Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-11-08
THE PRIMULA LADY.

ODOld3 WuLU IL WAS dDOuO anu VIII SGltf3
in it, but I 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. 1 was II, thoroughly un-
musical, but possessed of a 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 to be bored.
1t was heavy opera, SO l was told,
with no "airs' in it, and full of loud,
deafening choruses. 1t seemed to me
there were nothing but choruses-
choruses of monks and soldiers and vii
lage maidens and peasants the noise
wearied me- 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 i'll
setting of onyx. 1t was warm evening,
but she kept her brocade cloak Of Gu
rious shade of Rose du Bari 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 shell. Her companion-a slight
man with pale olive complexion and
dark beard streaked with gray-had a
wore such a weary xpression-more
weary perhaps than actually sad. He
looked like man who at some time OF
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. Ny head was beginning to ache
and my eyes to feel tired I closed them,
simply for 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 simple high
white dress at the throat and another
showed among the loosely coiled tresses
of her fair hair.
SIT cannot be the same woman, p" l
said to myself, "and yet my eyes were
not closed for more than minute Or
two, am certain. There could not have
been time-and-y = The irritating
accompaniment to the 'recitative, =" the
perfume Of my chaperon hostess bou-
Nuet, the effort to explain the mystery,
the unusualness of the scene, and the
exhausted state Of the air, all combined
10 produce an overpowering effect on
my brain. I closed my eyes again and
was very nearly asleep-not quite, I am
certain-whep touch from Mrs. Wal
DOS fan and the sound of light, I'M
familiar laugh recalled me to myself
and to q 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 IIinthrop." I bowed and felt very
sheepisil. I had literally been caught
mapping. Mrs. Waldo's explanation was
mot soothing:
"Miss Linthrop is nnaceustomed to
late I,cars, Mr.. Venning. This is her
first season, and her very first opera. I
wish for her sake that it had been a
more amusing one. Taiezzi has clearly
mistaken ais vocation. He mast never
attempt another opera, must he? This
one is deplorably dull, -
sit is, as far as we have gone. But
still ones first opera is jalways-one' s
first opera, and one is too well amused
to be hypercritical. Tn sure Miss Lin
fhrop wasn't bored, although she might
hayg been little sleepy?''
81 wag not at all bored,'' replied.
and thea going straight to the point, as
has ever been nay wont, continued !:
'sEho are the people-the lady and gen
tlenlal in the opposite bex-the lady
with with the primulas, ] was
going to say. But, 10! they had van
jshed, and SO had she. and in her
place sat the tall dark woman in the
pink brocade cloak with the diamonds
jim her haig.
''The lady with the magnificent
c1oak?'' said Mr.. Venning interrogative-
ly. "That is Baroness Kurz. and that
is her husband with her-or rathey sls
was with hes moment ago; but, as you
s5e, he has Just left the box -
"Who is Baron Kurz3'' asked Mrs.
Waldo. 81 ana perpetaallg hearing Of
him. German, of course?''
'Only partly CO., replied Mr.. Yep-
hing "He is the son Of Scotchanan,
who made good deal Of money in Cali
fornia, and ! believe his mother was a
Pole. He was brought up by German
grandfather, whose pa.ns he eventually
f5ooR He is clever fellow, bat an un-
happy one, I always fancy. She was g.
Miss Chareote, 2 daughter Of Lady
Jane Charcote"
''But who was the other lady in the
box''-I inquired eagerly-sfthe lady
with the primulas?''
'fThere was no other lady in Kurz's
box tonight, Miss Linthrop. You must
have been looking at some other boz"
Mrs. Waldo laughed. "My young
friend has been dreaming, Mr.. Ven
ming -