Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-24
the man who wrote their favorite

l.
The house was crowded, and as
Thekla took her seat her heart bound
ed, for she saw that q score of the
opera, as it stood on the leaders stand
in the orchestra, was resting on pill
low of flowers, that bore the words:
SIN Memoriam, Berlin, May 9, IS
Someone else remembered, then
Someone remembered that happy
night Of her fathers triumph! There
was someone here who had been
there!
"Oh-h-h ~ exclaimed Frau Bacher,
in indescribable tones, as the curtain
rose to the notes of a stirring military
chorus.
Thekla leaned over her eagerly. For
a brief spell she was happy.
| Entranced by the sound of her faith
er's music, she sat through the first
act like one in a dream. When the
Gun tain fell, she turned with sympa-
thetic smile to seedylooking must
clan, who had been devouring the
score through lorgnette.
| "WIll you lend me your glass for a
moment, sir?" she said politely.
And when the request was granted,
| suo 4OOhcu luz tuo uTst tIuc DIV Luc
| house.
The orchestra occupied her some
time, and then there was fair girl
sitting in the lower box, richly alfred
and at the back of her chair stood a
gentleman in 8 faultless full-dress cos
tune. 1t was Count Edelstadt.
A low, smothered cry escaped The
kla's lips, and she grew deadly white.
She knew him MISUNDERSTANDING
and courtly as ever. And that girl
over whom he was bending so devot-
edly-ah, something ia the girls heart
seemed to snap!
"Tbekla child, what's the matter9"
cried Frau Bucher, shaking her slight
ly.
But the lights were dancing away,
and the opening strains of the second
act were swallowed up in the empty
silence of unconsciousness.
81 told you you was working too
hard" said Frau Butcher some time
afterwards, when she sat on the edge
of Thekla's bed, Gliding her gently for
taxing her strength to far.
The girl only shook her head. She
lay quite still, but her heart was in a
tumu!t.
The opera was over, and the people
were coming out. They thought and
knew nothing Of Thekla, save to won
der who that woman was who tainted
IN the beginning of the second act,
anG caused such distracting noise in
the gallery.
''IG was very unfortunate! Count
Edelstadt observed to his com panion.
1.-THE vesper song was spoiled entire
ly. All, Miss Irwin, see what have
done; pushed the bottom out of your
opera-bagn
You naughty man! Taose glasses
won't go in that bag; they're too large.
They're mammals. But never mind !;
[ can mend it.
mo" he said, putting the bag in his
pocket; "Ill net you a new one. I'm
sorry, but All, here is your car
rage"
He went home that night in very
dreamy mood, for the familiar airs
of that dreamy old opera were haunt
ing him.
eight years ago." he unused, as he
took Miss IrwIn's opera bag from his
pocket and looked at it idly, ''opera
bags were not in fashion then. Pretty
little thing, but not very strong. Stiff
ened with writing paper" he added,
examining the bag. En-, what's this +?
| Whoever made this has been using up
some old letters"
A mans curiosity is fully equal to q
woman's, and Count Edelstadt was
not above ripping the bag open to find
out what was written on this scrap of
| paper.
1t proved to be letter head, read
ing:
| Lorgnette and Gay, Opticians,
| No. e5 Oliver street.
Then below. in clerks hand, was
the following part of a letter?
''Mss ThekIa M, 139 Brown ST., City
Dear Mlss:-There is an extra order for
| opera bags to go out in
The rest was cut off but that did not
concern Count Edelstadt.
He leaped to his feet. Could it be
possible that he had found her, after
all these years? His lost love, ThekIa
his promised wife! Would the
morning never dawn, that he might
go and seek her?
Thekla was sitting, the next day,
very istlessly by her freside, when
there came bounding step on the
stairs and an eager knock.
pardon me-" said the glad voice of
one who paused on the threshold.
Frau Butcher told me to come right
up. Thekla, darling don't you know
mes [ am"
''Felix!
Yes, yes!' he cried clapping her in
his arms. ''Where have you been
hiding2 have sought for you ever
so longW
''But you never came to see us after
''Steinmetz told me you had gone
away, and he could not give me your
address. waited to hear from you,
and when you never wrote, I thought
~
THAT was falsel Steinmetz knew
very we'll where we were, but he had
stolen nay fathers operas. and lie
tried to keep anyone from finding it