The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-10-24
THE PRIMULA LADY,

IHE PKlMULA LADY.
l entirely forget the name of the
opera, what it was about and who sang
in it, but know it was the first I ever
saw-if indeed I can be said to have
seen it! At all events, was present at
the performance, and the evening and
its occurrences are indelibly stamped on
my memory. I was II, thoroughly I'M
musical, but possessed of keen sense
OF enjoyment, and the scene, looked
upon for the first time in my life, de-
lighted me. The fair faces, the gorgeous
toilets, the hum of voices, tho light, the
all combined to quicken the
beat of my pulse and make me feel giddy
and light headed.
The curtain went up, and after the
first few minutes I began to be bored.
It was heavy opera. 50 was told,
with no 'airs' in it, and full of loud,
deafening choruses. It seemed to me
there were nothing but choruses-
choruses of monks and soldiers and vii
lage maidens and peasants-andt the noise
wearied me- I did not understand the
plot, and I turned to the spectators for
amusement. Opposite to us, in box
Immediately facing ours, sat a couple
whose appearance arrested my attention.
I could not see the lady's face, for it
was turned away from me toward the
stage, but in her hair was a diamond
comb Of quaint design that took my
fancy. Against the smooth dark tresses
the stones sparkled and glittered as in a
setting of onyx. 1t was warm evening,
but she kept her brocade cloak Of a Gu
rious shade of Rose du Barri pink shot
with gold wrapped closely round her.
She had no bouquet, but in front Of her,
on the ledge of the box, was an enor-
nous black feather fan mounted in tor
toise she'll. Her companion-a slight
man with a pale olive complexion and
dark beard streaked with gray-had a
face that interested me strangely. It
wore such weary expression-more
weary perhaps than actually sad He
looked like a man who at some time or
other during his life had made an effort
beyond his strength and had never re-
covered from the exertion. Like me, he
did not appear to be interested in the
story of the opera.
The noise went on. The peasants re-
tired, and after short love scene be-
tween the hero and the heroine a band
Of soldiers came on and sang to some
very loud music. I leaned back in my
seat My head was beginning to ache
and my eyes to feel tired. I closed them,
simply for a few minutes rest When I
opened them, they seemed to light nat
urally on my opposite neighbors, and I
started as I noticed the changed aspect
Of the box. The lady had evidently
thrown off her cloak and had come more
forward. Her eyes were no longer fixed
on the stage. They were turned toward
me. And what different eyes they were
from those I thought she would possess.
They were soft and yelled by lashes very
little darker than her hair, which could
scarcely be termed golden, it was SC
fair. How could I have believed her to
be a brunette? She must have been
seated in the shade when I first saw her
and had since emerged into the light.
She had moved her fan, and in its place
lay bouquet of mauve and white prim.
ulas. A small bunch of the same flow
ers were pinned into her 1mple high
white dress at the throat and anot hel
showed among the loosely cooled tresses
of her fair hair.
at cannot be the same woman"
said to myself, "and yet my eyes were
not 'closed for more than a. minute OF
two, I am certain. There could not have
been time-and-yet' The Irritating
accompaniment to the recitative," tn.
perfume of my cisaperon hostess bou
'quet, the effort to explain the mystery
the unusualness Of the scene, and tn,
exhausted state of the air, all combined
to produce an overpowering effect OF
my brain. closed my eyes again ant
was very nearly sasleep-not quite, an
ncertain-when touch from Mrs. Wal
dos fan and the sound of a light, un
familiar laugh recalled me to mysel
and to a consciousness of my duty.
The first act had come to All end, an<
a gentleman had just entered our box t.
pay his respects to my chaperon, VIII,
forthwith introduced us, Mr.. Venning
Miss IIinthrop." bowed and felt yer,
:sheepish- had literally been ,cafgh
mapping. Mrs. Waldo's explanation wa
not soothing:
Miss Linthrop is unaccustomed tt
late hours, Mr.. Venning. This is hel
first season, and her very FIRST opera.
wish for her sake that it had been {
more amusing one. Valezzi has clearly
mistaken his vocation. He must never
attempt another opera, mnst he? ThiI
one is sdeplorabay dull. -
lit is, as far as we have gone. But
still ones first opera is always
first opera, and one is too well amused
to be hypercritical. I'm sure Miss Lin
thop wasn't bored, although she might
have been a little sleepy
was not at all bored, replied,
and then going straight to the point, Al
has ewer been my wont. / continued
who are the people lady and gen.
tleman in the opposite box-the Lady