Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-24

in the orchestra, was resting on pill
low of flowers, that bore the words:
SIN Memoriam, Berlin, May Q, 1s-."
Someone else Iemem bered, then
Someone remembered that happy
night OF her fathers triumphl There
was someone here who had been
therel
"Oh-h-h - exclaimed Frau BScher,
in indes cribable tones, as the curtain
rose 10 the notes Of a stirring military
chorus.
Thekla leaned over her eagerly. For
o 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
curtain fell, she turned with symps-
thetic smile to seedy looking must
clan, who had been devouring the
score through lorgnette.
will you lend me your glass for s.
moment, sir2' she said politely.
And when the rtquest was granted,
she looked for the first time at the
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 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 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
and courtly as ever. And that girl
over whom he was bending so devot-
edly-ah, something ia thegirl's heart
seemed to snap
"Tbekla child, what's the matter2"
cried Frau Butcher, 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 Inconsistencies.
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 ana
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.
at was very unfortunate !" Count
Edelstadt observed to his companion
''The vesper song was spoiled entire
ly. All, Miss IRWIN, see what | have
done; pushed the bottom out of your
opera-bag y
you naughty mani Those 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 bis
pecket; 'l'l 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. Eh, what's this2
Whoever made this has been using up
some old letters
A mans curiosity is fully equal to
woman's, and Count Edelsiadt 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 50 Oliver street.
Then below, in a clerks hand, was
the following part of letter.
"Miss Thekla NJ, 1870 Brown St, City
Dear Miss There is an extra order for
opera bags TO so 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, Thekla
his promised wifel Would the
morning never dawn, that he might
go and seek herr
Thekla was sitting, the next day,
very hstIessly by her Preside, 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 Bucher told me to come right
up. Thekla, darling don't you know
met l ann
Felix
Yes, yes - he cried clapping her in
his arms "Where have you been
hiding2 | have sought for you ever
SO longn
But you never came to see us after
-n
'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, thought
--n
That was false Steinmetz knew
very we'll where we were, but he had
stolen nay fathers operas, and lie
tried to keep anyone from finding it
out. -
Il heard that afterwards, and
found out that yoa had come to Amer