Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-06-07
0riigiina4 Sketfk>
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HOW "RUBYo CAUGHT HER.


He can't tell the Drinking Song in Lucre-
zia, from the Dead March in Saul; never
theless, he goes. I don't believe that he
knows the difference between Yankee Doo-
die and Old Hundred; nevertheless, he
goes to every opera and concert and ma
tinee musicale; and as it is Hhe Thing, is q
great connoiseur. He has picked up few
technical terms, and can converse very learn
sdly about sopranos and baritones, and
basso profundos, and arias and trios, and all
that sort of thing. He always goes to the
opera in adress coat, with an irreproachable
and unapproachable neck tie, and immacu-
late gloves. And as to lorgnettes-if you
ealy could see Jack k's-well, he would as
soon go to sea without a boat, as to 60 to
the opera without his lorgnettes. Jack has
. q hat, most miraculous tileitis, which be
keeps expressly for such occasions, and calls
his opera hat. We came very near fight
ing once, because I wore it on fishing ex.
cursion. It is made with springs, SO that
being pressed on the crown, it collapses in
very startling manner. Now sRuby' being
an indigent Bohemian, is glad to get to the
opera under any circumstances. He wears
dress coat if he has one if not, he pins
up the tails of his frock.coat, SO as to come
the swallow-tail dodge. He wears one
light.colored glove, carrying the other neg
ligently in his hand, thus making pair of
gloves go twice as far as they would if both
5 were worn at the same time. His old, black,
velvet cap, serves him for opera hat,
smoking cap, hunting cap, and dress hat.
When he wishes to use lorgnette he doubles
his fist and squints through the cavity.
Well, as I said before, my friend Jack
and I went to the opera-he with his Glib
bon's and with, my old velvet. There
were no private boxes or stage boxes, or any
thing of the sort, for it was not regular
opera house, but hall used for all public
Iexhibitions. The seats were arm chairs,
placed in rows, twenty in row, and near
together. We had not been seated long
before the overture commenced, and the
seats we're rapidly filed There came into
the row Immediately behind US, party of
ladies escorted by one gentleman. After
they took their seats, noticed that Jack
reoonnoitered the house generally, and the
party in our rear particularly, through his
lorgnette. proceeded to do likewise
through my fist For this proceeding Jack
reproved me, and the lady Immediately
behind giggled at me. noticed that she
was black haired, bright.eyed and beauti-
full and seemed withal, merry and mischiev-
GUS. Well, the curtain rose, and II TroVa-
tore commenced. I listened while, but
: soon grew tired, for the music was poor, the
singing was bad, the acting was execrable
and the, scenery contemplate. I was lean
ing with my arm hanging down over the
back of my chair, holding my old cap in
my hand, almost touching the floor. felt
something tugging at my cap. Iraised ita
little and the pulling stopped. Directly
felt it again. I looked down and saw a
beautiful ankle in Aesh-colored silk stock
ing; and said ankle was working vigorously.
: Its upper extension was hidden under a
cloud of points and lace, and don't know
what all else; and its lower continuation
was buried in my cap. Thinks I to myself,
thinks I, sAha you're caught, are you, and
nicely toop With very stolid and inte-
rested look, I kept my eyes fixed on the stage,
until I felt the tugging going on again, and
then with sudden clamp. closed the cap
together and caught the little foot as nicely
as ever q mouse.trap did mouse.
= :. Il heard half uttered sOhp behind
7me,r ,rbut did not move my eyes from the
stage. Directly, I began to raise my arm,
still holding tight to the cap. Thought I
heard litter, and looking around as if dis
sturbed by the noise, saw the owner of my
little prisoner with her face buried in her
sbaukerchief, and laughing most violently.
Thinks I to myself, thinks 1, you're a
good un,' SO lowered my arm and looked
again toward the stage. Every now and
then L would feela strenuous tug, but I
only had to raise my arm and all was still
but could feel the little foot trembling
like a captured bird. While they we're
preparing for the ballet, I asked my friend
Jack, who had all the time sat bolt upright
fearing to rumple his collar or disarrauge
his black.hair, and staring intently through
his glasses, who the lady was, who sat just
behind me- 'Aw, she's madame Leoliue
", rich young window, creole from New
Orleans Making this response, my friend
Jack once more betook himself to his opera
glass. From the way held my cap, my
: hand would occasionally touch that round
, slim ankle, and would feel thrill respon-
siye to the one which would shoot through
mywhole nervous system. There was such
an overAowing abundance of crinoliue and
silk and muslin, and all that sort of thing,
that all this interesting by-play was entirely
unknown and unseen by any one except the
two actors engaged in it. When the ballet
girls come on the stage there was the usual
liberal display of arms and feet, and ankles
and ankles continued; but none were beau
tiful or attractive enough to draw off my
attention from my little prisoner. had
rested my cap on the lowest bar of my chair
SO that the Imprisonment would not prove
painful, however irksome it might be, and
it seemed asif the captive had become re-
signed to its fate for the struggles ceased.
My friend Jack turned to me as the ballet
concluded with an overwhelming pirouette
on the part of the favorite danseuse. Dem
foine beautiful foot that, eh.' answered,
Supple. e.ended.' This satisfied Jack, and
L. oJ b;s 1oronotko