Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1905-10-28

Bracebridge of the Guards, who was
sitting between Noel Verney and Mrs.
ohiltren Hundreds, almost sprang up
right in his seat.
by jove" he said. "Its Signal"
The house did not recognize her all
at once and the boxes apparently not
at all. But even the awful presence
of the duchess and the appalling
consequences which loomed In the
nea future could not restrain the
men. They laughed at every wicked
point in the song and when he was
off the stage they yelled to have him
back again. 1t sounded as If the
whole hall were one confused, imper-
iOus demand, and though they did not
call her by name, it was obvious that
sigma was recognized. l wondered
what she would do, and almost held
my breath when the small ragged
figure returned for a brief moment,
but only just In sight at the wings.
There was a growing terror In Signals
eyes-an expression most alien to
them. Either the passing of the ex-
element, or the realization of her
own daring, or else that clamoring
Audience, was terrifying her. She
bowed hastily and battered off, In
ISkAbC VI IL CIlCO w hCl " OlnS
again. l feared the demand was too
strong, and that they would force her
to come back, and 1 turned to look
round for Verney. But he had dis
appeared, and he was not in the
duchess box, though l looked there
with fear and trembling. Her grace
was still sitting, calm and smiling,
at the front Of the box; there was
something ominOus in her tacit refu-
sal to recognize what everyone knew.
Lady James face was like a mask; l
thought Lady bennington was cry
ing, but l could not see her plainly.
The next turn fell flat, though there
was a gallant effort to applaud and
carry it through. But SO many of
the men had vanished that it looked
as If a wind had swept the stalls
bare. 1t was fatally easy to get be-
hind. They were waiting for Sigma.
l sat out two turns; then l followed
Verney. He had, as l suspected, left
his place before Sigma had made her
bow, and was waiting for her be-
hind. BY the time l got round, the
wings seemed to be full of men, chat
tering In excited voices, and at a
little distance stood Verney, cool and
lanquid, talking to Batsburg. heard
tne nialaSer say SUNNY, at III,
side-door-yes, there Is a way round"
and 1 went then and there In the d.
rection indicated because l wanted
to see the end of the comedy. There
was a. brogham waiting there; |
stood unnOticed on the pavement I'M
till they came out-indeed' 1t was |
who opened the carriage-door. Sigma
had changed her clothes rapidly, and
slipped away from her dresslng-room
while the men were still awaiting her
in the wings. But she vas crying
bitterly. and it so much surprised
me that l felt the whole scene a little
unreal. Verney put her into the
carriage, hesitated, and stood with
one foot on the step.
"Shall l come, too, Signa?' he said.
Her voice came out of the dark
ness, mufied.
II am frightened, Noel"
"At last?' he said, quietly well,
l am not"
81 thought it would be fun to scan
daliZe you."
"Do you mean that I was the cause
this time"
SLOW dare you have two thousand
4 year,, said sigma irreyantly. Mel
Their of them noticed me.
80 you thought you would fling
your Independence of my opinion at
me once for all, and see if l could be
scared away, ehT"
Something like that"
well, you cannot. Nothing could.
| am going to take the onus of the
affair on myself from this time forth
however, and tackle the family"
"Will you stand by me, Noel?" Sig
M must really have had a fright to
say that!
There shall be no occasion. They
shall not dare to refer to it. Union
Is strength-it is you and | together
now"
He Jumped into the carriage, and
| closed the door and told the coach
man "Home,'' because by that time
they were past thinking of anything
but themselves. Lady Jane confessed
afterwards that the engagement was
the greatest relief she had ever
known. She had feared that it would
never come off, because 1t appears
that, owing to her laundering and
excellent intentions, she had caused
a breach between them which sigma
would not give Verney q chance to
heal. Batsburg was an angela fat
angel-in the disguise of a frock coat
and his Benefit vas the medicine that
killed or cured,
The amusing part of II Is that the
Duchess has ignored the whole affair,
and as she has declined to acknowl-
edge what everyone knows-that Sig
ma was the sensation of the great
War-Fund Benefit-she will have to
&c to the wedding, on which occasion
sigma will make her bow and retire
from her war with right and proper
behavior|for the present.