The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-10-13
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV
One day Mr.. Montgomery invited me
to pay a visit to the Royal Corintlilan
Theater. There had been time when
no proposition could have been SO de-
lightful to me; but since those days l
had SCARED into higher regions Of ideal
ity than the theater could represent. New
ertk,.:ess. I accepted the invitation, and
one evening 1 accompanied him and Jo-
s:ah.
While / was standing in the side
scenes, looking at the play, some stran-
gers came through a private door that
lee from the boxes. They were gentle
men dressed in full evening costume.
Aseer casual glance l again gave my
attention to the stage. Presently l
heard q voice close behind me, whose
tcaes sounded familiar in my ears Turn
ing round, / saw one Of the gentlemen
t<lking to an actress In an instant
recognized Mr.. Rodwell. 1t was shock,
l., which, for an instant, l forgot the
stage and everything about me. l avert
ed my head, and dared not move lest he
should recognize me. But l soon began
TO think how improbable this was that
he would do so in such situation, and
with my altered appearance.
l screwed up my courage, and turned
round to leave the spot, when, just as
was brushing past the object of my
fears, adverse fortune brought Josiah
Cook across my path
Hello. Silas, old fellow, how are you
ENJOYING yourself?" he cried, as he pass
ed ne.
Instinctively I cast a glance upon Mr..
Rodwell. saw him start and look me
fol in the face. A row of gaslights
legning against the side scene glared
fuu upon us both. His gaze dwelt upon
me for an instant, but he gave no sign
,, of recognition, and went on talking as be-
fore. | fondly hoped that he did not re-
| member me.
Quick on the heels Of Josiah followed
Mr. Montgomery. He nodded to me,
and was passing on when. observing Mr..
Bodwell, he stopped suddenly, stared at
him for a moment. then, clapping his
hand upon his shoulder, cried in IA
miliar tone, How do you do, Mr.. Rod
wellY'
Ye was dressed as an old man. wore
| a Wig, and was otherwise disguised. The
| gentleman whom he addressed honored
him with a naughty stare.
| .sIt is some time since we have met
and I suppose you do not remember the
Professor in this dressY"
| Mr.. Rodwell Looked disconc erted at
this recontre.
81 certainly did not remember you,"
he said, coldly.
| I did not hear more of what passed be-
tween them, and should not have heard
this had not my passage been blocked
for a moment by change Of scene.
was only too glad to get away from the
vicinity as soon as could make my es-
cape.
All enjoyment was over for that even
ing. and l would have chosen rather to
have gone home at once; but as had ac-
! COMMANDED Iay fellow dodgers to the the
alter. I thought it would appear strange
| to leave without them. So, having OBJ
tanned permission, / went into the pit to
witness the rest of the performance.
| did not see anything more of Mr.. Rod
well that night, but 1 could not shake
off feeling Off depression, and pre-
sentiment that this meeting BODIED me
| some I'll.
/ waited at the stage door until my
companions were dressed. But instead
Of Immediately vending their way home
ward, they expressed an intention OF adj
journing to public house. and insisted
upon my accompanying them. l had
never been in such place before, and
the noise and smoke quite mazed me.
Mr.. Montgomery called for supper,
and threw down a coin.
4 crio6 Josiah ir, h1out
establishment; "have you been robbing a
banky'
mo; 1 have only been bleeding a
friend was the answer.
l soon began to very heartily wish
that 1 had gone homo by myself. Mr..
Montgomery insisted upon drinking; and
that together with the atmosphere / was
| inhaling, quickly affected my brain.
When We reached Rackstraw's build
! ings they would not permit me to go
to my own lodgings. I must go into
Mrs. Jennings and spend half an hour
with them.
You don't smoke, Silas?" he said to
me. "Oh, you shouldI 1t soothes the
brain, it lulls rernorse. Tobacco is the
modern Lethe; or, at all events, If it does
not obliterate old memories, it renders
y
the same thing. suppose you have no
phantoms to fumigate. You are still
/ wandering in the happy regions Of inno-
cence"-this with sneeE II had stray
ed very far wide of them long before l
was your age At twenty 1 was a gay,
dashing spark. At three-and- Twenty
was forbidden my fathers house, thanks
to q woman--a prayerful woman, too,
that was always reading religious books,
and never happy out Of chapel; a wom-
an with a heart Of flint All my sins
lie at her door; wild youth might have
been succeeded by a reputable manhood.
but for her."
/ While he spoke his face became con-
vulsed with passion. Az the paroxysm
increased, the foam dubbed from hfs
mouth, and he launched forth into the
most frightful imprecations.
II say, old fellow, don't go on In this
awful manner" said Josiah, who, az well
az myself, looked rather alarmed at his
violence. Pom my life, can't stand
any more OF It, and 80 I told you last
time. Come, tell rs Of some adventures
Of your past life that are 30 jolly anus
ing. Sflas. here, has never heard any
Of them You'd like to hear some,
wouldn't you7" he added, winkins hard
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