Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-13
CHAPTER 1.
THE LADY IN THE STAGE BOX.

THE LADY IN THE STAGE BOX.
"Hullo, old chap! Who would ever
thought of seeing you here tonight?
What's brought you back to civiliza-
tion again?"
l turned suddenly, surprised by the
sound Of familiar voice in my ear.
1t was the night of Christmas Eve,
and | was just entering the lobby OF
the st. James's the first time, as it
happened, had seen the inside of a
theatre for two two.
For the fraction of moment could
not remember where l had known the
man who addressed me SO jovially.
My way of knocking about the world
brought me into contact with so many
people that it was difficult to sort my
gallery of faces, and keep each one
mentally ticketed. But after second
or two of staring through that con-
venient medium, my monocle, l was
able to place the man who had accost-
ed me. He was rich mining king
from Colorado, by the name of Harvey
Farnham, whom l had met in Denver,
when l had been dawdling through
America three or four years ago.
pronounced his name with certain
satisfaction in having so readily
recalled it. and we shook each other
by the hand.
whats brought me back to civili-
zation?" l echoed lazily. Il really
don't know-unless it was because I'd
got tired of the other thing. Adven-
ure-change-that's what ] am III
search of, my dear Farnham."
''And you come back here from SER
vice as war correspondent in Egypt
(where I last read of you in the papers
as having been carried down a catar-
act for twenty-siX miles before a
launch ran out and saved YOU in the
hope of finding adventure in this
workaday close of the nineteenth CEN
teury? That's too good
| laughed and shrugged my should
ers. Yes; why not? Why should
there not be as great a possibility OF
obtaining new sensations, or at least
old ones in different form, in London
as anywhere else?"
1t did not occur to me, as l idly
spoke the words, that l was uttering
prophecy.
How is it, l went on rather cur
iously, that you remembered me, hon
curing my draft on sight, so to speak!
1t must be four years since that very
jolly supper you gave me in Denver
one night, and l fancy l have changed
considerably since then"
Farnham smiled in his comical
American way, which was humorous
sentence in itself.
well, | guess it's not so easy to for
get face like yours. You are little
browner your eyes rather keener per-
haps, your head held bit higher, your
shoulders broader and drawn back
more like a soldiers than ever; but,
so far as l can see, those are the only
changes. You might easily have for
gotten me, and I'm immensely Halter
ed that you haven't. But the fact Is,
my dear boy, you are simply the most
interesting man | ever came across, in
my own country or any other. you've
always seemed like sort OF hero of
tale of adventure to me; and, you see,
one don't let a chap like that drop out
of ones recollection. I've always Gag
erly followed your doings, so far as
one could follow them in the newspap-
ers, and read your African book with
the greatest interest; but somehow l
never got to hear much personal COS
sip about you. Say, are you married
or anything?"
MANY things, but not married. l
returned. Il haven't had time to
think of women. Besides, if l had,
who would take me? No money, no
prospects, man who can't be happy
sor & fortnight in one place! What
life I should lead woman
"A.h, that's one side of the picture,
OF course; but here's the other, as the
world sees it. You're sort of popu-
lar hero-African traveller. war cor
respondent writer of books, Polar ex-
plorer. and | don't know what besides,
though you can't yet be anywhere near
thirty-fve. You've got the figure of
soldier, and just the sort of dark, I'M
readable face that women rave about.
What does money matter with chap
like that? Nothing. l wonder you've
managed to escape the matchmaking
mammas so long They're quite as
keen on a celebrity, in my country at
least, as they are on a millionaire"
Nevertheless they have not given
me much trouble" l said, smiling lit
tie, however, at the remembrance OF
one or two amusing episodes which I
had not the slightest intention of re-
lating. There, the way to the box
office is alear at last. Once that fat
old man is out of the way, it will be
my turn. Sn2ll L get your SlalI LOT
YOU. ans so save time?"
yes, by all means, thank you. Are
YOU alone, Stanton?'
"Quite alone. I'd almost forgotten
what the theatre was like, and deter
mined to come and refresh my men,
Cr=.''
".'p, by myself, too. Say, old man,
would it be liberty if I asked You to
try and get stalls for us together"
'Delighted, I'm sure" | answered,
though, as matter of fact, was not
quite certain whether | was telling the
truth or not. Farnham had been we'll
enough in Denver, but | did not know
whether 1 should care to pass in his
society a whole evening. which | had
meant to be one of solitary enjoyment.
However, he had left me nothing else
to say, and l RESPONDED with what
alacrity I could. little dreaming that
my whole fulure was hanging on my
words. and the result of my confab
with the man in the box-olfice.
The play was popular one, and per-
haps on no II. hit of the year. save
Christmas Eve or some Lenten feast,
could we have obtained two stalls
side by side, few minutes before the
ringing-up of the curtain. AS it was
we were successful, and l walked into