Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-07-05
While the Play
Was On
By Virginia Leiia Wentz
Copyright, 1865, ay Deatsix aeade

| down the aisle and took the seat ind-
| Gated by the usher with serene noise
| lcssness. The man with waxed mus
| taclles and flashy diamond studs fol-
lowed ostentatlously. He sat down,
| much to the annoyance Of the party
directly behind, after unduly pompous
delay. Ostentatlon ana pomposity were
in Mr.. Smart's line
Mechanically the girl drew out her
opera glasses from their bag, but she
did not use them. Instead. with Il lit
tie sigh of content, she leaned back
| against her wrap. Il gorgeous thing,
crmine lined. belong ny to her aunt,
which she had been coaxcd into wear
Ing. The lights of the house We're low,
and as she leaned for & second, a bill
lowy nass of chiffon aud lace against
the ermine. her heavily dashed cyelids
half closed. and she smiled family
All. It was SO good to be faultlessly
dressed from the top of her head TO
the tip of her shoe all at once--just
once sure Of herself all around. Not
as 1t had always been with her down
in dear old Kentucky--a gown achieved
ion, Il new wrap when her evening
dresses were beginning to look n bit
worn, boots little shabby just as she
was able to get fresh gloves and veil.
Her eye fell on the billowy blouse Of
her bodice. How MI her life she had
loved lace-real. cobwcbby lacel And
erminc TO nestle against-thc lorlly
feel of the thing
Well now she was in the way to
have 1t all This months visit with
her aunt in New York had been fecund
IN results. Dances ana dinners, sup
pers, theater parties, had filed the
hurrying days and nights, but still,
with her aunt's worldly insistence. she
had found time to engage herself to
the man beside her. Capital. my
dear.' her aunt had said when she heard
the news, kissing her lightly on the
cheek. You see Alberta, | knew what
l was doing when | sent for you to
come up from that poverty stricken
Kentucky, and you had only to come
to conquer. OF course Mr. Smart isn't
exactly Il paragon of beauty, and he's
a bit new. but think of his cool little
million, his yacht his horses, his s9len-
did motor and all that sort of thing.
Oh, I'll be proud of you vet my poor
little southern niece
"Beastly stupid play" broke in upon
Alberta's reverie Mr. Smart spoke in
voice Il tritle louder than conven-
tional good form allows
The girl lifted her eyebrows slightly /
and then nodded her head in indiffer- 4
ent acquescence. AS a matter of fact.
she hadn't noticed a single bit of ''busi- I
ness" on the boards nor heard single
line, Now, however, she raised her I
glasses. 1t gave her right hand some
occupation. 1t had been lying peril /
ously close to his. she observed
During the second act the man fidg- !
eted more than ever. Come" he said I
finally: don't lets waste any more /
time on such twiddle twaddle It's J
weak tommyrot. Well run up and or i
der our supper instead
But girl with an ermine cloak I
thrown over the back of her chair was 7
leaning forward, her elbows resting on /
her knees. her chin in the cup of her
two hands. Her eyes were strangely
wistful as she watched the players on /.
the stage.
NO" she whispered oddly without
turning to Smart Il like it. Let's
stay
Twas simple enough little scene
that she watched; Il homely enough
setting, too-a lane hedged with wild
roses and honeysuckle. at one end of
which stood n white cottage, sunny in
the light of early morning Just out
side, by the hollyhock bushes, was
man fair and strong, looking like
young god in his splendid strength He
was catching up child playfully and
holding it high in the air, rs is the way
with proud fathers. Then out of the
cottage. rosy, smiling. came a girlsh
inquire with her sleeves rolled ND and
nm apron on, to say goodby to her lord
before he went TO his days labor. The
sire kissed his child and set him down,
patting the curly head Then he drew
the woman to him. "Goodby. and God
bless you, dear. till | come home to-
night" he said in voice softencd with
reverence.
There were actual tears la Alherta's
eyes. Homely rs was the setting, sim
pie as was the scene, it had brought to
her a revelation After all that was
Tie real sum Of life. was it not, dear
iod-loye and home and n clear. un
1istered conscience:
well If Won still want to stay I'm
gong out for whisky and soda.
>A&ri iarFh&t uurtaou,}y. lariag his
leavy hand on hers rs the curtain
lropped on the second act. You don't
seem M TO conversation tonight.
night as well have taken your aunt out
-old ladys a corker when talks scarce,
{ I'm not back by the time the cur
am goes M don't get frightened. I'll
'e here before the bloomin' things
,ver."
rs ne was turning out In the aisle I'M
CONSCIOUSLY even to herself Alberta's
yes swept him from head to foot