The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-01-28
AFTER THE OPERA.

AttOiC lamp
.'Thekla child" she cried. ''ain't
you ready yet whilc?2 Come in
and sit down." the girl answered in
pure sweetly-spoken German. I'm
almost through" .But you amt had
your supper yet,' said Frau Buchcr.
I'm only going To have bit OF
toast and some tea. You'll have a
cup with me. won't you? Oh yes, but
YOU must, Think how many cups OF
coffee I've been taking with you! Be-
sides, It's SO much more cosy and So
ciable than being alone. +"
.Ah. well, - said Frau Bucher, laugh
ing softly. 1--WE don't go to the opera
every night This is what you call a
spree-eh, Thekla?"
The girl smiled back az her, but her
lips droopcd slightly. She was think
inc. poor child, of the time. when the
opera was q part Of her daily life. All,
how they used to applaud. those Ger
mans, when her father led the orches-
ira.
lie had been dead three years, and
that was eight years ago. But she
could see il all now-the lights, the
perfume, and the flowers, the ladies in
costly attire nodding gaily to her, the
maestro's daughter, and Felix.
And what are these things for, any
how?" asked Frau Bucher, picking up
a little plush bag from bright-colored
pile that lay on the table.
For opera glasses" Thekla said,
rising suddenly and beginning to hustle
over her little supper. 81 make them
for store down town. You've no
idea how well they sell. y
'So!" said Frau Butcher pleasantly.
That is good. But why do you sit
here sewing yet while, when there
are lots of good men, Thekla?"
II hate meni' the girl answered
tiercely. Il shall never marry any
one. Mrs Butcher"
That's all foolishness, child. You're
young yet while; but every girl has
a lover some time.
''l'ye had miue--with other evils
long ago
aud ne didn't turn out right?"
cried Frau Bucher.
Ihckla shook her head.
Wei, WE'LL
1T was long ago-in Berlin, she
said; long before my father fell i'll,
and the man to whom he trusted the
publication OF mis- operas robbed him
OF inc copyright 1t was long before
we thought OF emigrating to America.
Ny father was famous then, and max
ing money fast.
And this young fellow" Frau
Bucher pursued. ''He didn't steal,
did hep
''Ob, no." the girl answered bitterly.
''He did nothing worse than play me
false. He deserted me, without
word. in the hour of my greatest need;
left my father, whom he called his best
friend, TO die in want in foreign
country; and he was rich, too. 1 did
not want his charity, but
She burst into tears, and Frau
Butcher leaned over to pat her on the
shoulder.
There, there" she said soothingly,
''don't cry, child Don't think about
those things. What's the use? Think
about the opera. Won't we two be
grand sitting there like fine ladies to-
night--eh, Thekla?"
ut is my fathers OPERA" the girl
said, drying her tears, and lifting her
head proudly. He wrote it, Mrs.
Bucher--every note; and oh, there are
such lovely choruses First, there's q
lot of soldiers. you know"
In few moments she was deep in
the plot of the opera, giving the airs
rs she went along, till Frau Butcher
cried:
why, you know it alreadyr'
IL know every note OF il, Thekla
said pushing her toast aside barely
tasted, ''and | love it all. Tonight /
shall hear it again for the first time in
six years"
But aren't you going to eat any
thing?"
mo; l am not hungry. Come, we
must oe going. The people are crowd
ing in, and there are no reserved seats
in tho gallery she said with faint
smile.
She was wondering what that gay
audience would do if they were sud
denly informed that the daughter of
the man who wrote their favorite opera
was sitting in the gallery.
The house was crowded, and as
Ihekla took her seat her heart bound
ed, for she saw that Il score of the
opera, as it stood on the leaders stand
IN the orchestra, was resting on q pill
low of flowers, that bore the words:
"ln Memoriam, Berlin, May 0. Is"
Someone else remembered, then!
Someone remembered that happy night
of her fathers triumph! There was
someone here who had been there!
"0h-h-h" exclaimed Frau Butcher,
in indescribable tones, as the curtain
rose TO the notes of q stirring military
chorus.
Thekla leaned over eagerly. For a
brief spell she was happy.
Entranced by the sound Of her faith
or S music, she sat through the first act
like one in dream. When the cur
tain fell, she turned with a sympathetic
smile to seedy-lookiug musician, who
had been devouring the score through
a lorgnette.
"Will you lend me your glass for
moment, sire" she said politely.
And when the request was granted,
she looked for the first time at the
house.
The orchestra occupied her some
time, and then there was fair girl sit
ting in the lower-boX, richly attired,
and at the back of her chair stood q
gentleman ia "a faultless full-dress cos
l. ,.,oo (fo,.ot EIole,cJt