex-
ample.
1t was easy to see that the Character re-
scented this; in fact, he scowled so diaboli-
cally that when he produced flask ofrum
and offered it to me, | took sip for the
sake of peace and quietness.
pass it to the lady, governor" he said,
as was about to return it to him, "Per-
haps it's more in her line than shrimpses.
II am sorry to say the lady is a total alb
stainer,' 1 replied, doing my best to concili-
ate him with smile.
"Poor thing !" he retorted. ais she
really2 She don't look it either, do she ~
"Oh, Algernon = whispered Sophy.
"Let us go"
"Go-go where p 1 asked, astonished.
"Out home, anywhere to get away from
that horrid wretch she replied, unless
you can protect me from his impertinence.
Would you believe that, because | tried
to convince her of the utter folly of leaving
before performance you have paid to see
has even begun, and also begged her not
to make scene, she afterwards said | had
allowed her to be insulted without resent
ing it ?
objected to the fellow quite as much
as she did, but what could | have done ?
If | had told him to hold his tongue, he
would probably have sworn at me, and we
should have had everybody staring at US
IF | had called the attendant, there would
have been row, which perhaps might have
ended in visit to a police court, and
visit to police court, even as witness,
always costs money or business time, which
is the same thing.
Luckily, just then the curtain went up,
and for short time the Objectionable One
became absorbe ed in the play. 1t soon
became clear, however, that he had not
been educated up TO the Irreproachable
standard. He yawned and began to fdget,
in spite of the indignant looks of the de-
voices on either side of him.
"Say, governor" he said at last, turning
round to me, "what's it all about?"
"Hush p said. "You will find the
motive explained on the back of your pro-
gramme."
He made some pithy but rude remarks
to the effect that he'd be dashed ifa drama
,yb;ob had tn ha exnlained on the pro-