Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-12
EsmeraIda.

that State. Mr.. Eben P. Carroll was the
owner of a 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 blacksmith's s son.
her fatner encouraged the lovers, and they
were TO nave ave- oeen married on the 18th OF
August, looO. Andy Metcalf, her lover,
was an uncouth, handsome fellow of about
oO, with al tne honesty and awkwardness
Oh North carolina training, while Emma
was an arIiess, graceful little thing, who
knew no llIe or romance without Andy.
wen, IL VIII De remembered that on the
18th Of August, $780, there was a terrific
earthquake in the vicinity of cold Ba1d
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 a 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 indeed. Twenty
people were found charred and crushed un-
der 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-s'gone,' as he
said, ''to jine her mother, bless 'em both.
an l hope to meet 'em soon." He went
about half crazed for weeks, and finally
sold the farm for trifing sum, and de-
termlned to go East to his brother who
was well-to-do storekeeper in New York.
In the great city Eben was escorted to
fhn thaafroc inl,fI hrr CoEb
hoped that in the theatrical world his
brother would forget his own wretched life.
So one night they together visited Madison
Square Theatre. 1t was during the run of
"Esmeralda," 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 spin
ning-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, ''it's the gennywine thing, amt it {?
Lor, don't | wish my little girl was here
with u.s." His brother made no answer,
not wishing tol draw him out on an un-
pleasant subject, and the play proceeded.
All went well until the time for "Esme-
ralda's" entrance was spoken, and Annie
Russell's head appeared at the door, backed
by her lovers, Dave Hardy. Miss Russell's
face was hardly in full view before an au-
dible exclamation of pain issued from the
auditorium, and the ushers silently and
quickly led out wrinkled, awkward, griz-
zled-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 I?
Oh, brother, did you see her sweet face, as
she stood in the door for mint with lit
tie yeller pail in her hand? Oh! ohp'
'fBut, Eben, your mind must be wander
ing; that is not your little dead girl, but
Miss Annie Russell. Did you not read the
programmed"
''Yes, know you think she's dead, and
SO did until tonight, when l saw her right
thar IN front of my two eyes, right in the
shadow of Old Bald Mountain. But, broth
er, thar's something wrong in thisl That
was not Miss Russell l seed in that theatre,
but my own little girl, my Emmal Don't
hold me. please, but let me see the boss of
this var show, quick, or | shall die! Quick
I tel var. I must know about my little
girl"
Argument would not avail, and few
moments later Mr.. Daniel Frohman, the
theatres manager, politely received the
soDbing old man. His mission was ex-
planned, and Mr.. Frohman kindly informed
Eben that Miss Russell had been known to
him personally for years, and could not
possibly be his daughter.
But the old man persisted in saying, ''It
is my dorter or her sperret, l tell you"
until Mr.. Frohman consented to take him
behind the scenes during the entire act,
and called out Annie Russell. She was
just dressing for the ballroom scene, and
answered from within, 'In minute, please"
The sound of her voice fairly crazed the
old man, who now nearly tainted in an
guish, ooh, tell you it my own dorter.
I'd know her voice among thousand! Do
you bring her up little, please, or ] shall
die awaitingr'
Five minutes later ''Esmeralda's" dres-
ing-room door opened, and Annie Russell
appeared in her Partisan ballroom dress.
She passed by Eben Carroll to shake hands
with Mr, Frohman, and he did not even
recognize the girl, who, attired in the
home-spun, backwoods garb of few mo-
ments ago, had so brought Up mis- lamenta-
BILE by-gone misery.
''Miss Russell, allow me to present Mr..
Carroll, who wishes to speak to you," said
Mr.. Frohman.
"Happy to meet you, Mr.. Carroll" and
'FEsmeralda' extended her Bernhardt
gloved hand to the old man. But he did
not take it. He was confused and blush
ing, and moved awkwardly. At last he
found speech to say, "Wall, It's luck you
changed that ar dress or you would never
hav played another act tonight, for would
swore you was my own little girl who
had been missing from us nigh unto three
year. You looked Jest like her in that blue
and white check frock, and your voice was
soft and sweet jest like hers, and was jest
going to pick you up in my arms when I
seed you, and tote you off hum back to
North Caroliny with me. You'll excuse
tie mistake, Miss, won't you, please? 1t
was so natural like, you know" He could
say no more, his voice grew husky with
emotion.
"Miss RUSSELL" yelled the call-boy just
then, and "Esmeralda'' bounded away like
frightened fawn,
"Well, now that you're satisfied said
Mr. f'r0hInan, '4et me see you back in the
theatre, where l hope you'll enjoy the rest
of the play"
SIS Miss Russell a comm out again IN
that blue and white check dress and yallar
pail any more %
''No; no more during the rest of the play.
She is supposed to be rich and in Paris
now" replied Mr.. Frohman.
oval, then, excuse me, please. don't
think keer to see any more. She looks
too much like my lost little girl, and I
couldn't bear to see my Emmy in those
Parysheep frills and gewgays. Much
Obliged, Mr.. Frohman, but 1 guess l will
go home.''
And the poor man from ''Old Bald
Mountain" went out wiping his eyes with
his coat-sleeves.
*x*"What is bred in the bone, will never
out of the flesh. y But rheumatism
piles, malaria, constipation, and other con-
fluents from arrangements of the functions
of the liver, kidneys, and bowels will ''out
Of the Hpshn without fail aftaT tho thorOr1 oh