Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-08

Surely should note her among thousands. Yet my first glance was fruiness. looked again. examined the house slowly face by face, and again was baffied. I could see all but a small portion of the pit, the upper boxes and gallery. Pit and gallery were out of the ques- tion. She might, though it was hardly likely, be in the tier just above and determined to satisfy myself after the end of Act I. Mean time scanned the boxes. There were twelve
 either side of the house, and all were full By degrees I satisfied myself that strangers occupied all of them, except the box nearest the stage on the right of the tier where was sitting. The occupants of these were out of sight. Only large yellow and black fan was swaying slowly backwards and forwards to tell me that somebody sat there.
 Somehow, the slow, ceaseless motion of this pricked my curiosity. Its pace, as it waved to and fro, was unaltered; the hand that moved it seemingly tireless; but even the hand was hidden. Not finger could gain glimpse of.- By some silly freak of fancy was positively burning with eagerness to see the fans owner when Tom returned and took his seat beside me.
 Ut begins in Eve minutes; everything is ready" said he, and his voice had a nervous temor which he sought in vain to hide.
 Courage!"I I said "at least the numbers here should fatter you."
 They frighten me! What shall I do if it fails?"
 The overture was drawing to its close. Tom looked anxiously around the house.
 Yes" he said " it is crowded, indeed. By the way, was not Claire to have been here? Point her out to me-"
 She was but I cannot see her anywhere. Perhaps she is late'
 ''If so, cannot see where she is to find & place. Hush they are ending"
 As he spoke, the last strains of the orches- tra died slowly and mournfully away, and the curtain rose upon Francesca: a Tragedy"
 The first scene passed without disaster and the curtain fell for a moment. Hitherto the audience had been chilly. They did not hiss, but neither did they applaud; and could feel, without being able to give any definite reason for the impression, that so far the play had failed. Tom saw it too. 1 did not dare to look in his face, but could tell his agony by his short and labored breathing. Luckily his torture did not last long, for the curtain quickly rose for scene two.
 The scene was beautifully painted and awakened momentary enthusiasm in the audience. It died away, however and the dialogue began to weary the audience most unmistakably. I caught the sound of d faint hiss, saw one or two people yawning; and then
 Stealing rising, swelling, gathering as it thrilled the ear all graces and delights of per feet sound; sweeping the awcd heart with touch uiat set the strings quiverng to an ecs- tasy that was almost pain; breathing through them in passionate whispering: lowering, sWayinG, soaring upward to the very roof, then shivering down again in celestial shower of Silvcr-therc came a voice that trod all con ceptons all comparisons, all dreams to scorn /; a voice beyond hope, beyond relief; voice that in its unimaSinube beauty seemed to compel the very heaven to listen.
 ,ru yet-surcly Iknew-surely it could not b++-
 must be dreaming ! The bare notion Was incredible-and oven as my heart spoke tie words, the theatre grew dim and shadowy; .;l1 vast sea of faces heaved, melted, swan in confusion all sound came dull and hoarse uj on my ear while there-there-
 There in the blaze ofliSht radiant, lovely a glorious and triumphant queen, stepped for ward before the eyes of that vast multitude my love, my Claire!