The Republican., 1898-09-22
When the Lights
Went Out.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

THE original cause of Digby Sulli-
vans quarrel with his wife was
LOttie LIE Marchant, but the effect of
it was a blunder. 1t was Digby's
friend, Desserte, who first took him
behind the scenes at the Frivolity, and
ne 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
10 absorb Digby Sullivan as well as
Desserte, and for a time she really did
succeed in making him somewhat Of
fool. Sullivan, however, only dabbled
-Desserte plunged. Sulliyan'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.
Dgby only tried to explain matters
once, and then he got furious, went
in the face. Three months after he be-
came 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
10 of raoa11ao+ hot ha
had ever 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 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
ment, and chuckled as at a first per-
formance. Sullivan was family bored.
1t occurred to him that Mordaunt was
an ass, and that he had heard twin
productions to the burlesque 12O times.
1t was a full house, but he designated
it as dowdy, and he was just thinking
of going out and leaving Mordaunt to
chuckle, 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
stealthy interest to look at her until
she had settled herself.
81 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 n
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 a 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 a maddening fashion, he was
aggravatingly 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 awave