Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-12-29
A TRAGIC COMEDY.

! sSv0IO Wv W.
Lyndon Sketch: rNcy paired al .
place Where the attendant was tearing
of halves of tickets, and the las, words
audible We're: Darling. you will ar
II 1t If you cam" and Yes. dear.
certainly. ii it is possible: but l rely
ON you"
One of the speakers was soon shown
to Il seat in the stalls. and after gravely
setting down. began to look about her.
occasionally getting un nn1 trying TO
see what was happening TO the other
spester. Shortly afterwards she turned
tuddcnly. A man was getting ready to
sit down IN the stall beside her. While
apparently admiring the act-1top. she
carefully studied the newcomer with
the corner of her eye. He was young
ish, had we'll cut clothes, Il white neck
lie II bit out of date in shape, and was
rather good looiglng-a great deal bet
ter looking than the man she had just
left. a bald fellow n middle height
nad middle age. The new conner hast
iiy took off his overcout and accident
ally dragged HIS dress coat half off in
his clumsy proceedings. She put out
her hand as though intending to help.
''' - Ci stt
movement.
A minute later her handk erchief fell.
and tine thought flashed through his
mind thar a lady's desire had quite as
much TO do with its fail as the force
OF gravity. and so, while %stooping to
pick it ny. he studied her intcntly. wild
thoughts surging in his mind. This
seemed rather like the beginning of an
adventure. something really to brag
about to those fellows in the Middles-
borough club who were never properly
overpowered by his tales of metro
po!ltan c~onaucsts. He felt that he
could describe her as a woman hand
somcly dressed. obviously quite Il lady.
not. perhaps. classically beautiful, but
well built. with an intelligent face. and
dark hair cleverlN dressed. Perhaps
her friends and her mirror would have
been less anliable.
The y%ouhsish man gave back the
handkerchief. She said, Thank YOU"
~deinurely. and lie sat for q minute. or
two wondering how to begin the con-
versation. Any remark about the heat
seemed too commonplace. She also
appeared a little embarrassed. but 1t
was clear to him that something was
going to happen. Calculations rushed
through his mind concerning the price
of supper at the Carlton, supper for
two on Il swagger scale-had he enough
money in his pocket? he wondered. The
people begam 20 troop In. There was
plenty of time before the curtain rose.
for he and she had arrived ut the adj
vertised hour. and the event was the
production of n French play. which. as
every body knows. is always half an
hour late. At last she broke the silence.
and. leaning toward him, said timidly:
Excuse me. but are you alone this
EVENING""
He jumped. What n prodigous af-
fair! What Il thrilling adventure! And
clearly she was Il woman of the world,
OF the whole world! He could hardly
keep his voice steady White he am
swercd. YES. I'm quite alone tonight.
quite lonely"
She gave Il little snis at a quantity
Tut. old French cyrstai smelling bottle,
prcttily mounted with rubics, and then
murlnured. Would you mind--that Is,
would you be so kind?-I mean.
should be very much obliged to you ii
you would do me n service"
He grew hot and cold: even fol. a
moment the dreadful thought came
through his mind that perhaps. afte.
all, 1t was not to be Il real adventure,
for she might be a real adventures:
but another glance convinced him that
the thought was unjust. White he was
still fumbling IN his mind for some
reply, gallant. but not fatuous. anna biz
and not too gushing, an interruption
came from the passage of two people
Wfo We're seeking their stalls n fight
ing stoutly from seat to seat. ruthless
concerning dresses and regardless OF
toes. At last they had gen by. one
OF tnem leaving an Intoxicating. abom-
inible steam OF scent behind her. The
young man looked up eagerly. With
Il desperate effort to combine a tone
OF enthusiasm. almost rapture. with a
man-of-the-world and quite-ac-
is-sort-of-thing air,
ha 1hnttAd p1n ~ ara,, 1900.
me In anything" II waited, breath
less.
a look that bewildered him came
over her expressive face, a CLEAN OF
something like malice seemed TO flash
IN her y momentarily. Il subdued
twist OF the lip suggested e suppressed
smile.
Would you min changing seats-''
she murnured. a little timidiv.
"Oh, certainly he replied, getting
up. rather puzzled.
On, not with me- she said rather
s,.Miy. n then went on with a rush:
ITS with my husband. They've mn,
our seats separately. and 1 do 40 like
sitting next to him. and his is n much
better seat than yours. It's RS. over
there on that side"
she rose. turning her back on him.
n and beamed to the man
on the o. p. side and the, sot low,
and. turning around. continued. ..Reai
~, I'm very much Obliged to vn,, To-
very kind of YOU" "'
"Oh. not at all.' he replied. and of,e
a pause. added emphatically. I'm a state
OF transportation. It's quite n pleas
Such a look Of mild. innocent a.
Guetttsh reproach came Into her eve.
tina he felt desperately humlliated. and
CROPPED for his hat under the sea, ana
snatched up his ccat and started viii
out q word. but distinctly noticed a
rims OF mischief In her voice as sbs
called out. Thanks ever SO mnch a ams
you'li give my husband the youcher
and there he is Just I the end Of the
row.. Good night" '"e
II thoughts could be fatal, the hs,a
man OF middle age and middle heisht
MN wnom the dispossessed stranger
lived to reach his wife and hear h"r
whom he arrived. gay eleefuIIy. snia...