The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-22

w Od4u you D6ll6NS Ludl, DSCduSG ki1co
to convince her of the utter folly of leav-
ing before a performance you have paid
TO see has even begun, and also begged
her not to make a scene, she afterwards
said 1 had allowed her to be insulted
without resenting it?
| objected to the fellow quite as much
as she did, but what could L have done?
If l had told him to hold his tongue he
would probably have sworn at me, and
we should have had every body staring at
US. Ii l had called the attendant there
would have been row, which, perhaps,
might have ended in visit TO Police
Court; and visit to a 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 a short time the Objectionable
One became absorbed in the play. 1t
soon became clear, however, that he had
not been educated up to the Irrcproach-
able standard. He yawned and began to
hdget, in spite OF the indignant looks OF
the devotees on either side of him.
Say, Governor" he said at last, turn
ing round to me, whats it all about?"
"Hushr' | said. You will find the
motive explained on the back of your
programme.
He made some pithy but rude remarks
to the effect that he'd be dashed if drama
which had to be explained on the pro-
2IdllllIl6 NOuIu W oOWn Ou LIS olNiO bAlO
water, and then opened a running fire OF
vulgar but forcible criticism of what
was said and done on the stage. AS he
turned to me every time he spoke, l
thought the people around would begin to
imagine that l sympathized with him, so
lent him my opera-glasses to keep hlm
quiet.
"Oh, crikeyv' he exclaimed in what,
on his side the water, no doubt passes for
a confidential whisper. Look at the old
geeser in that box. Disgraceful l call it,
and at her age, too. Just take squlnt,
Governor"
Sophy might have known that 1 should
do nothing of the kind, even though to
humor him l made a pretenee, and there
fore she need not have snatched the
glasses away from me and hidden them
under her cloak.
As the first act of Gentle Gladys" is
devoted solely to detailing the pedigrees
OF all the characters for the last ten gen.
erations, so that you may understand
why they are compelled to act as they do
later on, it is a short one. and before the
Objectionable Character had time to dis
tinguIsh himself again. the curtain went
down aud he went out-probably Tor
beer.
All through the act the few remarks
which Sophy had condescended to adj
dress to me had had an acid flavor about
them that l 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 l meet Barker he asks me
what l am doing there, in tone which
It1nlipS that | have rlUht To he
where without his leave.
oh" l replied, nothing much. l
brought Miss Bell, that's ALL"
"Ah! Miss Bel,'' he said, treating So
ply to a stare which began in curiosity
and ended in admiration. 81 haven't the
pleasure l fear. Introduce me, Swaddle,
my boy"
L introduced him-what else could do
and l hoped Sophy would snub him;
but again she disappointed me.
Il have often heard OF you, Mr.. Bar
kerr" she said, smiling upon him most
graciously.
Nothing 10 my disadvantage, 1 hope?';
ne replied, laughing, as if he thought that
very simple remark concealed an excel
lent joke. Barker always laughed at his
own jokes, and they were generally very
well concealed.
Not at ALL said Sophy. "Algernon
has always spoken SO highly of you that
l have been quite anxious to make your
acquaintance"
How easy it is to be deceived in a
woman! How could she have been anx-
iOus to make his acquaintance after the
things / had told her about him? And
yet. up to the moment, l had always
thought sincerity was one of Sophy's
greatest charms.
''swaddle, you are sly, sly dog,'' said
Barker, chuckling idiotically. DO you
know, Miss Bell, that, until this auspi-
cious moment, was ignorant of your
very existence"
II am not surprised to hear it, Mr., Bar
kerr" retorted Sophy, tossing her head.
"AlgernOn is not at all proud of me, can
assure you"
A more unfounded accusation never
proceeded from Woman'S lips, yet |
could not refute it without laying myself
open to an equally grOundless charge of
jealousy.
1 had not told Barker of my engage
ment it is true, but that was because he
is such an interfering beggar. "Ahr' he
would have said, 81 must know the little
somewhere near my diggings so that
can look you up in the evening. | know
the very house to suit you. Where are
buying your furniture? l 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 I could not
tell Barker my reasons for reticence there
was an awkward pause in the conVerSa-
ton. l felt that Barker had once more
placed me i'll false position, and when
feel that l am in a false position 1 al
ways blush, and often say something
W liph rntlaatinn I
blushing 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 to
him, and, perhaps, he would have done SO,
bad not Sophy told him in whisper to
stay where he was.
"'Ere, Governor" said the Objectiona-
bic one, that's my pitch" His tone,
must admit, was not conciliatory, and
Barker is a man who must be treated to
an ell of Cancellation before he will yield
an inch of concession.
us it?'' he asked. 81 was under the
impression that, like the rest of the thea
ter, it belonged to Mr.. Crummles De-
lawnay."
"Was your" sneered the other. "WelI.
was a-sitting in it, anyway, during the
whole of the first act. l appeal to this
lady and gentleman if I wasn't?"
Barker made no reply, but beckoned
to the attendant.
Are these seats reserved?" he asked
calmly.
"Weli, no, SIR" replied the man. mot
strictly speaking they're not. But when
a gent goes out for mouthful 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.
us the right to find it empty when he
returns included in the price of admis-
sion?"
mo, sir" admitted the attendant. 'sNot