The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-06-02

present one was beneath any except
the greenest of reporters.
A certain advertisement-seeking
prima donna had become involved in a
dispute with her manager owe the
question of wearing tights in the new
opera bouffe 'tSemiramis," and told the
reporters that the first night Of the
opera would show the public which
side had triumphed.
Accordingly. the house was packed.
and Ferris Vas sent by the Planet to
witness the outcome of the struggle.
He watched the Amazon guard ~listless.
~ in the opening chorus He was anx
ions for the appearance of the prima
donna, and scarcely noticed the rough
maidcns 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 attracted Ferris.
Since boyhood, he had knocked about
the world, and it was seldom hat a
new face interested him; but tonight
he found himself following this
coryphee with his eyes throughout the
act, becoming so much absorbed that
he nearly forgot why he had been sent
to the theater.
Next day the face Of the chorus girl.
and its utter incongruity with the sur
roundings, came to to his mind; and
the evening found him once more at
the theater where "Semiramis" was
playing.
From a fellow reporter he learned
hal the girls name was Marguerite
Gray, and hat she carried about with
her a 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
EXCEPTIONALLY 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
thcater, dressed in the quietest of cos
tunes, and accompanied by the afore.
said mother, who would have put
Medusa to the blush for s~toniness of
manner
Like a true diplomat Ferns devoted
himself to the worthy Gorgon, recall
ing thai her late husband had once
helped him ont of a 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 al 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 a fair degree of intelligence
on the subject of the dear departed
Gray. In fact, so kindly did he speak
Of his putative dead friend hat the
widows heart was won over, and he
was warmly invited 10 call often
which he did.
Life became very pleasant to both
newspaper man and chorus girl. In
the early winter twilight Ferris used
to call for an hour on his way from the
office. Mrs. Gray was usually busy,
and the two young people would sit in
the dusky little parlor before a coal fire.
did most of the talking. Mar
listening with a sort of awe to
the man who knew so much and who
had read all those great books hal one
heard about.
To please him. she tried to read
Dickens, beginning with the Tale of
Two Cities" and though hopelessly
confused by. the interminable line of
and English humor. had I'M
enough to cry heartily over !
Cartons brave death and Or.
suferings