Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-09

There was-a busting crowd of young
people at the gate, and Ellsworth, with
his ticket In his hand, stepped aside to
wait till the way should be clearer.
Immediately he became aware of a tall
girl in a long, dark blue coat of a very
rich fabric. The garment was lined
e~nfougnodt with ermine. as Ellsworth
presently perceived, and the gown be-
meath dt was a wonder, both for value
end beauty.
The girl was more than pretty, with
golden hair and bright blue eyes, and
her aspect was modest as the violet's,
but she was certainly overdressed, con
sidering that she was attending an or
binary Theatrical performance. 1t was
a relief, however, to observe that she
displayed no jewels.
1t may have required ten seconds for
Ellsworth to take note of so much as
has been described. Then his attention
was diverted to the young lady's escort,
who seemed to have been separated
from her for a moment by the press and
now came hastily forward. He was a
gentleman upward of so years old, slen-
derby made and with an air of feeble
protest against things in general. This
neNoof af camilla diccoficpo cfiNn duyo11
ing in the plaintive wrinkles of his
fine old face and in the weak droop Of
his gray mustache, was his most nota-
BILE characteristic, if one might judge
upon the first glance.
HE was in evening dress and wore a
somewhat unique outer garment in the
form of an opera cloak lined with Per-
sian lamb of an exceptionally rich quail
lty. Even the conventional evening
clothes beneath the cloak revealed in
deanably an excessive f~astidiousness.
u wonder who these people can be-"
said Ellsworth to himself as he follow
ed them into the theatre.
They were not within his view during
the performance except when he closed
his eyes. AT such times he could see
the girls cafe quite plainly; indeed,
with a trifing effort he could summon
up the two figures just as they had ap-
peared in the bright light OF the foyer.
Ellsworth was a young man of good
social position and wide acquaintance,
and he had a knack of remembering
names and faces. He said to himself
that he ought to have seen those people
somewhere, unless they were strangers
in the city, and they had not the air Of
strangers. Altogether his curiosity was
considerably excited.
When the play was done, he went to
the side entrance, where he paused I'M
der the portico. Greatly to his sur
prise, he found that a heavy rain was
falling, though the early evening had
been beautifully clear. There were not
half a dozen umbrellas among the aud
fence, and the advance guard stood
shivering at the doors like bathers on
the edge of a chilly stream.
Ellsworth beckoned to a cabman, and
just at that moment the old gentleman
in the opera cloak came timidly for
ward. Evidently he had not seen Ellis
worth's gesture, for he met the drip
ping cabby at the edge Of the portico
and straightway began to negotiate
with him. THE first few words were
not audible to Ellsworth, but he pres
entity heard the cabby say, Two dol
lars in a tone Of firm decision.
The old gentleman was fumbling in
his pockets, addressing the jehu mean
while with soft persuasion, but the an
swer was still, 1.-TWO dollars" At this
juncture the young lady, who had been
standing just behind Ellsworth, stepped
forward and said: TT doesn't matter at
all. We can take a car just as we'll"
Ellsworth viewed this scene with
amazement. There was not the slight
est suggestion Of the shabby genteel"
about these people. Their apparel was
not only elegant and costly, but it was
obviously new. Ellsworth would have
taken his oath that every visible thing
they wore was of the current seasons
making, and $4,000 would not have paid
the bill. The miraculous little hat on
the young lady's head must have cost
a hundred and fifty, and it wouldn't be
worth 8 cents if she should walk to
the street car with it through such a
rain. Yet these two had not a couple
of dollars between them, and, not only
that, but they hadn't it at home, or
they would certainly take the cab. for
of course, the driver would not expect
his pay till he had earned it.
u beg you to pardon m for observ-
ing that you are in a difficulty" said
Ellsworth, advancing, hat in hand. 1T
would crafty me very much, sir, if you
would permit me to be of service. Such
things are very annoying and may hap
pen to any one, of course. "A tri1ing
sum-er-er-at u convenience.
WV p