Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-06-07

the poorest sections OF that State. Mr..
Eben p. Carroll was the owner Of a
rocky farm in that section some years
ago and lived frugaily with his daint-
ly little girl Of IL years, Emma by
name. Emma was in love with g
neighboring blacksmith's son. Her
father encouraged the lovers. and they
were to have been married on the
18th Of August. 1880. Andy let
sf a. feSssf, .Eas ID uncoutiI.
handsome fellow Of about 30, with all
the honesty and awkwardness of q
backwoods. North Carolina training.
while Emma was an artless, graceful
little thing, who knew no life or ro-
nance without Andy.
Well, it will be remembered that
on the 18th Of August. 1880, there
was a terrific earthquake in the vi
cinity of "Old Bald" Mountain, which
did much damage to that locality.
The nuptials of Andy and Emma
were just being performed when the
awful rumbling Of the earth aroused
the villagers; there was rocking for
a moment of the little log cabin church;
a sputtering of the lamps, then crash,
then darkness and chaos. The next
morning the village looked sad in
deed. Twenty people were found
charred and crushed under the church.
The young bride and groom were
among the missing; but few bodies
were recognizable, so thoroughly had
the awful work been done. Old Eben
Carroll was heart broken. His only
child had been taken from him
gone" as he said, ito jine her moth
er, bless EN- both, an | hope to meet
'em soon" He went about half
crazed for weeks, and finally sold the
farm for a trihing sum, and determ-
ined to 90 East to his brother, who
was a well-to-do storekeeper in New
York.
In the great city Eben was escort
ed to the theatres nightly by Seth
Carroll, who hoped that in the theat-
rical world his brother would forget
his own wretched life. So one night
they together visited Madison Square
Theatre. 1t was during the run OF
"Esneralda," and Eben had asked his
brother to take him, as the Herald
said it was "a charming story of North
Carolina." :" Dear old North Carolina,
at once the scene Of all his joys and
sorrows. When the curtain assembled
the big tears welled up in the old
mans eyes at the sight Of his own
"old Bald Mountain" He could
hardly believe his eyes. There was
the same spinning-wheel, the old
hickory bench, the same rag carpet,
&C., &C., that used to adorn his own
little hut at home.
"Why, lookee thar, Seth" he whis-
pered, tits the gennywine thing, ain t
it? Lor, don't l wish my little girl
was here with u.s."
His brother made no answer, not
wishing to draw him out on an unpleas-
ant subject, and the play proceeded.
All went well until the time for "Es-
meralda's" entrance was spoken, and
Annie Russel's head appeared at the
door, backed by her lovers Dave
Hardy. Miss Russell's face was hard
ly in full view before an audible ex-
clamation of pain issued from the aud
itorium, and the ushers silently and
quickly led out wrinkled, awkward,
grizzled-faced old man.
It was Eben Carroll, and he was
saying, my poor little Emma. How
did she get there, l wonder, and who
brought her? Oh, brother, did you
see her sweet face, as she stood in the
door for a mint with little yeller
pail ih her hand (? Oh oh T.
But, Eben, your mind must be
wandering; that is not your little
dead girl, but Miss Annie Russell.
Did you not read the programme ?"
"Yes, know you think she's dead
and so did ! until tonight, when /
saw her right in front Of my two eyes,
right in the shadow of Old Bald
Mountain. But, brother, thar some
thing wrong in this That was not
Miss Russell seed in that theatre,
but nv own little girl. my Emma !
Don't hold me, please, but let me see
the boss of this var show, quick, OF I
shall die Quick I tell var. / must
know about my little girl T.
Argument would not avail, and a
few moments later Mr.. Daniel Froh-
man. the theatres manager, politely
received the sobbing old man. His
mission was explained, and Mr.. Froh-
man kindly informed Eben that Miss
Russell had been known to him per-
sonally for years, and could not pos
sibly be his daughter.
But the old man persisted in say
ing, "it is my dorter or her sperret. !
tell you" until Mr.. Frohman con-
sented to take him behind the scenes
during the entire act, and called out
Annie Russell. She was Just dress
ing for the ball room scene, and an
swered from within, ''in . minute,
please" The sound Of her voice fair
" crazed the old man, who now near
ly tainted In anguish. "Oh, tell
you it's my own dorter. I'd know
her voice among a thousand Do
you bring her up little, please, or /
shall die awaiting"
Five minutes later "Esmeralda's
dressing room door opened, and An
ME Russell appeared IN her Partisan
ball room dress. She passed by Eben
Carroll to shake hands with Mr. Proh-