The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-07-07

3ENNfSgalx& ments OF oil
present one was beneath any except
the greenest of reporters.
A certain advertise commissioning
prima donna had become involved in a
dispute with her manager. over the
question Of wearing tights In the new
opera bouffe ''Semiramis," and told the
reporters that the first night of the
opera would show the public which
eide had triumphed.
/ Accordingly, the house was packed.
and Ferris was sent by the Planet to
witness tho outcome of the struggle.
He watched the Amazon guard listless-
~ in the opening chorus He was anx-
lous FOR the appearance Of the prinaa
donna, and scarcely noticed the rough
maidens in tinfoil armor, until his eyes
CHANGED to rest on the girl next to the
front rank leader.
She had a different look from her as
sociates. lacking something of their
professional air, and singing as if she
enjoyed it. The freshness and native
grace of the girl attrncted Ferris-
since boyhood, he had knocked about
the world, and it was seldom that
new faco interested him; but tonight
he found himself following this
coryPhee with his eyes throughout the
act, becoming so much absorb bed that
he nearly forgot why he had been sent
to the theater.
\ = /
md its utter incongruity with the sur
roundings, came to TO his mind; aud
the evening found him once more at
the theater where ''Seniramis'' was
playing
From a fellow reporter he learned
that the girls name was Marguerite
Gray, and that she carried about with
her q mother who might have played
the role of the dragon in ''Siegfried.'
Ferris had little trouble in getting be-
hind the scenes. and, thanks to the
good offices OF the manager (who was
objectionably grateful to him for the
puff his opera had received in the
Planet). he was enabled to meet his
unknown. She was about to leave the
theater. dressed in the quictest of cos
tunes, and accompanied by the afore-
said mother, who would have put
Medusa to the blush for stonincss of
manner.
Like true diplomat Ferns devoted
himself to the worthy Gorgon, recall
ing that her late husband had once
helped him out of u bad scrape-had, in
fact, stood by him like an elder broth
er Ferris conveyed the Information
that he had long meant to look the
mother up to ask after his old friend,
and ended by obtaining permission to
call at her fiat next day.
Next day he went to Mrs. Gray's
little Harlem fiat. and, having made
inquiries that morning, was able to
talk with q fair degree of intelligence
on the subject OF the dear departed
Gray. In fact, SO kindly did he speak
of his putative dead friend that the
widows heart was won over, and he
was warmly invited to call often
which he did
Life became very pleasant to both
newspaper man and chorus girl. In
The early winter twilight Ferris used
70 call for an hour on his way from the
COfiCC,
and the two young people would sit in
the dusky little parlor before a coal fire.
Ferris did most Of the talking. Mar
guerite listening with a sort of awe to
the man who knew SO much aud who
had read all those great books that one
heard about.
To please him, she tried to read
Dickens, beginning with the '"Talc of
H~v'o Cities" and though hopelessly
confused by the interminnble line of
characters and English humor. had I'M
derstood enough to cry heartily over
Sydney Cartons brave death and Or.
Manettes sufferinRs.
She told him the story of her life one
afternoon. upon confession that tue
late Mr. Gray had not taken him into
confidence concerning home matters
She told him of her fathers business
difficulties and death, her mothers eff
forts to support herself. and then her
own happy discovery that she could
made q living on the stage. OF the
trials, hardships and repu lslveness of u
chorus girls existence, shespol<e little.
Whenever he had night off he went
to the opera with her, and knew She
sang better for his being there. After
the show he some times invited her.
mother and herself to supper: but to
these suppers the widow couh never
be induced to consent. Even ,Ferxis'
friendship for Gray pere. did not make
1t proper. -
So life went on for three months
Winter passed, and the coal fire. was no
longer needed Marguerite ard Ferris
began, to plan Sunday excursions for
the summer months.
About this time capital and labor re-
vived their long standing feud, sand the
ia nous Homestead riots" began.
Ferris WAS sent by the Planet to the
scat Of the disturbance, in company
with : special artist. He was to leave
New York on Monday morning. and
Sunday evening he called on the Grays
to say good-by.
Mrs Gray was out, but he found
Marguerite sitting before the open fire.
H. spoke to Marguerite of his graft
tude for her friendship to him during
the past months, and said more than
he had meant to. But the look in her
eyes did not tend to make him regret
what ne had said.
The Planet for the next fcyv days
contained graphic. cleverly-written ac-