The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-02

Bracebridge of the Guards, who was
sitting between Noel Verney and Mrs.
Chiltren Hundreds, almost sprang up
right in his seat.
BY jOver' he said. ''Its Signa!'
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 doomed in the
near 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. wondered
what she would do, and almost held
my breath when the small ragged
figure returned for brief moment,
but only Just in sight at the wings.
There was q growing terror In Signals
| eyes-an expression most alien to
| them. Either the passing Of the ex-
| citement, or the realization Of her
own daring. or else that clamoring
audience, was terrifying her. She
bowed hastily and battered of, In
spite of the cries to her to sing
again. l feared the demand was too
strong, and that they would force her
to come back, and l turned to look
round for Verney. But he had dis
lappeared, 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 mask;
thought Lady bennington was cry
ing, but I could not see her plainly
The next turn fell flat, though there
was a gallant effort to applaud ant
carry 1t through. But so many o.
the men had vanished that it looked
as IL a wind had swept the stalls
bare. 1t was fatally easy to get be-
hind. They were waiting for sigma
sat out two turns; then l followed
Verney. lie had, as l suspected, lief
his place before Sigma had made he
bow, and was. waiting for her be
, hind. BY the time got round, tn
wings seemed to be full of men, chat
tering In excited voices, and at
! little distance stood Nerney, cool ant
lanquid, talking to Batsburg. | hear'
the manager say, sulkily, "At tn
side-door-yes, there is way round,
and l went then and there In the oil
rection indicated because l wante'
to see the end of the comedy. Their
was brogham waiting there;
stood unnoticed on the pavement I'm
It'll they came 0ut-indeed' it was
who opened the carriage-do0r Signs
had changed her clothes rapidly, ant
slipped away from her dressing-roon
while the men were still awaiting he
in the wings. But she was crying
bitterly, and II so much surprised
me that l felt the whole scene a littl
unreal. Verney put her into tn
carriage, hesitated, and stood wit
one foot on the step.
"Shall l come, too, Signa?" he said
Her voice came out of the dark
ness, muffled.
81 am frightened, Noel"
AT last?' he said, quietly. swell
l am not"
~ thought it would be fun to sean
dalize you"
"Do you mean that was the caus
this timer
"How dare you have two thousan
4 year,. said sigma irrevantly. Ne
Their of them noticed me.
$50 you thought you would film
your independence of my opinion a
me once for all. and see if l could b
scared away, ehT
Something like that"
"Well, you cannot. Nothing coult
l am going to take the onus of til
affair ON myself from this time fort
however, and tackle the family"
evil you stand by me, Noel?" Sis
M must really have had fright
say that!
There shall be no occasion. The
shall not dare to refer to 1t. Unto
is strength-it is you and l togethe
now"
In irmped into the carriage, an
man Home" because by that tim
they were past thinking of anythin
but themselves. Lady Jane confesse
afterwards that the engagement wa
the greatest relief she had eve
known. She had feared that it woul
% never come off, because it appear
n that, owing to her laundering an
\ excellent intentions. she had cause
i breach between them which Sign
. would not give Verney chance
e heal. Batsburg was an angela f;
g angel-in the disguise of q frock COT
20 and his Benefit was the medicine tn,
- killed or cured.
'e The amusing part Of 1t Is that I'll
e Duchess has ignored the whole affai
e and as she has declined to acknow
a edge what everyone knows-that ST
n ma was the sensation of the gre;
k War-Fund Benefit-she will have {
% go to the wedding, on which occasio
e Sigma will make her bow and retil
e from her war with right and prop,
t behavior-for the present.