The National tribune., 1893-03-23

/" You were so good to meet mel" he cried
"The tickets came last night and have them
in my pocket now Shall we take a car and
go directly to the hall7 The recital begins in
90 minutes.
How much can a girls face express in 1C
seconds? Everything-the whole repertoire oi
the soul, fash on fash. From the time when
the young man began to speak until the time
when the young lady resigned to him her little
opera-bag and followed him out of the waiting
without a word, the upturned feminine
face said this:
"Well
:" ] declare.
I" rather like your looks.
'' l wonder if you are Eelfs cousin?
"How am | going to find out?
"Shall ask?
Nonsense! Of course it is he.
"Woudn't it be awful if it wasn't?
Il don't know; it would be awfuliy disap.
pointing
"Oh, it's all right! He takes it for granted
that am Nel's sister.in-law.
My! What eyes!
:" i ought to ask him if he is Mr.. Willis.
I" won't!
"There He is reaching out for my opera
bag. Shall l let him have it without saying a
word?
why! He has it!
WE'LL that settles it,"
crosstown electrician seemed to have
stopped purposely for them. AS the conductor
slid the door open single word burst out. as if
it had been imprisoned I'M the car. 1t was
" Paderewski!" The young people looked at
each other and smiled. They were going to
hear Paderewski. Everybody was going to
hear Paderewski. IL was a name in the air.
The hoof-beats clattered it, the car-wheels
changed it, every street cry paraphrased it.
All! how easy it was to get acquainted with
Paderewsk for a conversational shuttlecock!
History repeats itself. Why should not fc-
ton or rather let us say real life? for fiction
is only the shadow of real life.
Nells actual cousin burst into the ladies'
waiting room of the Providence station 10 min.
utes late by appointment. He was in a condi-
tion neryously, such As to make the appropria-
tion of the first young woman he laid eyes on
a kind of masculine prerogative. But he was
anticipated There was young person of the
feminine gender in the room who had been
walking up and down for 10 minutes like a
young man stepped inside the door. the ner-
vous young woman pounced upon him.
20! we shall be too late for the opening
number !" she walled. 90! wouldn't have
lost that for anything. o! dear!"
The nervous young man caught the nervous
young woman by the arm. Come on!" he
cried. we'll run! bark there's an electric.
Well catch II! Wetl get there "
Away they few Mutual introduction mu.
tual inquiry impossible IAN impertinence.
Each took the others identity for granted
There was no time to do anything else. Iden-
fcaton--pshaw! A person would willingly
waive his own identity if it were called in ques
tion, rather than miss Paderewski's first num-
Der. II there were only serviceable pair of
ears along with him, what matter to whom
they belonged?
There was no electric car in sight. Tho Eer-
vous young man had yielded to an auricular
illusion. "What shall we do? he asked pite-
ously.
"Rnn!" exclaimed the nervous young
woman laconicaly. She picked up her skirts
and made dash across Park Square and down
Roylston street. The nervous young man had
all he could do to keep pace with her. They
were just eight minutes in transit from Park
Square to Music Hall. Paderewski was play.
ing his first number when they burst breath.
lessiy into the lobby. The doors were closed
against them.
: Chance is wag. He enjoys his little joke :;
and when grim old Fate will permit him. he
jumbles his manikins in the oldest was. 81
and 90 % and %; this was the way Chance
arranged the two misfit couples in Music Hall
that afternoon.
: There was an intermission between the fourth
aud fifth numbers. Paderewski, slender, grace
ful, bowing pausing, as if tossed on the waves
of applause. finally accomplished his exit. Then
the great audience ceased to be an individual
"Well. how are Nell and the baby 2" asked
the nervous young man, who was sitting di-
rectly behind girl whose eyes were lifted to
another pair OF eyes, not unwillingly
Nell and the baby
The girl in U 90 started as if mouse had
run under her chair. The girl in % looked
at the man in % with half-psrted lips and
great staring blue eyes that might have We'd
with Aunt James hereditary saucers.
ITO whom do you refer?" she asked. If she
had been out in Sharon, her amazement would
have gotten the better of her grammar, and she
would have cried, as naturally as anything in
the world, who do you mean ?" But this
was Boston-and Music Hall.
The young man grew trifle paler Could it
be possible-nol How ridiculous
"Why Nell, of course" he laughed "Nell
Perrin, my cousin, your own brothers wife,"
Seat lumber %, row y, shut up like q steel
trap. Almost at the same instant seat number
90, row v, folded itself together with bang
and two girls stood facing each other.
Just at that moment back stole Paderewski
There was an astounding crash of chords. The
girls convulsively cJutched their programs and
sank down again. Oh it was divine. 1t was
the piece de resistance. the chef douvre. 1t
was Paderewski's own!
AlhSc you HOb ucdiuf Adc ~ uOu Dc6D Iul.
pressed upon you, that a music-worshiping wo-
man will waive nythng for musics sake? She
will pause on the edge of precipice if syren
will but sing. She will do more than that
ifa Paderewski will but play. She will ignore
the nettles of an embarrassing situation.
No panses between those last nnmbers-no
chance to speak, or hardly to breathe, till it
was over. Then tho nervous young man
leaned forward and asked. with sang froid
which did him infinite credit, and broke acres
of ice, "Well, Miss Bentley how is Cousin
Nell 2"
They then all burst into peal of laughter
and chorus of explanation, during which
Cousin Nell and Mr.. Willis. Miss Bentley and
Mr.. Perry. Aunt Jane. Miss Bunsen, and Pad
erewski got so bewilderingly tangled up that
the parties chiefly interested decided to cut the
gordian snarl by voting 1t all delightful mis-
take and saying nothing about it to anybody.
The 'cay to defend the pension system and