The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-06-07
turned and occupied the seat next TO

lul AcQ Guu oSCupiC1 tAC oS0- iiS1As ~
her mother
They surely have odd customs in
towns" concluded Marie, and then she
became absorbed in TIE play.
When the curtain fell after the first
act, her mother asked the usher some
question, and his reply led to a discus
sion of plays and players. Marie lis
tened idly. AS the curtain again rose,
she couldn't resist stealing surrep-
titious glance in his direction. Their
eyes met. His were eloquent and ap-
pealing, with look Of recognition. 1t
amused and annoyed Marie that she,
| woman of the world, was confused by
| the encounter of glances while he was
perfectly composed
| When the curtain fell for the last
| time he assisted Mrs. Warburton with
her wrap and asked her ii he should
| get her a carriage She gratefully &C
| copied his offer
II think | must make an explana-
| tion," he said as they waited for the
cab he hailed to drive up TO the curb
| Quite naturally you mistook me for
an usher | did not contradict the er-
ror, because | saw you were stran-
gers, and l knew / could give you
much better seats than the ones you
occupied"
1T was certainly blunder on my
part" laughed Mrs. Warburton, but
am very grateful for your kindness"
The street seemed crowded to a
greater extent than warranted by the
number of people issuing from the
! theater. A vender of patent medicine
had insisted on holding his exhibition
in the street. The police were endeav-
.oring to prevent him and to dispense
| the crowd, who espoused the cause OF
! the medicine man.
! The usher opened the door Of the cab
and assisted Mrs Warburton TO enter.
! AS he then turned to Marie, sudden
gust of wind blew the door shut. The
cabman, without turning his head,
fiicked his whip and drove rapidly
away, leaving Marie and the usher at
the curb.
The struggling mass Of citizens,
medicine man and police came their
| way with a rush, and a panic ensued.
The usher caught Marie up with one
arm and used the other to good serv-
ice in clearing passage. Finally he
succeeded in reaching a corner which
he turned and they found themselves
in a dark, quiet street. Marie still
chung to her escort, speeches. and
breathless from terror. When she re-
gained her composure they started to
walk to the hotel.
should have been trampled to
pieces by that mob, but for you,' she
exclaimed. How did you manager"
I Il was on the football team at Har
ward" he laughed.
Before she could reply cab drove
up to the curb and Mrs. Warburton
looked anxiously out.
LAS soon as | succeeded in making
the driver understand" she said, Il
made him drive back for you"
Marie got into the cab; they babe
the usher adieu, and before they had
finished their conversation with him
the driver was away again.
During the journey westward
Marie found her thoughts often stray
ing to the usher and the incidents OF
the evening. At Los Angeles a round
of gayeties awaited them, for the oc-
casion of their trip to the coast was
the marriage of Mrs. ,Warburton's
nephew, George Alexander. Two or
three days before the wedding Marie
was confined to her bed with cold,
but at the hour set for the rehearsal
she managed to appear at the church,
| oh tn hn Of hn h1-i6 las
maids. AS she entered the vestibule
she heard voice saying: Miss War
burton?"
She turned with a joyous little ex-
clamation.
Il am a bona fide usher this time, -
he said, land | trust | have the loca-
ton of the peWs. Did your cousin
tell you that we were to walk down
the aisle together?'
He said" she answered demurely,
that l was assigned to a college
friend of his, Roger CORVALLIS, but
of course l did not know it was you.
That stupid cabman drove off before
we could ask your name.
THAT is where | had the advan-
tage," he said. Il was sure you were
Marie Warburton, whose picture
had seen in Georges room. Before
I could tell you so the cabman drove
up and then drove away again. |
called at the hotel the next morning,
but found you had gone"
Whats the correct time, Roger?'
asked George, coming UP to them. my
watch has stopped. Oh, am glad you
two have met at last"
"Half-pasta SEVEN" replied Roger,
consulting his watch, which he still
held when George had passed on to
join the others.
He pressed the spring and the back
cover flew open.
Il suppose" he said, Il ought to
show you this
And to Marie's surprise she saw in
the watch a little picture OF herself,
one she had had taken when she first
came out.
George gave it to me-" he ex-
planned, land l have always been long
ing to meet you"
And in her heart Marie was saying,
And | have always been longing to
meet you