The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-08-21
Written for the WoRErSsMAN's ADVOCATE.
BIRDS OF PREY
FOR LOVE AND GOLD,
BY WELDON ). COBB, JR.
CHAPTER XNXIN.
ZITELLA

"ANNoUNCENENT EATRAOI DINARY.
Middle. Zitella, the celebrated danseust
and vocalist, assisted by the equally popu
lar and gifted Adele, in connection with
the well known Saloon Comedy Company,
will give a variety and dramatic entertain.
ment at Gold Dust Hail. in Placer Valley,
on next Tuesday night The admission
will be 81 90 For one night only"
Such was the announcement IN large
painted letters upon canvas nailed to a
tree III the principal street OF PlacervIlle,
with which the inhabitants and miners OF
Placer Valley we're greeted few days
after the gambling exploit Of the friends
Of the three adventurers.
OF course the entire town found the eX-
pected show topic Of continued con-
versation and gossipy speculation. In
those days, bands of strollmg players were
very common in australia, and in no por-
ton Of the country were these entertain
ments so popular and - certain of an
ample return for their Efforts to please the
amusement loving public as IN the mining
villages where every one made 1t a point
tn visit the theatre. as the rude building
devoted to the thespiap art was called.
What the show wouki be no one knew,
but even If mediocre it would be gladly
welcomed, the. rarity Of amusement caus-
ing any new excitement to become very
popular
The night Of the show at last arrived,
and popular enthusiasm and excitement
were wrought mp to the highest pitch Of
intensity. Rumor had stated that the
troupe had arrived during the afternoon
at the Placer Valley hotel, and after des-
canting most favorably upon the artistic
and personal merits Of the various mem
bers Of the troupe, spoke very glowingly
Of the 8 dazzling and incomprehensible
Zitella.
At seven O'Clock the vast barn of a
theatre was crowded to its utmost capA-
CITY, and an excited, half drunken audi
ence was vociferous in its imperlous de-
mands for the entainment to commence.
At last it began.
The vast sheet Of canvas, daubed over
with paint in order to represent comic
curtain, was rolled up, and the Saloon
Comedy Company exhausted its small
force and its stock of stale fun iIi an anci-
ent comedy.
Then came the song and dance man,
who was followed by the negro orator.
Then another little piece Of farcial acting,
a few songs by Mdlle. Adele and then the
aurtain was lowered for brief interlude,
which was filled in by the " orchestra,
which consisted Of two cracked fddles. a
base voil, and clarionet, and which play
ed medley Of popular airs to hll in the
lnterlude.
The majority Of the audience, in ex-
pectant waiting for the grand coup OF the
entertainment, had gone out and intensI-
fed their ardor with liberal alcoholic re-
freshments during the orchestral display,
and were now waiting for the curtain to
rise. 1t rolled up slowly, and then, with
light bound, all brilliant in tinsel, span
gles, and heecy muslin, the danseuse and
star, Mademolselle Zittella, came upon the
stage amid the crashing Of the orchestra
and the thunderous applause of the excl
ted audience.
The description Of her rare grace and
beauty had not been at all exaggerated in
the announcement. She was dazzlingly
beautiful, but it was beauty such as one
might witness in a marble statue. HeI
face was statuesque, pale and immoblle
No color lit up the white cheeks or the SCI
lips. No flash Of excitement or merri
ment glitters in the cold, fixed eyes. N
sign Of appreciation of the audience wa
| given.
The woman was beauty, and an artist
in her way, but only mere mechanica
automaton hfeless, expressionless dan
seuse, so far as expression and feature wa
concerned. The audience were wild owe
her pirouettes and giddy flights, but an,
close observer could haze discerned ths
this woman was no ordinary strollin
player. Necessity might have driven he
to the stage for living, never the love 9
her profession.
From the very first Raymond was inter
ested in her. He read in her a deep puI
pose. He saw the cold, fixed glance swee
the theatre. and marvelled at her Won
derful composure and hauteur in the fac
Of 10 capricious an audience. She ha
played her part, and had just withdraw
from the stage, when Raymond turned h
eyes upon his companions at his side
Percy was engaged in conversation wit
the two miners, but Werner sat, his eyt
Gxed on the stage from which the dar
ssase had just disappeared, blank Whit
mesa in his flee, which expressed unmisti
ksAble surprise and bewildsrnent:
II wss impossible tc see his lace an
not read the cause Of his evident constel
nation. The woman ON the stage, th
excited Werner, and the manner OF boil
10 the ready intuition Of Raymond be-
poke connection Of circumstances whic
: led him 20 believe thmt the two had know
each other before. He said nothing Z
Werner arose, however, but followed hil
slowly; hs went out from the theatrs
the latter evidently being too entirely On