CHAPTER XXVIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 126, 31 October 1885, Page 6

CHAPTER XXVIII.

AT THE OPERA. The next day was much the same to Candice as the preceding ones had been, only there seemed a shade more of melancholy in the very atmosphere. Uncle Sam noticed her listless looks, and Btrove to divert her thoughts from herself as much as possible. "Candice, would you like to hear the opera to-night ? I will engage seats if you care to go," Uncle Sam said to her as he was rising from the dinner table. •* Would you like to go, uncle?" " Certainly, my dear, but I don't care about going alone." " Then I will go with you, uncle, so you can consider yourself my escort," trying to speak laughingly. "I hope you will not get tired of the task, for I know I'm a terrible nuisance sometimes !" "I'll try and stand it," Uncle Sam answered, in a resigned tone, and with such a comical look of martyrdom on his face that Candice laughed a silvery peal of merriment. ; The old gentleman, well pleased at his kindly efforts being appreciated, hastened 1 from the house intent on purchasing seat? for the evening's entertainment ; he was hurrying along the street, looking neither to the right nor left, when a familiar voice called out his name. He turned quickly, and found himself face to face with Mark, who was laden with bundles of every size and description. " Sorry I can't shake hands, uncle !' he said, laughing, "but you see how it is," with a look at his loaded arms. " Well, great Scott J Mark, what are you going to do with all that rubbish ? You look like a henpecked husband, trying to please your fickle lady's fancy by a variety of purchases 3" "Presents for mother and the girls," Mark said, cheerfully. "I am going home tomorrow, I had intended going .to-day, but business detained me." "Will you attend the opera to-night, Mark? I am just going after tickets for Can— Mrs Lee and myself !" Uncle Sam said. "Thunder and lightning 1" he added to "I wonder if he noticed that slip?" But Mark paid no attention. He was thinking of the reception Mrs Lee had given him the day before, and his lips twitched painfully at the unpleasant remembrance. " Uncle," Mark said, with an effort, " what is the reason Mrs Lee despises me so thoroughly?" "Does she despise you, my boy? I thought differently." Uncle Sam was honestly glad, Mark had ; not noticed what he had said Accidentally.

"Her dislike is plainly apparent," Mark answered, " but after all I don't know why I should oare so very muoh, .only one hates to be forever misunderstood." "She'll get over it, Mark; all women do 1" Uncle Sam answered, knowingly.. "I've found out they need a good' deal of coaxing, arid I suppose she is no exception to the general rule." "I was fool enough to think her different from others," Mark said, bitterly. " Confound it !" Uncle Sam thought, ruefully. "Why can't I tell the boy? I'd give a hundred dollars this minute if I felt free to do it, but I suppose I must leave it for him to find out for himself, if he ever does, which is very doubtful, the way Candice gives him the cold shoulder," Mark changed the -subject skilfully. After all, what was the use of talking over his troubles? It made them none the lighter to bear. I " How is that wonderful baby getting along up at your house, uncle ?" Mark asked. " I haven't seen the little fellow for some time." ♦'Smart as a cricket, and looks more like his father every day of his life 1" •'You knew his father then?" Mark asked, curiously. "I thought Mrs Lee was a widow when she first came to .you ?" "So she was, Mark, so she was ; but I've often seen her husband ; he was la pretty good fellow a trifle cranky now and then, that was all !" add there was a mischievous gleam in the old gentleman's eyes as he gazed at the stalwart young man beside him. Why wouldn't he understand? Mark, walking beside him with a look of interest on his fine face, had nd more idea his unole meant him than he had of asking the next woman he met on the street to marry him, and so they separated. "Would you like to go to the opera tonight, Leta?" Mark asked the question while he waad epositing his parcels on the table, preparatory to packing them in the trunk standing open leady to receive them. "I don't know that I care vory much about it," Leta replied, in an undecided tone of voice. "If we go, when shall I finish packing ?" "I will help you, Leta. Yes, we will go." : , Mark could not have told why he preferred the opera to home that night ; but with all possible haste they finished their packing just as the supper bell rang. " You must hurry, Leta," Mark said, when they rose from the table. *'I give you just half an hour to make yourself pretty in, and I bet the whole sum of five cents you are not ready by that time !" "I'll take the bet," Leta said, merrily, " and you'll see if I don't prove an exception to the general rule of womankind and be ready before my very precise brother I" "Agreed." Mark went hurriedly up to his room, threw his clothes on with what be thought was commendable haste, and hurried downstairs, but his sister was waiting for him in the hallway, daintily attired, with even her gloves and bonnet on, and looking provokingly cool. " Here's your nickel !" Mark said, gravely extending her the coin ; "take it as a memento of your great triumph over the rest of your sex, for who ever heard of a woman dressing in less than half an hour before ?" In a merry mood they started off, arm in arm. They were a trifle late, and the orchestra seats were all taken. " Give me two in the balcony, then." Mark was determined he would not return home without hearing the opera after all the trouble of getting there, so taking Leta's arm, he hurried her up stairs. They had secured front seats, which afforded them a good view of the stage and the entire audience. The prima donna commenced singing just as they entered the balcony. Leta was toying idly with her opera glaes, when a face attracted her attention which she gazed at long and steadfastly. Prsently she gave Mark a little nudge and whispered in his ear : " Who is that lady with Uncle Sam ? Is it the adventuress mother talks about ?" "It is Mrs Lee," Mark said quietly, scanning the vast eudience beneath in search of the fairest face in the world to him. Yes, there they were at last, and taking the glass from Leta's hand he looked long and earnestly at the lovely face of the woman he loved. " I wonder what she looks liko without her glasses I" he thought, noting the slender figure in a robe of black velvet, vrith great bunches of Parma panaies at throat and waist as her only ornament. She wore a white hat with a drooping plume, and beneath the brim pansies, nothing but paneies, suiting well the lovely, girlish face. But he did not note the pitiful droop of the red lips and the cheeks losing their freshest bloom, as if from sleepless nights or haunting day-dreams ! Leta took the glass when he offered it to her, and wondered why his hand trembled as it touched hers. Little did Candice dream Mark's eyes were on her constantly that entire evening, noting her every look, her every gesture, as she conversed with the white haired old man by her side. The last act was over, and great crowdß of people were pushing their way down the flight of stairs. " Don't hurry, Leta !" Mark said, laying his hand on her arm. " Wait until the crowd thins a trifle " It happened 1 that Mark, with Leta clinging to hie arm, coming down the last step, met Uncle Sam and Mrs Lee face to face. Fearing explanations, he hurried Leta onward, but not before Candice had gazed full in her face and learned the truth. | Ah I how miserably weak and blind she had been ! The golden-haired girl was Leta Maynard ! With her brain in a whirl,with a thousand conflicting emotions, Candice walked homeward by the side of Uncle Sam, scarcely heeding hia criticisms on the music to which they had just been listening. What did she care for the opera now ? Mark, her husband, was true to her in thought and deed ! She had spurned him from her only yesterday, and now he was proud and would not come to her again ! But what was Leta doing in the city, and why aIJ this secrecy? Uncle Sam did not know of it she, was sure, or he would have mentioned it to her. It was strange, but through it all she was happy, very happy over the discovery she had made.