Middletown transcript., 1894-12-01

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was also more fortunate, however, fo
l. he had a few moments talk with Mis-
May. That lady ought not, perhaps
to have let Tom know that she wa
e coming to the play tonight. She wa
really Jacks now, or about to be, i
the plot did not miscarry. But was i
not natural that she should feel sorr
for Tom? That day she had sent hin
back his letters (he used to slip then
into her hands. and she kept them in ,
box beside Jacks letters), with an in
: timation that all was now over be
tween them. She had also added thai
she was going to the play that night
and l suppose her reason for this in.
judicious act was that she looked for.
ward to delightfully."- sad parting with
him. But Miss May had not quite under
stood Tom. In the crush at the theatre
she held out her hand, the one further
from her papa, that Tom might squeeze
it surreptitiously. Thus did she hope
to break the blow. But frantic Tom
would have none of her hand. He
stalked after her into the box, and in
the presence of her father demanded an
explanation. Miss May, who was al
ready beginning to wish that she had
never seen those lovely little bronze
shoes-they were hurting her so much
-wept at Toms grief and admired him
for his vehemence, AS for the father,
he was first amazed, secondly delighted,
and thirdly afraid. 1t was pleasant to
hear that his daughter was determined
to be done with tbe youth, but dis
quisting to observe that the whole
house was listening to Toms declama-
tion. Tom promising to lower bis
voice, papa consented to leave the box
for five minutes that the farewells
might take place in privacy.
In that five minutes the second last
act of tragedy was played in the back
of the box. Tom announce that his
prospects were now death by his own
pistol. Miss May, in terror, put her
hands on his shoulders; and then, re-
membering Jack, withdrew them. She
had promised Jack not to say word
of the conspiracy to Tom, but now it
all came oat. At half-past nine
written note was to be handed in to
Miss May, purporting to come from an
aunt of hers who was in box beneath.
The note was to ask her and her papa
to join the aunt. Papa loathed the
aunt, and was therefore certain to re-
fuse; but he would let Miss May 60.
In the lobby she was to be joined by
Jack, whisked into carriage that was
already waiting near the theatre door,
and born off in the direction of Gretna
Green. There was quite a chance of |
the runaways being twenty miles off |
before the chase began.
$50 farewell, Tom, dear Tom," said
Miss May. But dear Tom, forgetting
his promise to Papa, began to stamp,
calling her the most horrid names, and
thus delighting her.
"You know how l could love you,n
she said, picking her lenses carefully.
"But am l to blame if you are SO
poor?"
"You could wait for me. My pros
pects-"
II can't wait, Tom; goodbye. Kiss
me, Tom, for the last time"
81 won't. You are a heartless
coquette. May, if that carriage had
been mine, would you have come with
me?"
"I-I don't know"
Men should not distress women with
such difficult questions.
"Kiss me, Tom, for the last time"
81 won't"
Then, like sensible man, Tom '
changed his mind, and kissed her pas
;
SIT is not for the last time," he said
iercely. "May, you love me, and me {
alone, and Jack shall not have you; he
shall not. I have an idea; quick, tell
ne how 1 shall know Jack IS carriage?n
Miss May, wondering, had just be- &
gun to answer him, when papa reap I
,eared. Tom departed. but not with
;he look of hopeless man on his face. .
As for the young lady, having treated t
lear Tom so kindly, she naturally be- {
yan to think lovingly of dear Jack.
V
The ruse with the letter succeeded. :
Miss May was trembling a little when :
he left the box. Had her papa flung
Ter kind word just then she might Z
lave postponed the elopement; but he
Isked her grumpily why she was look +
ng at him 80 sentimentaily, and, of
curse, after that she hesitated no
onger. He little thought as the door
losed on her that the next time they
net she would be married woman.
Miss May always maintained after
Yards that from the moment when she ::
eft her fathers box until she realized :.
hat she was in carriage beside Jack, !,
IL was blank to her. The theat re
ttendant, however, who saw the C; T.
iage drive off, and described the scene
subsequently, to the infurated father,
eclared that she was less agitated
han her lover.
'.I suppose Jack carried me down
hat dark side street to the carriage"
ras Miss Nays surmise.
tsThe gentleman was little excited
Ike, but the lady she were wondeful '
ool.n was the attendants declara' ion.
lis story ended thus:
"They had started, when the lady
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