Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-09-04
1rusting himself Into the path of dan

10 his great chagrin she sent him no
reply. At last, in desperation. he pro-
cured an Introduction to the manager
of the n, and besought that gentle
mans aid In his foolish and culpable
project.
Just So" said the manager, rathe.
oddly. ''Well, Mr. Percival, 1 will com.
municate your wish to the young lady,
and will then let you know her reply.
I cannot hold out hopes that it will be
favorable; for number of other gen.
tlemen have desired Introduction to her.
and have all been refused. You see
she Is simple, modest girl, who is
merely using her talent to support her
family, and has no desire for n circle
of male admirers. However, as / said
| will tell her that you wish to be intro
luced."
The following night. when he ought
to have been in his place In the
house, listening to the ministerial lead
ec's statement, he was lowering neal
the stage door of the Y. He had made
up his mind to follow his goddess home
lnd so find out her private address.
Percival had n cab waiting for hin
at the corner. He noticed another kat
drawn up opposite the stage door. He
strolled up and accosted the driver.
You're lucky man to have such
charming fare" said Percival, care
'essly.
400 said I 'ad a charmin' fare?" re.
torted the man, suspiciously. Then he
added: IF that's your sort, young fel.
Ter, you may save yourself the trouble
Of doin' the civil to me. For she's
thoroughly good young 'ooman. car
tell yer, and won't stand no follower
'oolin' around-not sher'
Pcrcival affected to laugh, and stroll
I'd away. In a few minutes he saw the
girl hurry out and get into her cab
Then he jumped into his own-havins
instructed the driver to follow the 9th
ar vehicle and keep it carefully In sight.
His heart was beating fast. He was in
IN almost uncomfortable excitement
Yet he felt ashamed of himself at the
same time. To persecute virtuous
and modest girl with unweicome atten-
lion was shabby conduct in any one
especially In married man. And Per
ciyal was conscious that he was COM
mitting a contemplate action. Yet.
somehow. he could not help it. His rid
iculous infatuation had bound him hand
md foot.
When they had driven about n mile
his cab stopped. The NJ. p. got out
IIn w tho lady a1iUi, inc
her cab about 100 yards ahead. She
turned and walked rapidly away. With
a beating heart and trembling steps he
followed her. keeping an interval of
seventy or eighty yards between them.
She had not alighted at her own door,
out at the end of a street of private
houses, down which she was now walk
ing. Pcrcival realized with a certain
thrill of uneasiness that II was P
street. the street in which his own
house was situated. But something
worse was in store. The young lady
stopped, appeared to be carefully scru-
the numbers; then, after some
evident hesitation, she walked straight
up to the door of Percivars house ana
rang the bell. A minute later she was
admitted.
All at once the truth flashed upon the
unhappy NJ. z. There could. of course,
be no doubt upon the subject. This
young lady, annoyed and frightened by
his persistent attentions, and seeing
that silent disdain had no effect in
stopping them, had taken the ready and
,ff Of inv 10
wife!
Percival leaned against some iron
near which he stood, and wip-
ed his clammy forehead with his hand
kerchief. His dismay was altogether
beyond words. If he had been on bad
side, had ceased between them-if she
had not been perfectly fond and trust
ing toward him, he could have stood
the thing better. But as it was he felt
like n man who has suddenly received
4 knock-down blow. His knees We're
trembling violently; n sense of sickness,
Of faintness stole over him: in the face
Of this fearful exposure his infatuation
for the danseuse seemed to die; for the
first time he realized what an abjec,
IDIOT he had been.
1t was long time before he could
make up his mind how to act. He pa
trolled the street for more than half an
hour before he had decided, and a bad
half hour he found 1t. Then he took a
sudden resolution. He would go in and
make n clean breast of the whole affair
TO his wife. That. after all, was the
most honest, and probably the most pru-
dent course. She might or she might
not believe him, but he would tell her
all the truth. express his sincere peni
tence and throw himself upon her won
tnly mercy.
He nerved himself to the effort. IIt
went in. He entered the drawing room.
His wife was now alone. She looked up
at him with a cold. altered expression
that made him vince. But he persevcr
ed. he spoke. He told her all. She
averted her face, and heard his con
'ession to the end In ominous silence.
"And SO. Jim, my makeup. my golden
wig. and my wh!rling draperies-to say
nothing of the shifting lights and shad-
ows thrown upon one, oafficd even your
penetration, eh, sir?"
jim was staring at his pretty wife.
who had now risen and stood before
him. smiling archly. In e"ident enjoy
ment of his obvious relief and astonish
ment
"And you fell in love with my make
up. For that is what it comes to
doesn't 1t, Jim?"
"By Jover' he exclaimed with empha
sis, that explains it. 1t was your eyes
that did 1t. little girl. They drew me to
the theater night after night to worship
you. l could not resist their spell.
could not explain it to myself. Yet /
felt there was something half familiar
in their magnetic influence upon me.
To think never guessed. By Jove! /
was a duffer. I ought to have known