Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-01-23

chaperonage OF boys OF nineteen.
Young Shore looked rather crest-fallen
at the rebuke, but his enthusiasm re-
manned undated.
Then you'll take her, uncle. will you
not?''
Perhaps; if I have time"
Don't you think she will enjoy 1t all
immensely
Doubtless. You enjoy your music
halls and casinos. but they are the last
places in the world I wish to see you
visit
You are rather hard on pleasure,
uncle"
81 am hard on wasted time, at a pc
Rod of life when time is most precious
Yet, il Margaret likes to visit the thea
ters-''
"Oh. I should enjoy it above all
things, Mr.. Ruthven."
He looked at her sparkling, earnest
eyes, and feared he should be able to
deny her nothing.
Then we will go sometimes, so long
as late hours do not interfere with your
health Tell Mrs. Garrett to get you
anything you may require for to-mor-
The Poisoned Flower.
How many people who saw the beau
tiful girl in the dramatist's box on the
succeeding evening, and raised their
glasses to try and discover who she
might be, could have guessed she was
identical with ragged little walf
picked UP from the police court? Ruth
ven, himself, appeared to have forgot
ten it. as he parted the many ques-
tions that assaulted him and took de-
light in mystifying his auditors. Ham
ilton Shore, who had already whispered
sufficient compliments in Margarets
ear to make her feel pleasantly con-
scious and f1attered in his presence,
took up station by her side all the
evening, and for the first part OF 1t she
was too much daza,ed and excited to
do more than look at the house and
audience in restless, fiuttered man
| ner. But when she had leisure to
listen to what was passing on the stage,
| she became conscious of a history being
depicted there that riveted all her at
| tention. THE Poisoned Flower" was
supposed to be taken from the French,
but Ruthven had twisted both charac-
| tiers and situations so as to suit his
own convenience. The principal per-
SOnageS in it were an orphan and her
| benefactor-a mysterious benefactOr,
who loaded her with every good, but
would never allow that he was entitled
] to any thanks in return. At the close
of the play, when the orphan was sur
! rounded by every sort of trouble, her
guardian was discovered to be her ia
OH tn hal, I,o of
! all. This drama appeared to make
great impression upon Margaret. From
the moment she began to attend to the
story, she became preoccupied, silent,
and unlike her former bright self.
Hamilton Shore could not imagine
what had come over her. Half dozen
times did he try to attract her notice,
or rouse her interest, but without sue
cess.
See, Margaret! there are the Prince
and Princess of Wales-just come into
| the box opposite to us. That is the
princess with the big bouquet in front
of her. 1 wonder if uncle knows it;
how pleased he will be-
Margaret just lifted her eyes for i
moment, and then let them dwell upon
the figures of the future king and queen
of England, and then refixed them on
the stage.
Margaret, you are twice as pretty
as the Princess of Wales" whispered
Hamilton Shore. You look as white
. as a pearl in this gas-light. 1 should
like to call you Pearl, if you don't
mind. It's the meaning OF your name,
you know"
Il don't mind it. You may call me
what you like-only don't speak to me
just now, please
: What do you find so absorbing at
this moment? I think this the least
! interesting part of the play. The old
mans speeches are long"
Pray, hushr' replied Margaret; and
Hamilton. with touch of the old sulks,
! retreated to the back of the box, and
left her to herself for the remainder
/ OF the evening. When she returned
| home, and Mrs. Garrett was helping
her to undress, she also observed the
girls unusual thoughtfulnesss
| Has the gas made your head ache.
! Miss Margaret? 1t always do with me.
! and that's the reason I never put my
] foot into a theater from years end to
years end
! No. We always had gas at Pomona