The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-12-27
CHAPTER XIV.

The Wopples family were true Bohe-
mians, and had not yet lost thesr way
10 the pleasant city. They accepted good
and bad fortune with wonderful equanim-
Ity, and if their pockets were empty one
Day, there was always a possibility Of
their being full the next. When this was
Che case they generally celebrated the
event by a little supper, and as their
. successful one, Mr.. Theodore Wopples
determined to have convivial evening
after the performance was over.
That the Wopples family were favorites
with the Ballarat folk was amply seen
by the crowded house which assembled tc
See "The Cruet Stand" The audience
were very impatient for the curtain to
rise, as they did not appreciate the over
lure, which consisted of airs adapted for
the violin and piano By Mr. Handel wop-
pies, who was the musical genius of the
family, and sat in the conductors seat.
playing the violin and conducting the or
chestra of one. which. on this occasion.
was Miss Jemima Wopples, who presided
ut the piano.
Then the orchestra played the "wop-
pies Waltz" dedicated to Mr.. Theodore
wopples by Mr.. Handel Wopples. and
during the performance of this Mr.. vii
lers walked into the theater. He was
little pale, as was only natural after
such an adventure as he had been engaged
In, but otherwise seemed all right. He
walked up to the first row of the stalls.
and took his seat beside a young man of
about %, who was evidently much amused
at the performance.
"Hullo, villiers" said this young gen
tleman, turning round TO the new arrival.
"what dye think of the play?"
only just got in returned Mr.. Vii.
Iiers, sulkily. Amy good?"
"Well, not bad" returned the other !:
1--WE seen it in Melbourne, you know
the original, mean. this is a very sec
ond-hand affair"
| Just as the orchestra were making their
| final plunge into the finale of the "Wop-
pies Waltz" NJ Vandeloup. cool and
calm as usual, strolled into the theater,
and, seeing a vacant seat beside Villiers.
walked over and took it.
Good evening, my friend he said,
touching Villiers on the shoulder. EN-
joying the play. eh?''
Villiers angrily pushed away the
Frenchman's hand and glared vindictively
at him.
"Ah, you still bear malice for that lit
tie episode of the ditch" said Vandeloup,
with a gay laugh. Come now, this is a
mistake: let us be friends Seen your
wife lately?'
This apparently careless inquiry caused
Mr.. villiers to jump suddenly out of his
seat. much to the establishment of his
friend Barty.
Altogether THE Cruet Stand" was a
success, and would have a steady run of
three nights at least, so Mr.. Wopples said.
| yilliers, Vandeloup and Barty went out.
and as none of them felt inclined TO 90
TO bed, VilIiers told them he knew Mr..
Theodore Wopples, and proposed that they
should go behind the scenes and see him.
This was unanimously carried, and after
some difficulty with the doorkeeper, they
obtained access to the mysterious regions
of the stage, and there found Master
Sheridan Wopples practicing breakdown
while waiting for the rest of the family
| TO get ready. He volunteered to guide
| them to his fathers dressing room. and
on knocking at the door M. Wopples
voice doomed out "Come in" In such an
| unexpected manner that it made them all
jump.
OF course, they all expressed themselves
delighted, and as the entire Wopples fam.
| ily had already gone to their hotel, Mr.
| Wopples with his thrss guests went out