Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-03-17

my seat as recognized among the crowd
Or. Clayton and his wife, the latter APP
pearing to be looking at us through what
l thought resembled the dice-boxes- of a
backgammon board tied together, but
which soon learned was an opera glass.
The doctor was paler and thinner than
when | last saw him, and it was with
more than one pang that | watched him
as. from time 10 time. he cast a glance
of pride at the splendid-looking woman
al his side.
Ere long my attention was diverted
from them to a tall, dark and rather pc
culiar looking gentleman who entered the
box at our right. Sinking into a seat, be
abandoned himself apparently to his own
thoughts, which could not have been very
pleasant. for his forehead, which was
high and white, seemed at times to be
one mass of wrinkles, while his eyes,
large. black and deep-set in his head,
alternately flashed with anger and vex-
alton. | am not much Of a physiogao-
mist, but there was in the face of the
stranger something which at once at
tracted and riveted my attention He
was not handsome, like DR. Clayton, but,
somehow, l felt certain that no girl of
fourteen had ever wept over his tickle
ness. for he looked the soul of honor and
integrity. Gradually, too, as he play
proceeded, the expression which | had
at first observed passed away: his dark
eyes lighted up; and when, at last,
bright smile broke over his face, | pro-
nounced him far better looking than the
doctor, who was fast losing ground in
my good opinion.
The play was the Lady of Lyons"
and though | was familiar with the story,
/ seemed now to hear it for the first
time so fully did | enter into the feel
ings of the heroine, Pauline, whose dis
tress l could not believe was feigned. All
was real to me; and | can now scarcely
repress smile as | recall to mind how
must have looked. standing there with
flushed cheeks. clasped hands, staring
eyes and lips slightly apart. drinking
in every word of the actress. Once Anna
pulled my dress whispering to me, DO
ST; down, Rosa; they are all looking at
you, and Mrs. Clayton is laughing and
pointing you out to her husband"
| didn't care for Dell Thompson. or
the doctor either, and so | said, while at
the same time | glanced toward the
stranger whose eyes were fixed upon me
with an expression / could not fathom.
| He was not making fun of me, was
sure of that; but as il there We're mag
netic influence in his look, which | could
not resist, l dropped into my seat, and
remained motionless until the closing
scene, where. with, a piercing shrek,
Pauline rushed into the arms of her hus-
band. Then there came over me the
same sensation which | had experienced
Years before in the old school house at
| Sunny Bank. Everything grew dark
around me, and with faint cry l fell
across Annals lap. l have a dim re-
membrane of being led from the heated
room, the close atmosphere of which had
probably helped to bring OH my faint
ness. The cool air outside revived me in
a measure, but it was the mesIheric touch
| of two large, Garm hands which fully re-
stored to me my faculties, and, looking
up, | saw bending over me the gentleman
| in whom / had been so much interested.
| Dr. Clayton. too, was there, looking wor-
ried and anxious, but instinctively leav-
ing me to the care of the stranger, who
seemed to know exactly what to do.
You are better now. l think" said
he, gazing down upon me with his deep
black eyes. and adding, with the same Pc
culiar smile had before observed: Act
ing seldom receives so genuine compii-
ment as this"
| At this moment loud stamping and
hallooing came to my ears, and, pulling
Annals shawl, Herbert exclaimed.
Come; let's go in again; they are calling
back the dancing girl, and | wouldn't
miss it for anything. Come, Rosa; you
want to see it all, and We'll stand right
by the door"
1 felt perfectly well, and started to
| follow him. when something in the stran-
gers face arrested me. for it seemed to
say, Il wouldn't 60" But he did not
speak, and bowling to me very politely,
he walked away, while went after Her
bert and Anna, reaching them just in
| time to witness a part of Mademoisel!e
| Lisettes dance, which seemed to me a
good deal like the performance of the
circus girl, only "a little more So" When
ut last it was over, and we were again
leaving the room. DIR. Clayton, as if see-
ing me for the first time, offered me his
hand, and in low tone expressed to me
his pleasure that l was to be in the city
during the winter; adding, as he cast a
| furtiye glance toward his wife, You'll
come and see me often. won't you; for
l am very lonely"
| ITO he continued