Daily globe., 1879-01-26
ANNA CAROLLA.
A Woman Who Became Famous


door of the Grand Opera House in Vienna,
talking or exchanging words with the
other employees who passed in, keeping
the while sharp lockout for the mana
ger. One of the chorus singers, a young
and beautiful Italian girl, standing just
within the extreme entrance, with her
mantle wrapped close about her throat,
suddenly remarked:
We must do our best tonight, for the
emperor is coming"
lis he? How do you know? Who told
you. Anna Carclla?"
"One Of the band" answered Anna
Carolla, quietly. "Carl Rosenfeldt. There
he comes with his violin.'
With some others of the opera band
there approached a tall, handsome young
Hungarian, who paused to answer the
girls eager inquiry: Had he SAID the
emperor was coming"
''Ies; the imperial guards have Just
passed by to take up their place at the
grand entrance. The house will he
crowded.
Then passing inside, ne stopped to
whisper to Anna CarolIa, with a smile in
his deep blue eyes:
Stengal is ILL.,
She put her hand il his with the sweet
perfect truSt OF one who knows she is
loved.
- an sorry for him; but for you, Carl,
mg heart must be glaC.'
Here they come together!' cried a
girl outside. "The manager and chef
d'orchestre. Away!'
Tie new leader Of the band hurried
away as the chorus trocped in, and Anna
Csro!la followed them into their dress
ing room. There she soon donned her
stage dress, aud Slipped away to watch
the louse filing, aad, above all, to hear
every no1e oE the exquisite overture to
"Ohercn.'
How ta5t every place was filling froIa
t}oor to gallery! The auditorium was
one blaze OF spiendor, and as she gazec,
the roor, frlendless chorus singer, whose
dramatic talent and splendid voice ought,
if she had only the fortune TO get the
first lit, to place her high On the lyric
stage, wondered sadly if such chance
would ever come to her: if not, Carts
father would never consent to their mar
riage. And now the whole house rose as
the emperor entered his box, 'spleadidly
dressed, gliEtering with jewels of rarest
value, which flashed thousand rays as
he bowed right and left with his usual
courteous grace. Then the band struck
up the overture, and with the last bar the
curtain drew up.
Fitting here and there during the per-
Torrance, with eyes and ears for every
thing, the manager noticed the imperial
visitor indicating to a gentleman beside
him some oae in the chorus. It was An
ma Carolia, whose beauty had attracted
his eve, whose rich voice his ear had
caught above and through all the others.
The first act went splendidly, and the
second act soon commenced; but fate
haG dec1eed that it should never be play
ed out that night. Half way through, as
the manager, pleased and complacent,
was quietly staa1ing back in one Of the
wings, he suddenly felt his arm grasped,
and turned sharply to see Anna Carolia's
lovely face, so iun Of determination and
character, at his side.
"Hush,n she said, very low and quietly,
SNAKE no exclamation, but go and see 70
it before Il gains Or is discovered. The
theatre is On fire somewhere back Of the
green room. The cornpany can leave by
the stage door. Co."
"Bus, child, if there is the least hirt of
alarm, look at that house. They will be
crushed to death in their terror anG
crowciing to get out"
'Listen," said the Italian, in the same
calm. seif-contained manner. ''Send the
call boy to tell the doorkeeper to order
each one as they pass out to depart quick
ly. will clear the house quietly"
"You do tbat!"
Yes; here is the boy; send him, and
clear out the company; will do nv
part"
The manager blindly obeyed the strong
will and steady purpose of the master
mind; as people in emergency generally
do, whatever their relative positions in
the world.
Anna Carrolla passed on to the stage,
and advancing at once to the footlights.
stood for one moment, her tall, com
manding form and beautiful head drawn
erect, unfinchingly facing that crowd,
meeting full even the astenished gaze of
the emperor himself, and the wondering
look Of her lover in the orchestra below
her.
Then she said, in voice not loud. but
clear as bell, with cool, steady author
ity in every measured accent:
81 am here by the managers orders.
His Imperial Majesty has been robbed
tonight Of a rare diamond, and the thief
is in the house. Every one," and the
speakers dark eyes swept the audience
from gallery to pit, is at once to with.
draw quietly and in order; any one at
tempting to remain will be immediately
arrested. The band will also retire at
once"
Even as she spoke her ear, painfully
strung for the sound, could hear the
warm hum of flames from the back; but.
unmoved, she stepped back, swept a deep
obeisante to the audience and emperor.
and the curtain fell.
The emperor instantly left his box
whispering to the gentleman to whom he
had before pointed out Anna Carolla:
"There IS something behind all this.
I am hot robbed. Send Colonel Berg
man round to summon the manager to
our carriage door," :
Meanwhile, the vast crowd filtered ran
idly, in quiet order and in safety cute
only learning at the door, as thew wer
hurried away, the awful death by FIRE
crushing from which the brave and quickt
witted girl had saved them. The laso
few to leave the auditorium smelt the fir
and heard the cracking of flames, and
hurried wildly, spreading the alarm.
But the terrible cry of fire came too late
to do mischief, and once outside, the po-