The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
When the Lights
Went Out.
Bv DOLE WYLLARDE.

THE original cause of Digby Sulli-
vans quarrel with his wife was
Lottie LIE Marchant, but the effect of
it was blunder. 1t was Digby's
friend, Desserte, who first took him
behind the scenes at the Frivollty, and
he was the real mover in the affair
which ended in Lottie's husband get
ting a degree nisi. But Lottie had
large capacities. She was quite ready
to absorb Digby Sullivan as well as
Desserte, and for time she really did
succeed in making him somewhat OF a
fool. Sullivan. however, only dabbled
-Desserte plunged. Sullivan's wife
did not know this until afterwards. AT
the time, when the florist and the jew
eller sent in bills, which she opened in
all innocence, and when there were
names mentioned in court, SyBil natu-
rally jumped to conclusions, and went
and stayed with her sister-in-law for
an indefinite visit. Fortunately the
latter was an astute woman.
Digby only tried to explain matters
once, and then he got furious, went
into chambers, and looked the scandal
in the face. Three months after he be-
came a grass widower he saw that on
the whole Lottie had done him good
turn.
Six months later his cook left, and he
took to dining at the club. After that
all the buttons came off his shirts at
once, or so it seemed to him. Then he
swora, He could not recollect that he
had eyer seen Sybil sewing at his shirts,
but she had certainly had mysterious
influence over the buttons.
Nine months later he chanced to go
to the Frivolity. Lottie was not play
ing there then, but a particularly at
tractive burlesque had occurred and
he foregathered with Mordaunt, of the
guards, and went to see it. Mordaunt
had already seen the piece five times,
but he bounded in his stall with excite
mept, and chuckled as at first per-
formanee. Sullivan was family bored.
1t occurred to him that Mordaunt was
an ass, and that he had heard twin
productions to the burlesque 120 times.
1t was full house, but he designated
it as dowdy, and he was just thinking
of going out and leaving Mordaunt to
chqckle. when an attendant pre-
ceded two ladies into their row of
stalls, and let down the empty seats
beside him. He had distinct impress
sion that both women were perfectly
dressed, and that the one next to him
was beautiful, but he waited with
cf % int 10 lob OF hQr
she had settled herself.
Il am afraid we have missed most of
the first act" she said, quietly, to her
companion, as She threw back her
cloak.
Digby sat clinging to his opera
glasses, and staring at the stage in a
way which it struck him suddenly
must look idiotic. But he had recog-
nized the voice-it was his wife's
After a second he stole look at her
She was leaning back comfortably, her
lips parted in obvious amusement, and
her eyes on the stage. Apparently
she was enjoying herself very much
and quite unconscious that the stall
next her was occupied; in fact, her self
possession was appalling.
AS the time went on, Digby began
to feel in dream; Sybil was positively
so close to him that if he moved he
touched her, the vague scent of violets
which always haunted her was waited
to him in maddening fashion, he was
aggrayatingly conscious of the rise
and fall of her breast with every un-
| troubled breath she drew, and of the
contrast of her white neck against
her black gown; and yet she was as un-
moved as if she really was not aware
that he was there. 1t was impossible
that she had not seen him. He turned
deliberately and looked at her. She
was speaking to her sister-in-law of
mutual acquaintance, name he rec
ognized. Suddenly she broke OIL
flushed, and smiled.
"Oh, here is Capt. HawtreyP" she
said.
| A man had entered the row of stalls
behind, and had taken his place so tina
Sybil was Immediately in front of him
He leaned forward and shook hands
and they began to talk. This was il
the interval between the acts. Dlgoy