Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-06-09
SHOOT THAT GIRLr'


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. 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 any
thing about 1t. but he liked it.
Everything went with him.
Although his ignorance Of harmony and
counterpart was lamentable, he had a
good business head and was receiving fat
salary He was a bachelor of 30.
Tom never missed concert or musical
entertainment Of any kind, and accordingly
went to hear the symphony orchestra.
Right behind Tom, l. 81 (the dearest
friend" has that coupon preserved ALSO,
was young girl dressed in the latest man
per, with imported hat, imported dress and
imported gloves.
She herself was a Partisan importation,
having been there about year. She was a
charming girl to look at slender, petite
with blue eyes and golden hair Moreover
she had big bank account, and it takes a
long while to walk by some of her property
In going down town.
The imported hat was a marvel, and the
mtire group behind her couldn't see the
stage.
During the performance Of the first num-
Der she rendered life burden to Tom The
orchestra was playing the delightful over
ture to "Figaro's Marriage" and she talked
all the while, and her friends talked, and
abe led the conversation when they were
inclined to listen to the music.
"Oh, Edith, is that Mrs. L over therei
Why, yes, so it is. Have you heard about
her affair abroadi"
Eyes, dear"
II thought you had. Everybody has Oh
look, Clara Isn't that pretty gown Mrs
W is wearingY"
"Yes; but what pity she hasn't better
figure"
"That is 80 But don't you think Jennie
w. has fine fgure"-
And so ON. Poor Tom, after enduring
about 90 minutes Of misery, turned and
looked squarely into the blue eyes of the
young girl
The blue eyes neither dropped nor were
turned aside. They merely seemed to say,
II wonder what that man meansi" after
which the young girl resumed her CONVEX
sation with greater animation than ever.
The orchestra was playing the andante
movement of Beethoven symphony, and
the ravishing measures would have been
ecstasy to Tom had he been seated In any
other part of the theater The more tenn
pestuous part Of the composition drowned
out the voices behind him, but then there
came a calm, one Of those thoughtful, in
tense moments which were to the great
composer a reaction after an emotional out
burst
As the first volins solemnly, softly as a
breath, reverted to the original theme, the
conversation behind the musical devotee
became louder. Then Tom lost his pa
tience and speaking 50 that every one in
the immediate vicinity heard him said
why don't some one shoot that grip"
There was an astonished silence behind
him, while all around rose a smoker. Dur
ing the balance of the concert it was as ST.
lent as the grave in Toms neighborhood.
But somehow he felt uncomfortable and
almost wished he had not spoken. When
the concert was over, he stole a glance at
the girl. Her face was pale and cold.
Tom also observed that she was very at
tractive with her head nesting in the
white fur of her opera cloak. She did not
glance at him, but proudly swept up the
aisle. Tom fastened after her and watched
her enter her carriage.
what brute | am, he thought as the
ooachman touched the spirited span, and
the carriage disappeared in the distance.
But he didn't give the matter any atten-
ton subsequently.
1t CHANGED few months later that Tom
donned his dress suit and went to the char
ity ball No one knows why he did it, for
he never danced and certainly cared little
for balls or receptions. AS the girl friend
says, ''it must have been fate"
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 filter" who had entree any
where, espied him, and Selling him by the
arm exclaimed:
my dear boy, glad to see you'll Let me
introduce you to some of my set. 1t will
be a good chance for you. You have no
business TO shut yourself up, rising, mon
ey making fellow like you. Not a word
come on. When / introduce a fellow, it
goes See"
Before Tom could resist he found himself
IN the center Of a group in section IL (the
girl friend remembers the section), bowling
and scraping to several young girls attired
In charming costumes.
Then, to add to his embarrassment, whom
should he see but the girl who had been
seated behind him at the theaterl
miss c., my friend, Tom Clifford"
said the filter"
Tom bowed 80 profusely that all he could
see was the tips of his toes, and when he
looked up his face was as red as the rose she
wore at her corsage
She greeted him with what is called
"cold, cynical" smile, while at the same
time her eyes flashed dangerously.
miss c." stammered Tom, may
Zee your programmed"
ex certainly"
':f~Tom took 1t, and then he suddenly re-
membered that he didn't dance, and that
he was making an ass Of himself
"Thank YOU" he said, "but-but the fact
IL, don't dance"
Don't your she said, with the same