Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-15

Yes" said the young man, settling his feet on the fender and staring at the blaze within the fireplace. while you were out of town I attended the theater once, but my mind was di- vided into two or three parts. Natur- ally enough you occ-"
 'Now don't be sentimental" said the young woman whose father owned the fireplace. You know it is not al- lowed"
 "A1l right" said the young man. "My mind was divided into two parts, then. There were two dramas to fight for my attention. There was a make believe one on the stage and a real the unofficial draraa had the advan- tage of mystery, which was not solved until the last of the last act"
 What feminine trick" said the young woman whose father owned the fireplace. 'I think they ought to have charged you two prices for seeing two shows at once! Why, I'd have had my whole heart and soul glued to the stage!"
 |No! You'd have done nothing of the sort" asserted the young man. You'd have had your intellect pulled in two directions, just as mine was! I'll tell you about 1t.
 There was a couple sitting inmed- lately in front of me. and I had seen He of a pippin as I had expected the Cleo patra on the stage to be. and it was some class. She was a high grade young woman. So I examined him, to see what she'd picked out to come with He was the tall slender kind. in the correct glove buttons and all that, and they couldn't see the Audi torium for being so busy with each other.
 But no sooner had they got fairly settled than he sort of edged away from her, while she edged away from him. I almost missed seeing the cur tain go up, being so busy wondering the reason for the mysterious frigidity. But they didn't seem to be piqued about anything. They'r turn toward each other and talk a while and laugh as if they were good friends. But any one knows that at a play a fellow and girl are chummy at all are likely to lean on the same arm between their chairs as a rule. And these people would turn back and lean on the far arms as soon as they'd said few words.
 Well, finally I began to see that up behind the footlights old Mark Ath- ony wa trying to be cool to Cleopatra, and I somehow imagined that the fel- low in the seat in front of me was trying to show the girl that he didn't fall for her stratage any more than Mark was going to allow himself to become hopeIessly entangled in Cleo's wiles. I even made a mind bet that the girl in front would win out, as fast as Cleo was due to win. So, of course, I was interested, having a wager up even if it was only with myself, and I spent considerable time watching them. By the time the first act was ended and the lights came on again, I hadn't seen the drama on the stage at all. So I thought I'd read about it in my scenario. But the girl and the young chap in front of me got up and I followed them out. And when we all filed back the second act was on.
 That's about the way the whole blessed show went. I'd firmly resolve that as I'd come to see Mark and Cleo patra I should see 'em, and I'd focus my attention on the stage, when lit tie movement in front of me would distract my attention. You see, one can watch Cleopatra any old time by buying a ticket. but there would be no return engagement of my distrait lovers, and how would I like to go through life with the mystery unsol- we'd? Sc I'd watch them again.
 Shed smile and say something, and he'd laugh, and then they'd both edge away. They didn't even attempt to hold hands. She'd bury hers deep in her huff and he'd cram his in his pockets, and they'd be absorbed in the play for two minutes. But presently just as I'd begin to watch Cleo in