The Forrest City times., 1903-07-03

Il when ne shared WITH ttIltE HltLhbtiS
of the company and, as he had little
| change to make. he was carefully
overlooking his uniform in which he
was To be acknowledged as a hero.
"Ah, Jere," sang out one of the
| bows. heres a note from the blondy
| blonde in the front row. What a
blow TO my hopes! l thought had
made an impression. Look out, old
man. you're tipping over our beauti-
fiers," as Jere. reaching for the note,
upset the numerous toilet articles.
| lie opened the note and a glad look
came into his eyes as he read,
Dear Jere:-Your mother, Abigail
ann myself are witnessing your first
performance in Salina. Center aisle,
eighth row; will wait for you.
Aunt Martha"
up. S.-There's a ravelin' on your
back. M. X.
The pleasant smile overspread
Jere's face. Then someone put his
| head in the room and called out,
"Jere ketchum, Hero of Shelter
Bay"
Now, | say, Jere.' expostulated
one of his comrades. that's too bad;
all the girls are stuck on you, come
stand back and give us a show" Jere
laughed good-naturedly and took the
other note. \ stentorian voice out
side bawled out, Fifteen minutes,
fifteen minutes!"
The dressing room was seized with
a small panic; boots and hats chased
each other over the floor Yet Jere
calmly read this little message,
Hello, Jere, old boy, I'm in first
row, first bal, near the stereopticon;
look my way. VIII meet you al stage
door. Yours, Hennie"
'P. S.-Ioure a brick
The curtain had just gone up on
the third act when Abigail, who was
thoroughly enjoying her first matt
nee suddenly clutched her mothers
arm and whispered tragically. Look
there" \ great fear seized Mrs
| ketchum.
Over there by those boxes, second
row. Abigail's eyes were dilated
with terror Mrs. ketchum followed
! the direction her daughter had in
| Dictated. Father" she gasped as that
well-known profile came in range.
| Their fears were confirmed by Aunt
Martha as she said under her breath,
We'll, here's a pretty kettle of fish"
Abigail WAS on the point of hys-
terics and her mother full of appre-
| tension.
Martha" she whispered. I'VE must
| get out Of here; he would never for
give me for bringing Abbe to such
a place"
Martha well knew what Mrs.
ketchum feared and assured them
they could leave when the act was
finished and have plenty of time to
get home before he did "Abner
seems to be enjoying the sinful play"
she mentally commented. perhaps
his heart is not quite so hard as he
would have folks think"
Oh, The agony of those remaining
moments! Abigail kept her eyes ever
on her father, who, though a most
| interested spectator. had caused con-
sternatiOn in more than one direc-
| ton.
4 stalwart lad in the first balcony
caught sight of that shining bald
head with its fringe Of gray
THE pater, by the great horn
spoon" he exclaimed aloud much to
the amusement of some school girls
sitting near. The curtain fell amid
round of applause and Henry
Ketchum, Selling his school-books.
dashed up to the doorway and down
stairs into the foyer and was there
confronted by his astonished mother
and Abigail who were on the point
of leaving. The little party were
speechless for moment. Then
Henry with a sheepish look in his
handsome bovish face remarked II
was Just going home" Abigail with
lust a touch of humor. replied. YES.
so are we"
Instinctively they each knew what
brought the other there and the
cause of their bastv denarture Hen.