River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-01-30
ANNA CAROLLA.
A Woman Who Became Famous

ANNA 1ahOIIa.
A Woman Who Became Famous.
A group of girls stood at the stage
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, 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"
SIS he2 How do you knowf Who told
you. Anna Carollsg"
Zone of the band" answered Anna
Carolla, quietly. Carl Rosenfeldt. There
he comes with bis violin"
With some others of the opera band
there approached tall, handsome young
Hungarian, who paused to answer the
girls eager inquiry: Had he said the
emperor was commgE
.'Yes; the imperial guards have just
passe by to take up their place at the
grand entrance Tie house will be
crowded.
Then passing inside. he stopped to
whisper to Anna Carolla, with smile in
his deep blue eyes:
Anna, | lead the violins tonight.
Stengal is ill.,"
She put her hand in his with the sweet
perfect trust of one who knows she is
owed.
Il am sorry for him; but tor you, Carl,
my heart must be glad"
"Here they come +ogether!" cried a
girl outside. "Fhe manager and chef
d'orchestre. Away
The new leader of the band hurried
away as the chorus trooped IN, and Anna
Carolla followed them INTO their dress
ing room. There she soon donned her
stage dress, and slipped away to watch
the house filing, 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 splend0r, and as she gazed,
the roor, friendless 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 ii such Glance
would ever come 10 her; If not Carps
father would never consent 10 their mar
riape. Aud now the whole house rose rs
the emperor entered his box, splendidly
dressed, glittering with jewels of raTest
value. which flashed q 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 gentleman beside
him some one in the chorus. 1t was An
ma CArolla, 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; bat fate
| had decreed that it should never be play
ed out that night. Half way through, as
the manager, pleased and complacent
was quietly stan ling back in one of the
wings. he suddenly felt his arm grasped
and turned sharply to see Arna Carolla's
| lovely face, so tull of determination and
character, at his side.
Hush, she said, very low and quietly
make no exclamation, but go and see tc
Il 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. 60"
'But, child. if there is the least hirt Of
alarm, look at that house. They will be
crushed to death in their terror anc
crowding to get out"
Listen" said the Italian, in the same
calm, selfcontdined msnner. Send the
call bow to tell the doorkeeper to ordel
each one as they pass out to depart quick
". I will clear the house quietly"
"You do hat!'
Yes; here is the boy; send him, ant
clear out the company; / will do my
part"
Anna Carrolla passed on to the stage
and advancing at once u the footlighis
stood for one moment, her tall, com
/ handing form and beautiful head drawn
erect, unflinchingly facing that crowd
meeting full even the asts nished gaze o
the emneror himself, and the wondering
look of her lover in the orchestra below
her.
Then she said, in voice not loud, bu
clear as a bell, with cool, steady author
ity in every measured accent;
Il am here by the managers orders
His Imperial Majesty has been robbie,
to night of rare diamond, and the THE
is in the house Every one" and tn
speaker dark eyes swept the audlenc
from gallery to pit, is at once to with
draw quietly and in order; any one a.
tempting = remain will be immediatel
arrested. The band will also retire Q
once
Even as she spoke her ear, painful
strung for the sound, could hear tn
warm hum of flames from the back; bu
unmoved. she stepped back, swept a dee
obeisanoe to the audience and empero
and the curtain fell.
The emperor instantly left his DO
t whispering to the gentleman to whom b
had before pointed out Anna Carolla:
~There IS something behind all thi
lam not robbed. Send Colonel Beers
2 man round to summon the manager
our carrisge door.
/ Meanwhile, the vast crowd filtered raj
I idly, in quiet order and in safety, b'
| only learning At the door. as they wei
: hurried away, the awful aeath by hIe
e crushing from which the brave and qaicl
: witted girl had saved them. Toe la
few to leave the auditorium smest the
: and heard the cracking of flames, an
] hurried wildly, spreading the alarr
i But the terrible cry Of FIRE came too la
!. to do mischief. and once outside, the P
+ lice and soidiary, under the cool dire
/ lions Of the emperor himself, kept oFie
! ! And though the flames mounted al iir
1 Anna's timely discovery and the energei
4 measures taken forced the fire under.
G less than an hour and half it was col
5 pletely dTenched out, and the mutilat
4 Ooera House lett in charge of che polk
al Then, and not till then. did the q
q pero dism3unt from the horse he b
: usedand return 70 his e3rri age, As
did 80, be paused suddenly.