Connecticut western news., 1895-10-03
THE PRIMULA LADY.

I 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 it's occurrences are indelibly stamped on my memory. I was IT, thoroughly un- 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, the light, the movement, 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 tt be bored. It was heavy opera, so 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 viii lage maidensand peasants-and the noise wearied me. did not understand the plot, and turned to the spectators for amusement. Opposite to us, in box
 
 whose appearance arrested my attention. could not see the lady's face, for it was turned away from me toward the stage, but in her hair was 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. It was a warm evening, but she kept her brocade cloak of cu- 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 companions slight man with pale olive complexion and dark beard streaked with gray-had face that interested me strangely. It wore such weary expression-more weary perhaps thar actually sad. He looked like 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- d tween the hero and the heroine band of soldiers came on and sang to some very loud music. leaned back in my seat. My head was beginning to ache and my eyes to feel tired. I closed them, simply for few minutes rest When opened them, they seemed to light nat urally on my opposite neighbors, and started as noticed the changed aspect of the box. The lady had evidently thrown off her cloak and had come lpore forward. Her eyes were no longer fixed on the stage. They were turned toward me. And what different eyes they were from those 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 so fair. How could have believed her to be brunette? She must have been seated in the shade when first saw her and had since emerged into the light She had moved her fan, and in it's place lay bouquet of mauve and white prim- ulas. A small bunch of the same flow CTS were pinned into her simple high white dress at the throat and another 
 of her fair hair.
 It cannot be the same woman," said to myself, "and yet my eyes were not closed for more than minute or two, am certain. There could not have been ntime-and-yet'' The irritating accompaniment to the 'recitative," the perfume of my chaperon hostess bou- quet, the effort to explain the mystery, the unusualness of the scene, and the exhausted state of the air, all combined to produce an overpowering effect on my brain. I closed my eyes again and was very nearly asleep-not quite, am. certain-when touch from Mrs. Wal dos fan and the sound of light, un- familiar laugh recalled me to myself and to consciousness of my duty. The first act had come to all end, and | a gentleman had just entered our box to | pay his respects to my chaperon, who | forthwith introduced us, "Mr. Venning, Miss I4inthrop." bowed and felt very sheepish. I had literally been caught mapping. Mrs HTaldo's explanation was not soothing:
 1 ''Miss Linthrop is unaccustomed to late hours, MT. Venning. This is her first season, and her very first opera. wish for her sake that it had been a more amusing one. Valezzi has clearly mistaken his vocation. He must never attempt another opera, must he? This one is deplorably dull"
 "It is, as far as we have gone. But still one's first opera is always-one's $ first opera, and one is too we'll amused to be hypercritical. I'm sure Miss Lin throp wasn't bored, although she might have been a little sleepy?"
 1T was not at all bored," replied, and then going straight to the point, as has ever been my wont, r continued "Who are the people-the lady and gen. tleman in the opposite box-the lady with''- "With the primulas, was going to say But, lol they had van ished, and so had she, and in her place sat the tall dark woman in the pink brocade cloak with the diamonds in her hair.
 "The lady with the magnificent cloak?" said Mir. Venning interrogative- ly. "That is Baroness Kurz, and that is her husband with her--or rather he was with her moment ago; but, as you see, he has just left the box"
 "Who is Baron Kurz?"~ asked Mrs.
 Waldo "I am perpetually hearing o1 him. German, of course?"
 "Only partly so," replied MT. Ven
 ming. "He is the son of Scotchman
 who made good deal of money in Cali fornia, and believe his mother was {
 Pole. He was brought up by Germar
 grandfather, whose name he eventually
 took. He is clever fellow, but an un , happy one, always fancy. She was ,
 Miss Charcote, a daughter of Lad,
 Jane Charcote
 "But who was the other lady in tn | box,,-T iuuuirad aaUer1v-ttha lad,