The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-26


together paying very little attention to the
music plot.
Between the acts he escorts Aunt Janette
to the crush-room, where she expects to meet
scme friends according to her usual habit,
whilst l am left alone for a brief space with
Sir Anthony Nigel.
81 have confession and an apology to
make to you" he begins, directly the others
have left, (which accounts for my presence
here this evening"
Surely that needs no apology reply, in
surprise, since it is a favorte practice with
Aunt Janette to have her men friends at
tend her whenever she visits the opera. You
know her box is always full of visitors"
Yes Of course" he replies, hesitatlngly;
"but 1 came here tonight to speak with you
not her. Let me explain, rather hurrledly,
if afraid lest may misconstrue his words
to mean more than he intends; ''it is about
these theatricals, and L owe you an explana-
ton
Yes I remark, looking down, and with
heightened color; please go on.
You heard what L said to Lady Curton-
that knew the part, had played it before,
and that it was already allotted to me be-
fore Sir Harry applied for it?
Yes" L answer 81 heard you say that,
and-and I awfully pleased about it"
WELL" he says, slowly, while crimson
flush steals over his face; Il certainly know
the play from seeing it acted once before, but
I have never played in it myself. l am not
familiar with the part as 1 pretended to be;
and last of all, Lady Curton never men
toned the word 'theatricals' in my presence
until tnlS afternoon. II was all HCIlOn,
vented the spur of the moment, to gain
the part for myself, and I cannot rest until
I have made confession to you and obtained
abSolution."
But why should you confess to me? How
can I absolve you?" I ask, in confusion.
"What have I to do with it?"
Everything" he replies, emphatically.
~The fact is, I said before, have seen the
play, 'LovePs Bride acted by a company of
amateurs, and it is rather pretty, but very
sentimental piece indeed. I think. myself,
that the Curtons made mistake in selecting
1t; not that there is anything Objectionable in
ton the contrary, it is perfectly au regle;
only-well" ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a man like Sir
Harry the hero, with you the heroine.
for you, I thought you might find yourself
rather awkwardly placed unless'-very slow
Y--the feeling is mutual when I certainly
have made mess of it,
"How I thank you sufficiently, Sir An
thony?" 1 reply, unsteadily, for quite
realize the effort it must have cost his proud
spirit before he could stoop to utter lie;
you have saved me from unspeakable tor
ture. I did not know the play-I did not
dream for moment that should be cast to
play with him-surely you cannot be in doubt
to my feelings towards him. He is the
only person on the face Of the earth whom I
absolutely hate
All the anxiety and sternness dies out of
his face for moment, and the smile that is
one of his rare charms, fits across his feat
uIeS.
THAT is all right" he observes, gaily; st
have been in an agony ever since the words
passed my lips. | uttered them on the spur
of the moment when I saw the tears in your
eyes, thought I did; and, seeing that no
one else appreciated the situation, or came to
your relief, I threw myself into the breach.
ALPS well that ends well, and Lady Curton
is real brick; a woman with tact like hers
could rule a kingdom
The rest OF the evening slips rapidly away
and, with Sir Anthony beside me, with a
whispered word now and then, tanning me
when 1 am hot, and wrapping my cloak
round me when I am cold 1 am really in
Paradise.
Not that he ever INDUCES in compliments
or utters any remark but the veriest COM
monplace regarding the scenery. the actors,
or the music.
Not that he murmurs one word of love or
sentiment into my ear. which 1 could possibly
construe into affection passion.
No; the whole world might hear all that
passes between u.s. and yet. when I go over it
all afterwards, in the SecluSion of my own
room tell myself that it has been the very
happest day l have ever spent.
If his lips spoke no tender syllables his
eyes did, and the slightest touch of his hand
seemed like caress; whilst the joy l feel in
thinking how he circumvented Sir Harry is
surely not without reason.
1 feel that the events of TODAY have drawn
US together with strong sord-that when
we next meet, we shall have passed all the
ordinary outposts of friendship and be wan
dering into the fairlyland of Love.
Aunt Janette leases me numerically in the
morning about the events of the previous
day
You are turning out dreadful little f1irt I"
she declares. mo matter who the Individual |
may be, 1T is all the same to you so that il
is man. How l. laughed yesterday to be
sure, to see one sweet little wild flower sur
rounded by so many clamorous bees There
was poor BERTHE Dalcourt, as grave and silent
as a Judge--he who, only few weeks back