The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-10-25


\ Bracebridge OF the Guards, who was
i Chiltren Hundreds, almost sprang up
right in his seat.
Il by joyeI' he said. cts Sigma r.
i 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
4 call her by name, it was obvious that
/ Sigma was recognized. I 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 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
1 opElc VI lu0 CRIES W ucI " S1uS
again. 1 feared the demand was too
strong, and that they would force her
| to come back, and / turned to look
| round for Verney. But he had dis
appeared, and he was not in the
duchess box, though I 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;
thought Lady bennington was cry
ing, but could not see her plainly.
The next turn fell flat, though there
was gallant effort to applaud and
carry it through. But so many of
the men had vanished that it looked
as If wind had swept the stalls
bare. 1t was fatally easy to get be-
hind. They were waiting for Sigma.
| sat out two turns; then 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 1 got round, the
wings seemed to full of men, chat
tering in Iexcited voices, and at a
little distance stood Verney, cool and
lanquid, talking to Batsburg. 1 heard
the manager say, sulkily, cat the
side-door-yes, there is a way round"
and went then and there in the di-
rection indicated because l wanted
to see the end of the comedy. There
was a brogham waiting there; 1
stood unnoticed on the pavement un-
till they came Out-indeed' it was I
who opened the carriage-door. Sigma
had changed her clothes rapidly, and |
slipped away from her dressing room |
while the men were still awaiting her
in the wings. But she was crying |
me that / felt the whole scene a little |
unreal Verney put her into the
carriage, hesitated, and stood with
one foot on the .step.
shall | come, too, Signa?' he said.
Her voice came out of the dark
ness, muffied.
II am frightened Noelv'
"At last?'' he said, quietly. swell,
am not.''
II thought it would be fun to scan
1alize your
.Do you mean that was the cause
his time?'
GLOW dare you have two thousand
! year?', said Sigma irrevantly. Nei-
her of them noticed me.
$50 you thought you would fling
our independence of my opinion at
ne once for all, and see if could he
scared away, eh?'
Something like that"
, "Well, you cannot Nothing could.
am going to take the onus of the
Halr ON myself from this time forth !
However, and tackle the family
"Will you stand by me, Noel?" Sig
La must really have had a fright to
ay that! {
There shall be no occasion. They !
hall not dare to refer to it, Union
ow." I
He jumped into the carriage, and !
closed the door and told the coach i
nan Home" because by that time /
ney We're past thinking of anything s
Ut themselves. Lady Jane confessed 4
fterWards that the engagement was +
he greatest relief she had ever :
nown. She had feared that it would q
ever come off, because it appears q
nat, owing to her laundering and
AceHent intentions, she had caused
preach between them which Sigma is
,oulu not give Verney a chance to {
cal. BatSburg was an angela fat r
ngei-ln the disguise of a frock coat II
nd his Benefit was the medicine that O
lied or cured. n
Inc amusing part Of it is that the
uchess has ignored the whole affair.
al as she has declined to acknowl-
lge what everyone knows-that Sig
was the sensation of the great tt
-fund Beneft-she will have TO e1
20 tne wedding, on which occasion tt
gna VIII make her bow and retire B
III III ner war with right and proper OF
'hav1or-for the present. 0pel IL
be
ca