Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-10-06
AT THE
MATINEE
By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH


OF her watch to the door, and then
back again. The air OF vexation which
would have made an ill-natured girl
ugly, only added a piquant charm to
her prettfness. A young man, mood
~ surveying a life-siEed photograph of
Maud Adams. hanging high on tho
wall. allowed his attention to wander
to the severe little frown creasing the
smooth forehead where frowns hardly
seemed at home.
People were hurrying In. The or
chestra was playing. In a minute
the curtain would go up. Peggy looked
despairingly at the watch. hopefully
toward the door. But there was no
sign OF Violet. and the red in Peggy's
cheeks deepened.
1t was 30 foolish to leave Violet
TO buy the tickets" Peggy told her
sell, swallowing uncomfortable Jumps
In her throat which would not stay
swallowed. 1t seemed incredible that
she should not have foreseen what
now she saw so plainly. or course
violet would be late. She was always
late. Her promise to be on hand at
two o'clock meant absolutely nothing.
Vfolet's tardy arrivals were never her
fault Invariably she came full of ex-
ou5es, which no reasonable person
could refuse to accept but there never
was an occasion when excuses could
be dispensed with. Peggy blamed her
self for not having taken this into &C
count In her planning.
She was going to be late. Peggy
blinked and swallowed. ITS a shame"
she declared. just as the young man
at her side uttered an impatient ex-
clamation. Involuntarily they turned
and stared at each other and he lifted
his hat. Il beg your pardon" he said
interrogatively.
Il didn't mean to say 1t out loud"
Peggy explained. But 1 thought it
so hard that 1t just popped out. I'm
waiting for friend"
so am l." said the young man,
gloomily He promised to be on time,
but he never is." He sighed.
And neither Is Violet" Peggy ex-
claimed. And how 1 could have been
so foolish as to leave her to bring the
~chete, can imagine
Haven't you got your tickets,
sven?" asked the young man with
sympathy.
NO. OF course not. 1 shouldn't
wait If I had. Have you yours?"
He drew two tickets from his pocket
and displayed them. She looked en-
viously at the cardboard slips. 20,
why do you waltz" she cried. II
wouldn't. Very likely he won't come
TILL the second act. anyhow"
Perhaps he won't" said the young
man thoughtfully. He looked at the
tickets and then at Peggy Then he
looked at the photograph of Maude
Adams.
1T seems pity for you to miss the
opening Of the play" said the young
man difidently. with a second ticket
In my pocket. why shouldn't you go In
with mef Since your friend has two
tickets you need not feel any scruples
as far as she Is concerned. And we
can adjust matters In the first inter-
mission"
There was long pause The young
man began to be afraid that Peggy
was too much offended to reply. He
turned his eyes from the picture on
the wall to the picture at his elbow.
But Peggy was not angry. Her eyes
were shining, her hands were clasped. |
her lips parted.
do you-do you think 1t would BIO
awful Of me to say yes?" Peggy in
Quired anxiously.
Il think 1t would be very sensible of
you." the young man replied. and that
seemed to settle the question.
They went in swiftly and took their
seats Just as the curtain went I'D. And
Peggy straightway forgot her escort,
and the unconventionality Of her &C.
ton in accepting his invitation, and |
laughed and cried and enjoyed herself |
after fashion incomprehensible to
the blase theater goer. The young
man gave comparatively little atten-
ton to what was taking place behind |
the footlights, Instead he watched |
Peggy.
He was sorry when the curtain fell |
at the end of the first act, and glad
that Peggy was rather slow in coming
back to the world Of reality.
"Oh." she exclaimed at last, with a
start, II forgot" She looked at him
guiltily.
I'll step out into the lobby and
see of Rodnan is there" said the
young man. with no signs of citation at
the prospect And you might look
around for vour friando