The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-11-13
II Fl, LEFT"
RICHARD BARKER SHELTON


Crompten stood for a time at the
head of the aisle waiting for an usher.
1t was a few minutes after 8, and the
drums and brasses of the orchestra
were announcing the finale Of the over
ture. People crowded past him and
streamed far down the sloping aisle.
and all about was the clatter of seats
turned down, the swish Of silken skirts
and the subdued hum that precedes the
rise of the curtain. Then half the
lights in the house went out. and the
orchestra began a curtain cue in
creepy minor.
Crompton fished in his pocket for his
check. H q, Left. Orchestra STALL"
he read in the dim light He was bliss
fully ignorant that his check was
week old and from another theater up
town, while the check he should have
presented reposed undisturbed in the
pocket Of his overcoat. He strode down
the aisle. where worried looking ushers
were hustling people into their seats.
21 was the end seat, and he sank into
II, thankful for its proximity to the
aisle
Scarcely had he seated himself when
he felt a hand on his arm, and a voice
beside him said:
Il was afraid you wouldn't get my
note, Jack. 1t was late when sent IL
to the club"
Cronpton turned and found beside
him a refined. elderly lady with kind
ly face. He was about to inform her of
her mistake when she turned to a
young woman on her left.
Constance. DEAR" he heard her say,
Jack has come
The young woman leaned forward,
and Crompton caught sight of a very
charming face. Her great. dark eyes
looked at him for a moment and then
opened wide with surprise; an angry
flush colored her cheeks, and her mouth
curved scornfully. For a moment she
simply stared at him. while his heart
went through some strange gymnastics.
Then an amused twinkle came to her
eyes, and her lips took on q grim smile.
1T h very good OF you, Jack" she
said. with significant emphasis, and
settled back In her seat.
Crompton felt dazed and helpless.
What was the meaning Of this? The
| elderly lady was speaking again.
| I'm so glad you came" she said.
| "You can make me see it all so beau
| tifully. I can't borrow another pair
II 50 L., .f~
| me-"
i She turned to him with a pathetic
smile which gave him sudden enlight-
enment She was blind.
The young woman leaned forward
again. She looked him over deliber-
ately. as IL taking his measure, and
then said:
"Jack. Aunt Agatha wouldn't go to
the theater all the time you were
away. She says my descriptions OF
scenery and situations are either dip
pant or dreary. Oh. there's nothing
like being favorite nephew, Jack
Armstrong"
| Crompton felt a great sense Of re-
lief. This lady beside him was his
Aunt Agatha; he was Jack Armstrong.
The young woman had tactfully made
these points clear to him. He flashed
her a look of gratitude. which she rec
ognized with another grim smile.
The curtain had gone up and the
play commenced.
"Tell me about H." he heard Aunt
Agatha whisper.
Crompton whispered vivid descrip
ton Of the stage setting and the cos
tunes. The woman beside him lis
tened attentively. and as he finished
she sighed contentedly.
"Thank you. dear" she said. II car
PEE IL myself now"
Crompton wiped his brow. The tes
had come, and he had passed II cred
itably. He felt a sense of elation
Whatever this strange situation mean
he would see IL to the end. The alb
surdity Of the whole affair appealed
to him. He would play the game out.
1t was evident that the note had no
reached Armstrong at his club, for
despite Crompton's qualms in that di
rection, the original "favorite nephew
failed to appear.
Crompton found himself enjoyin
the unique adventure wonderfully. Be
tween the acts he chatted with Aun
Agatha. He found good need for
ready wit, for that lady had way o
asking personal questions about him
e self and his trip abroad. which. as h
was totally unacquainted with Nj
( Armstrong. he found quite impossibl
to answer. Therefore he psrried then
A And once. when he found himself in
q conversational tangie. Constance cam
to the rescue and. deftly extricatin
a him, turned the talk to safer subjects
a Why she had not shown him up f'
N an impostor. why she had given hll
the cue to his identity and why 81
). allowed-nay, even helped-him to po:
as Armstrong was quite beyond b
comprehension.
!, At ii he found himself In the ca
!, rage driving uptown with them. Aul
Agatha still chatting with him al
Constance sitting silently opposite. b
:. face giving no hint OF what was ia
ing place in her mind.
The carriage drew up finally befo
comfortable house well uptown. al
II they entered a quiet drawing room.
~ I'm quite tired out" Aunt Agatl
- said. $50 II you'n pardon me. Jack. l
~ leave you to Constance. Dine with
" Wednesday II you can"
~ When Aunt Agatha had left on {
arm ar a maid Crnrnnran rose a