Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-02-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
ANNA CAROLLA.
4 Story .Suggestire ctMe Brooklyn Theatre
Fire

A group of girls stood at the stage door of
the Grand opera>house, in Vienna talking or
exchanging words with the either employees
who passed in, keeping the while a sharp
lookout for the manager One of these cho>
rus singers, young aud beautiful Italian
girl, standing just within the extreme en-
trance, with her mantle wrapped close about
her throat, suddenly remarked
1--WE must sing onr best to>night, for the
emperor is coming"
''Is he 7 How do you know? Who told
you, Anna Carolla 7"
Zone of the hand" answered Anna Ca.
rolla, quietly; Carl Rosenfeldt. There lie
comes with his violin"
With some others of the opera band there
approached tall, handsome young Hunga>
rtan,, paused. Osaps@Grs Eiri'szsseer
inquiry. ''Has he said tho emperor was
coming?"
"Yes; the imperial guards have just passed
by TO take up their place at the grand en-
trance. The house will be crowded"
Then passing inside, he stopped to speak
to Anna CGroia, with smile in his deep
blue eyes "Auna. [ lead the violins to-
nght-Stendgal is i'll"
She put her hand in his with tho sweet,
perfect trust of one who knows she is loved.
81 am sorry for him but for you, Carl,
my heart must be glad"
"Hcre they come, togcther!' cried girl
outside. The manager and chef d. orchcs.
tire. Away"
The new leader of the band hurried away
as the chorus trooped in, and Anna CaroIla
followed them into their dressing>room.
There she soon donncd her stage dress, and
slipped away to watch tho house filling, and,
above all, to hear every note of the exquisite
overture to "Oberon."
How fast every place was filling from floor
to gallery! The auditorium was one blaze
of splendor; and as she gazed, the poor,
friCndless Neutrality-suspicious. dramatic tai
ent and splendid voice nught.if she had only
the fortune to get the first lift. TO place her
! high in the lyric stage wondered sadly if
such a chance would ever come to her; ifnot,
! Carrs father would never consent to their
marriage And now the whole house rose
as the emperor entered his box, splendidIy
dressed .gIi,teriEg with jewels Of rarest value,
which flashed a thousand rays os 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-
formance, with eyes and ears for everything,
the mapaser noticed the imperial visitor in
| dicating to a gentleman beside him some one
! in the chorus. 1t was Anna Carolla, whose
! beauty had attracted his eye, whose rich
| voice his ear had caught above and through
| all the others.
| The first act went speedily, and the second
act soon commenced but fate had decreed
that it should never be played out that
! night. Half way through, as the manager,
! pleased and complacent, was quietly standing
| back in one of the wings, he suddenly felt
! mis- arm grasped, and turned sharply to see
! Anna CaroiIa's lovely face, so full of deter
minstiop aud character, at his side.
| Hush ~ she said, very low and quietly;
'make no exclsmations, but go and zee to it
| before it gains or is discovered. The theatre
! is on fire somewhere back of the green-room.
The company can leave By the stage door.
! Go ~
But, child, if there is the least biot of
| alarm, look at that house. They will be
crushed to death in their terror and crowd
| ing to get ont :"
| Listen" said the Italian, in the same
! calm, self contained manner. Send the CALI
! boy to tell the doorkcePer to order each one
as they pass out to depart quickly. 1 will
clear the house quietly"
! ''You do that !"
eyes. Here is the boy send him, and
clear out the company. 1 Will DO my part
The manager blindly obeyed the strong
will and steady purpose of the master mind
as people in emergency generally do. what.
ever their relatiTe positions in the world.
Anna Carolla passed on to the stage, and
advancing at once to the fsotlights, stood fol
one moment, her tall. commanding form auG
beautiful head drawn erect, uUfinchiDgll
facing that crowd, meeting full even TIM
astonished gaze of the emperor himself, ant
the wondering look of her lover in the or
chestra below her.
TLen she said, in . voice not loud, bu