Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-03-08
AN OPERATIC PRELUDE.
(By Emma NJ. Wise.)

It was eight o'clock and the drug
store next to the opera house was as ra-
diant with the costumes whose richness
was of the parquet-circle type as was
the foyer OF the great hall near by. 1t
was the usual before the opera crowd,
composed of representatives of class
of people who are well TO do, yet not
such strict adherents to the canons Of
society as to be prohibited from at
tending to a few trifling matters that
had been put off to the last minute.
Ladies under the protection Of their es-
corts braced themselves for the coming
performance with various soft drinks
that were served rapidly by the skill
full attendants; ladies who had tucked
their safety under the shadow Of their
own wing and had discarded masculine
supervision altogether, haggled over
the price Of boxes OF bonbons and scowl-
ed at the clerk who insisted upon re-
ceiving the regulation price for all such
dainties, and ladies whose escorts were
yet to appear leaned YEARLY against
the heavy showcases and impatientiy
watched the avenue entrance through
which they we're every moment expect
ing the other half Of the combine TO
put in an appearance.
The latter class was not without a
plentiful sprinkling Of men. The one
who of all the waiting, pushing, pass
ing crowd was first to arrive was a gen.
10 in 10 nj
up his station at the corner Of the
cigar stand near the door, a position
from which he could get fair view of
every newcomer, and there he stood, a
good-looking, -mustached, fashion
bly-attired monument to patience, till
the minute hand on the clock opposite,
pointed to eight o'clock. Then he shift
ed his position little. At five minutes
past eight he shifted again. At ten
minutes past eight he got desperate,
and leaving the counter which for the
last forty minutes had served for q pc
destal for his WEAKNESS, he cut wide
swath through the then decreasing
crowd, and made his way toward the
far end of the store.
There were but five ladies left in the
public trysting place at that time. One
was middle aged and had two little girls
with her; three of them were accompan-
led by gentlemen; the only one for
whom he could possibly be looking was
the tall blonde in the rear Of the room.
He stopped and studied her furitively
again before addressing her. She was
very pretty. Her hair was that rich
hnatItiftI hu ch -,
the light; her eyes were large, long
dashed and white-lidded, and her com
plexion was touched with that exquis-
lite tint that reaches its rarest perfeC-
ton when brought in contrast with
sombre colors. The lady undoubtedly
realized the possibilities of her face
and the rich black Of her costume was
relieved only by the ermine lining Of
her wrap.
The gentleman hesitated a moment.
She doesn't tally exactly with the
description given" he decided. compar-
ing the pretty picture before him with
a photograph which he evidently car
ried in convenient pocket in his mind.
THE fact is, she is decidedly prettier,
but perhaps desire to avoid all show Of
egotism prompted her to go a little slow
on the enumeration Of her many
charms. A woman as good looking as
she is can afford to speak family in her
own praise. 1t must be She I'll risk
it, anyway"
A relieved look passed over the lady's
face, and she arose as he came nearer.
Pardon me- he said, but ! am
looking for a lady | have never seen.
Have made mistake, or is this Miss
Gilbert?"
A perceptible shade of disappoint-
ment flashed in her blue eyes and she
hesitated an instant. She glanced at
the clock. 1t was SIS. and the opera
had already commenced.
Yes she replied quickly, "and
yol?"
He put his own construction on her
hesitancy, and smiled in his own con-
ceit.
Robert Lang, of course" he return
ed. What fool | was to let you wait
here from 1885, the time when you came
in, until now. But | was fearful of
making a mistake. You are so much
prettier than you gave me any idea of. -
You are very kind" she laughed
"but let's hurry. The music is now
we'll under way"
The drug store door closed heavily
behind them and the clerks settled
down to brief season of comparative
quiet. Half an hour licked itself mon
otonously away and the clock above the
refreshment counter registered S:35
A man who looked enough like the
puzzled hero of the early part of the
evening to be his twin brother hurried
across the avenue with reckless dis
regard of murderous cabs and cable
cars. and rushed into the universal
club room. The only people present
were the attendants and two gentle
men buying cigars. 1t was obvious that
the late arrival was on the lookout fol-
none of these, for he sat down gingerly
on a seat near the door and glared
around with unconcealed disgust. He
waited minutes; then, as no one else
came who appeared TO be more pleas
ing to his fancy, he pulled his collar
tightly around his ears and started out
He had stepped one foot on the side