Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-18

Yuini
We were at dinner when Herbert came
In from bis morning rambls, and taking
his accustomed seat at the table, he said
10 his mother, IL called on Ada as you
desired, and found her sitting up in
rose-colorsd dressing gown, which she
thinks very becoming TO her, ! know, for
she sat directly opposite the mirror, and
i should not dare tell how many times
q, caught her casting admiring glanees at
I herself"
Aunt Charlotte frowned, while Her
bert, turning to me, continued, Miss
hontrose Ii so much better that | don't
bslieve l can patroniEs your doctor in
that quarter, but I'll do something for
him-break my leg, may be, or have the
delirium tremens."
This species of TESTING seemed to bs
a kind Of mania with Herbert, for al
most every day Of his life he referred to
his former habit Of drinking, greatly to
the annoyance OF his mother, who, on the
occasion just mentioned, turned slightly
pale. while Anna looked down upon the
carpet and sighed Thinking this as
favorable an opportunity for making in
ouiries concerning Ada Montross as /
should have. l asked Herbert who she
waA. His mothers lips moved as II she
would answer the question. but ere she
could speak, Herbert replied, She's a
Georgia lady, 4 great coquette, who IL
spending the winter here with a fortieth
cousin. Some call her handsome and
believe her mother thinks her beautiful;
bat II Anna paid as much attention to
her toilet and dressed as elegantly Ms
Ada Aontrose, she would, in my opin-
lon, look far better"
Twas the first ompiment he had paid
Anna since our arrival, and it brought
bright flush to her usually marble cheek;
for Herbert Langley possessed a strange
power over my sister. / fancied that my
aunt was not quito pleased with Her
bsrts comparing Miss Montrose to Anna,
but ere she could frame any answer he
asked US IL we would like to attend the
theater that evening. Notwithstanding
my fathers hostility to circuses | did
not remember having heard him say
much against theaters, and 80 l answer
ed, quickly, "Oh, yes, Anna, let's go.
l want to see what they do"
And so, with my Aunt's permission, it
| was settled that We should 70, and at the
usual hour found myself in the thea
ter. which was densely crowded, for a
celebrated actress appeared that night
for the last time In Boston. Perfectly
bewihered, l followed Herbert and
Anna to my uncle's box, which command
ed hne view Of the stage, and then,
when l became a little accustomed to
the glare Of lights and the hum Of voices,
which in some degree reminded me of
that never to-bef forgotten circus of CouS-
in Wits memory, / ventured to look
over the sea of faces, half starting from
my seat as | recognized among the crowd
DR.. Clayton and his wife, the latter APP
pesring to be looking at US through what
l thought resembled the dice-boKos of a
backgammon board tied together, but
which l soon learned was an opera glass.
Tho doctor was paler and thinner than
when l last saw him, and it was with
more than one pang that l watched him
as, from time to time, he cast a glance
Of pride at the splendid looking woman
at his side.
Ere long my attention was diverted
from them to q tall, dark and rather pc
cuhar looking gentleman who entered the
box at our right. Sinking into q seat, be
abandoned himself apparently to his own
thoughts, which could not have been very
|
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 vsx-
alton. / am not much of a physioyao-
mist, but there was in the face Of the
stranger something which at once at
traetsd and riveted my attention. He
was not handsome. like DR.. Clayton, but.
| P.It tu 81 -
fourteen had ever wspt over his tickle
mass, for he looked the soul of honor and
integrity. Gradually, too. aS the play
proceeded, the expression which l had
at Arst observed paassd away; his dark
bright smile broke ever his faos, ! pro
doctor, who was fsst lssinS ground N
my good opiaisa-
The play was the LADY Of Lyssa,
and thouxh l was familiar with the stsry
l seemed new to hear for the Ars,
time 80 fslly did I enter into the feel
ings Of the heroine, Pauline. whose dis
tre.s could not believe was feisnsd. Al
was real to ne: and l can now scarcely
repress q smile a. recall to mind how
must have looked. standing there Will
flushed checks, elssped hands, stsrin,
eyes and lips slightly apart, drinking
in every word Of the aetress. Once Ann,
, pulled my dress, whispering to ME. ID
/ sit down, Rosa; they are all looking .
4; you, and Mrs. Clayton Is laughing AM
, pointing you out to her husband"
l didn't care for Dell Thompson. o
the doctor either. and so said, while a
the same time l glanced toward tn
stranger whose eyes were fixed upon N
r with an expression could not fathom.
n He was not making fun of me, l wa
: sure Of that; but as II there were mag
i petic influence in his look. which | coul
d not resist, l dropped into my seat, an
a remained motionless until the closin
e scene, where, with piercing shriel
l Pauline rushed into the arms of her hui
7, band Then there came over me tn
= came sensation which had experience
years before in the old school house 1
It Sunny Bank. Everything grew dar
a around me, and with faint cry | fe
across Annals lap. | have a dim r.
| IL -. L