The Press., 1905-06-21

violin, that apparently tuned hard, the orchestra broke into a rippling over ture and the asbestus curtain rose up on the painted one beneath.
 An usher slammed down the seat beside Elizabeth and laid a programme 1 on 1t: then he handed the seat check to its owner and slid away.
 When you have broken your en- | gagement with a man the night be- ! fore, after a stormy discussion, it is not the happiest surprise in the world to find him seated beside you at the matinee, where you have gone to kill time and forget yourself.
 Elizabeth bowed stif1y. The man responded with equal frigidity.
 She read her programme with ab- sorbing interest. It was continuous vaudeville.
 "I had no idea," said the man at last, "that you would be here or I'-
 My movements need not interfere with yours, MT. Gayden," said Eliza beth icily.
 She grew still more absorbed in her programme.
 A dear old lady, with water waves and gold trimmed glasses, sat down I with d thud in the seat on EliZabeth's left and turned a delighted smile on | the girl.
 Well, declare" she cried, eff it ain't Bessie Mcintyre! Law me-the in of seein'. How are you. dear? And how's your mother? My son brought me up to town yesterday for little visit. He got seats for the show here today, and he's comln' for me soon's his office hours are over. Amt that Nick Gayden beside you? Howdy, Nick? You haven't changed a mite since you left Girton. I'm real glad to see you"
 She stretched a black gloved hand across Elizabeth, and Nick was forced to shake it smilingly. "Well-well-well said the old lady, ito think of my meetin' you all here And we were just talkin' about you both last night. See her blush," she chuckled to Nick, as the quick crimson spread over Elizabeth's face.
 II hear you're to be married. Yes, indeed-we hear things in country, too, and, of course, since you all's families used to live in Girton, everybody's tn- terested in you. Well, well! I wish you all the happiness in the world, my dear-and you'll need it. Marriage is a mighty risky thing. And the weddin' is to be in the spring, hear. That's good. June and brides and roses sorter belong together" She stopped for breath.
 "We are not''- began Elizabeth. She bit her lips and began again. "We have''-
 we have decided nothing definite ly," Nick interrupted easily.
 ''That right" the old lady agreed; ''hold on to your sweetheartin' as long as you can. It's mighty nice playin', and 1t only comes once in lifetime"
 Elizabeth smiled in spite of herself.
 "Some girls are engaged three or four times, Mrs. Barton," she suggested.
 "Oh, jus fy-up-the- creeks" said Mrs. Barton comfortably, mot nice, sincere, honest girls like you that know the right man and stick to him when they find him. I said the minute I heard of your engagement: Now, there's prop CT match. Both of lem young, both of 'em handsome, we'll off, good tempered, sensible and steady. Show me a bet ter, Josiah,' says l."
 "I ought to tell you, Mrs. Barton" said Elizabeth, with a rush. You're mistaken. I'm not''-
 The curtain went up noisily. "Shucks, honey" Mrs. Barton whispered, you're too modest-now don't talk to me. l haven't seen a show in three years."
 Elizabeth turned to Nick with a furi- ous whisper.
 "This can't go on"
 "What are you going to do?" he ask ed stlf1y.
 "Tell her.
 ''I won't''
 "It's perfectly absurd"
 Nick shrugged his shoulders.
 'S-s-s-hr Mrs. Barton cried in 1ocu- lar whisper. You'll have time enough to talk to each other all your lives. Keep quiet now"
 After an unhappy half hour the white curtain of the vitograph rolled down. and Mrs. Barton turned to the girl again.
 "I can't look at those things" she said; hurts my eyes. Now tell me some more about yourselves-makes pe feel right old to think of your two chll- dren goin' to get married. Law mel I remember the time you want no high CT than my knee. You were the worst youngster in the county, Nick, and Bessie want far behind you. And. law, how you used to hate each otherl Many's the time I've seen her pull that tow hair of yours."
 ''It isn't''- began Elizabeth impetu- ously.
 "Oh, yes," Mrs. Barton laughed. "it always was tow. and 1t still is."
 Nick grinned cheerfully.
 "And then you'd take her by her little skinny wrists and hold her off," went on the old lady, "till she was jus like ragin' little cat, clawin' and furrln'."
 She's still that way sometimes" said Mex, smilingly.
 Elizabeth gasped furiously.
 "Nick Gayden" she cried.
 Claw me-" said Mrs. Barton, ''I knew it, honey, without his telln' me! Whats bred in the bcns- But you all always made 1t up then, and you always will. l know that too"
 T hope so," Nick assured her ear nestly.
 Elizabeth looked straight in front of her.
 "You were pointedly made for each other. Where you goin' on your honey moon?"
 "We had thought of California;" said Nick quietly, while the girl beside him winced.
 That's right" Mrs. Barton agreed. "See your own country first and heath