The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-08-21
SHE PAID
THE DEBT.

Percival's friends was that he NIGH
hive done good deal better for him
self than he did in his matrimonial
Snture.
With decided abilities. young, good
looking, well connected, but having
Only Il limited income, he was Just the
man who should have married money
J and this is exactly what he had moi
! done.
He met his wife In Paris during q
! holiday trip. She was a pretty, viva.
cious Irish woman, ladyiike and ut
tractive. but she had no fortune. and
was Of no particular family
There could ht no doubt that under
the circumstances his marriage was IN
| imprrdent one. The natural conse-
quence followed. Percival got into
! debt.
(, He already owed nearly $1,000 a
crushing liability to a man, with n
small income and no capital. Indeed he
did not attempt to disguise from him.
self that unless something very unex.
pectcd turned up he must soon be hope
lessly insolvent.
One evening to divert his mind he
went to the Y. thcater to see the ia
nous rainbow danseuse. If It had ended
with his merely admiring this ravish-
ing beauty from distance, all might
have been well. But such infatuation
as Percival's was not satisfied to con.
fine itself within those modest limits.
He actually addressed one or two let
tiers to the young lady. To his great
| chagrin she sent him no reply. At last
in desperation he procured an introduce
ton to the manager of the X. and be-
sought that gentleman's aid In his
foolish and culpable project.
well, Mr.. Percival, ! will communi-
cate your wishes to the young lady and
will then let you know her reply"
The following night, when he ought
to have been in his place in the house.
listening to the ministerial leaders,
statements, he was lowering near the
stage door Of the X
Percival had cab waiting for him at
the corner. He noticed another cab
drawn up opposite the stage door.
In a few minutes he saw the girl hur-
~ out and get into her cab Then he
Jumped into his own having instructed
the driver to follow the other vehicle
and keep 1t carefully In sight.
When they had driven about mile
his cab stopped. Percivnl got out. He
saw the young lady alighting from her
cab about a hundred yards away. With
a beating heart and trembling steps he
followed her.
Percival realized with a certain thrill
of uneasiness that 1t was P street,
the street in which bis own house was
situated. ~.--~ j.
But something worse was in store.
The young lady stopped and appeared
to be carefully scrutinizing the num-
bers Then, after some evident hesita-
ton. she walked straight up to the door
of Perclvals house and rang the bell.
"A minute later she was admitted.
All at once the truth flashed upon the
unhappy NJ. P. There could of course
be no doubt upon the subject. This
young lady, annoyed and frightened by
his persistent attentions and seeing
that silent disdain had no effect in
stopping them, had taken the ready
and effective method Of reporting him
to his wife.
He entered the drawing room. His
wife was now alone. She looked up at
him with cold. altered expression
that made him vince But he persever-
ed. He told her all She averted her
face and heard bis confession to the
end in ominous silence. s.
"And So Jim, my make up, my gold.
en- wig and my whlrling draperies-to
say nothing Of the shifting lights and
shadows thrown upon me-battied even
your penetration. Eh. sirT'
Jim was staring at his pretty wife,
who had now risen and stood before
him smiling archly, In evident enjoy
ment of his obvious relief and aston
ishment
"And you fell in love with my make
up-for that is what 1t comes to, doesn't
1t, JlmY'
by Jove" he exclaimed with EN-.
phasis. THAT explains 1t. 1t was your
eyes that did 1t, little girl. They drew
me to the theater night after night to
worship you. I could not resist the
spell. could not explain it to myself.
To think never guessed! By Jove,
was a duffer. ought to have known
that no such other eyes were to be
found.
But, I say" asked Jim, an idea
striking him, these social functions
which you have been attending so as
siduously for the past few months
have they been simple blinds to dupe
your unsuspicious husband-oh, Jen-
nie?"
mot at all, sir. l went to them all.
But as my turn at the theater lasted
only ten minutes or 80 was able to go
there as well. Besides" she added
with the slightest tinge Of playful re-
proach In her tone, "you have not been
at home enough lately to miss me very
much, have you, Jim"
by Jove," be cried. II will turn over
a new leaf In that respect tonightv'
"There, dear old JlmW she exclaimed.
"Mr. Y. has paid me-what do you
think7-$250 week. That is check
for ten weeks salary. At this rate
your rainbow goddess will soon dance
you clear out Of debt, won't she. JtmW