The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-05-25
miscellaneous.
ESM ERALDA.

stage than this incident of the comedy o
"Esmcralda" "Old Bald Mountain" is sit.
uated III Il western county Of North Carolina
one of the poorest sections of that State. Mr.
Eben =. Carroll was the owner of rocky
farm in that section some years ago and lived
frugally with his dainty little girl of II years
Emma by name. Emma was in love with a
neighborng blacksmilh's son. Her father
encouraged the lovers, and they were to have
been married on the 18th of August, 1885,
ANDY Mctcafc, her lover, was an uncouth,
handsome fellow of about 30, with all the
honesty and awkwardness of Il backwoods
North CarOlinan training, while Emma was
an artless, graceful little thing, who knew no
life or romance without Andy.
Well, it will be remembered that on the
18th of August, 1880, there was q terrific
earthquake in the vicinity of "Old Bald"
Mountain which did much damage TO that To-
cality. The nuptials of Andy and Emma were
just being performed when the awful rumb-
ling of the earth aroused the villagers ; there
was rocking for n moment of the little log
cabin church, II suffering of the lamps then
a crash; then darkness and chaos. The next
morning the village looked sad indeed
Twenty people were found charred and crush
ed 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 Car
roll was heart broken. His only child had
been taken from hm--"gCnc," AS he said, ITO
ine her mother, bless 'cm both, an hope to
meet 'cm soon" He went about half crazed
for weeks, and finally sold the farm for II
trlling sum, and determined 10 20 East TO
his brother, who was wcli-to-do st0rckecper
in New York
In the great city Ehcn was escorted to the
theatres nightly by Seth Carroll, who hoped
that in the theatrical world his brother would
forget his own wretchcd life. So one night
they together visited Madison Square Thea
tire 1t was during the run of "Esmcralda,'
and Eben had asked his brother to take him,
us the He,uM said it was "a charming story
of North Carolina" Dear old North Caro-
lima, ut once the scene of all his joys and sor-
rows. When the curtain ascendcd the big
tears wclled up in the old mans eyes at the
sight of his own "old Bad Mountain" He
could hardly believe his eyes. There was
the same spinning wheel, the old hickory
bench, the same rag carpet &c, NC, that
used to adorn his own little hut at home.
"Why, lookec thar, Seth," he whispered
OTIS the gcnnywine thing, amt it? Lor, don't
| wish my little girl was here with u.s." His
brother made no answer not wishing TO draw
him out on m unpleasant subject and the play
proceeded.
All went well until the time for "Es-
meralda's entrance was spoken, and Annie
Russclrs head appeared at the door, backed
by her lovers Dave Hardy. Miss Russclfs
face was hardly in full view before an audi
BILE exclamation of pain issued from the audi
torium,, and the ushcrs silently and quickly
led out Il wrinkled, awkward, griZzlcd-hccd
old man.
1t was Ebcn Carroll and he was saying,
"My poor little Emma. How did she get
there, | wonder, and who brought her? Oh,
brother, did you see her sweet face, as she
stood in the door for mint wilha little vel
or pail in her hand Oh OH"
"But, Eben, your mind must be wander
ing that is not your little dead girl, but Miss
Annie Russell. Did you not read the pro
gramme"
YES, know you think she's dead and so
did until tonight, when saw her right thar
in fl ont of my two eyes, right IN the shadow
of Old Bald Mountain. But, brother, thar's
something wrong in this That was not Miss
Russell seed in that theatre, but my own
little girl, my Emma! Don't hold me, please
but let me see the boss of this var show
quick, or shall die Quick tell var.
must know about my little girl y
Argument would not avail, and n few
moments later Mr. Daniel Frohman, the thea.
tres manager, politely received the sGbbing
old man. His mission was explained and
Mr. Frohman kindly informed Eben that
Miss Russell had been known to him person.
ally for years. and could not possibly be his
daughter.
But the old man persisted i'm saying, "it is my
dorter or her sperrct, tell you," until Mr.
Frohman consented to take him behind the
scenes during the entire net, and called out
Annie Russell. She was just dressing for the
ball room scene, and answered from within,
"in minute, please" The sound Of her
voice fairly crazed the old man, wlo now
nearly tainted in anguish, "Oh, ] tell you it's
my own dortcr. I'd know her voice among n
thousand Do you bring her up n little, please,
or shall die awaitngW
Five minutes later "Esmeralda's' dressing
room door opened, and Annie Russell APP
peared in her Partisan bali room dress. She
passed by Ebcn Carroll to shake hands with
Mr. Frohman, and he did not even recognize
| the girl who, aitired in the home spun, back
woods garb OF few moments ago, had 50
brought up his lamentable by gone misery.
"Miss Russell, allow me to present Mr.
| Carroll, who wishes to speak to you, said
Nj. Frohman.
"Happy to meet you, Mr. Carroll" and
"Esmeralda" extended her Bcrnhardt gloyed
hand to the old man But he did not take it
He was confused and blushing, and moved
about awkwardly. AT last he found speecl
to say, "Wall, it's lucky you changed that al
dress or you would never hay played another
act to night, for would swore you was my
own little girl who had been missing from u'
nigh onto three year. You looked just like