The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-09-06
AN NJ. P.'S INFATUATION.
A DOMESTIC DIFFERENCE.

we'll connected. but having only a
limited income, he was just the man
who should have married money. and
this il exactly what he had not done.
He met his wife in Paris during a holi-
day trip. She WAS a pretty, viva
cinus Irish woman lady-like and at
tractive, but she had no fortune, and
was of no particular family. The NJ
P.'s friends shook their heads over the
match, and all felt convinced that be-
fore long he would find out what a
mistake ne had made.
There could be no doubt that under
the circumstances his marriage was an
imprudent one. With his eight hun
dred pounds a year Percival had
subSisted comfortably enough as
bachelor, but as married VI. L. he
found that his income went simply no
way at all. To cut himself off from 50
ciety and To- live with his wife in ec"nom-
zeal seclusion was, of course. out of the
question. 1t would have made him un-
popular with his constituents, as well
as with certain influential friends in
town. to whose good offices ne looked
for securing some post in the govern
ment when his party came back to
power. And as he had no profession.
i'll upon a parliamentary career. it
would have been madness in him To
prejudice his cha nces of political pre-
frrment
The natural consequence followed.
Percival got into debt He consolcd
himself first of all for outrunning the
constable 10y the consideration that his
party must soon return Ia power. and
then he should be able t. recoup his
present expenditure. But the radicals
remained in" session after session:
the Iooked-for general election came
no nearer, and Percival began To- feel
very lugutEious indeed He already
owed nearly one Thousand pounds
ID crushing liability t. a man with
a small income and no capital; in
deed, he did not attempt t. disguise
from himself that unless something
very unexpected turned up he must
soon Toe hopelessly insolvent. Ills wife
had long been urging immediate and
rigid retrenchmeut, but each time she
mentioned IL Fercival shook his head
The house was in committee on
bill which was being fought tooth and
nail 10y the opposition, and urgent
whips had been issued to the members
Of both parties to he as frequently a.
possible in their places. But there
were many drearv intervals Of debate.
when no big division was imminent.
and during those intervals Percival did
not always remain in the precincts OF
the house.
He might no doubt have spent them
at home or in eScurting his wife To one
or other of the numerous social func-
ti"ns which, for his sake, she 50 re
Hgiously attended. But in his worried
state of mind the dulIness of domes-
tic evening, or the yet dcadlier bore
dom of political conversaZione, was
uninviting. lie preferred To forget his
troubles in more enlivening scenes.
Within a mile of the Palace of West
minister there iS. as all the world
knows, famous thcater of varieties.
1t Is under uneNceptionable manage
ment; il puts forward the strongest
and most enterprisIug programme of
the kind in London. one evening dur
ing particularly drowsy debate fell
low NJ L. had suggested to Percival
that they should run across to the y.
and see the Rainbow danScuse. PEREZ
val had complied. After that night
he went to see her pretty regularly
Just before the dance the stage was
darkened: behind doomed Il back kground
Of murky clouds, gloomy as the sky
before an impending thunderstorm;
then a brilliant blaze of sunlight burst
upon the shadowed scene, and whirl
ing wildly in its dazzling rays APP
peared the famous Rainbow danseuse.
What a sight that was! How dexter
ouSly she managed her mass of gor-
geous draperIes, which tloated all a bout
voIviug wheel At times nothing but
the flashing hues of these robes was
visible; at other times a lovely face,
crowned with golden yellow locks,
stood out among them, radiant, spirit
ual. superb-and then, while this en-
trancing apparition smiled and the
audience capped and shouted, rum
blings of thunder rolled upon the air;
clouds overcast the sunlight; and,
amid their gathering gloom, the Rain
bow goddess faded slowly from the
scene.
If it had ended with his merely adj
miring this ravishing beauty from Il
distance. all might have been well
But such infatuation as Percivars was
not satisfied to cOnfine itself within
those modest limits. y strong desire
came over him to make her personal
acuuaintance. He ought, of course. to
have withstood il. 1t should have been
perfectly obvious to him that, in Civ
ing way to his desire, he was volun-
tarily thrusting himself into the path
of danger.
But he gave way, nevertheless. He
went farther lie actually addressed
one or two letters to the young lady.
To his great chagrIn she sent him no
reply At last, in desperation. he pro
cured an Introduction to the manager
of the y, and besought that gentle
mans aid in his foolish and culpable
project
Just So" said the manager, rather
coldly. We'll, Mr.. Percival, | will
communicate your wish To the young
lady. and will then let you know her
reply. | cannot mold out hopes that il
will be favorable, for number of 9th.
er gentlemen have desired introduc
tion to her. and have all been refused.
You see, she is a simple, modest girl
who is merely using her talent tC sup
port her family. and has no desire foI
a circle of male admirers. However
as | said, | will tell her that you wish
To be introduced"
The following night when he ought
to have been in his place in the house
listening To- the ministerial leader
! statement, he was lowering near tn,
, stage door of the y. He had made nj
! his mind to follow his goddess home
and SO find out her private address
! Percival had a cab waiting for hin
at the corner. He noticed another cal
drawn mp opposite the stage door. H
strolled up and accosted the driver.
| You're lucky man to have such