The morning times., 1896-01-26

67HE following story is true in al
essential particulars, though, Of
course, names have been altered
Experts in ''psychical research
may differ as TO whether fhe explanation
fs an appariticn or an accident.
I entirely forget the name of the opera,
what it was about and who sang In it;
but know it was the first l ever saw
if, indeed, / can be said to have seen It.
AT all events l was present at the per
formance, and the evening and Its occur
rences are indelibly stamped on my mem
DRY. / was seventeen, thoroughly unmusi
cal, but possessed OF a keen sense Of enjoy
ment, and the scene, looked upon for the
first time in my life, delighted me. The
fair faces, the gorgeous toilets, the hum
of voices, the light, the movement, all com
bined 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 a
heavy opera, so was told, with no airs
in 1t and fun of loud, deafening choruses.
II seemed TO me there was nothing but
choruses-choruses of monks, and soldiers,
and village maidens, and peasants, and the
noise wearied ME.
did not understand the plot, and
turned to the spectators for amusement.
Opposite to us, in box Immediately fac
Ing ours, sat couple whose appearance
arrested my attention. could not see
the lady's face, for it was turned away
from me to 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. 1t was a warm
evening, but she kept her brocade cloak
of a curious shade of Rose du Barri pink
shot with gold wrapped closely around
her. She had no bouquet, but in front of
her, on ledge of the box, was an enor-
nous black feather fan, mounted in tor
toiseshell. Her compaDion-a slight man
with pale olive complexion and dark
beard streaked with gray-had face that
interested me strangely. 1t Wore such a
weary expressioD-rnore 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 recovered the exertion.
Like me, he did not appear to be interested
in the story Of ''Berna." ] do not think
he turned his eyes once toward the stage.
He seemed to be simply staring into va
CaDcy.
The noise went on. The peasants re-
tired; and, after a short love scene be-
tween the hero and the heroine, a 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.
1 closed them, simply for few minutes
rest, When / opened them they seemed to
light naturally on my opposite neighbor,
and started as 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 /
thought she would possess. They were soft
and round and hlnp a c nanlanbi1o
were yeiled by lashes very little darker
than her hair, which could scarcely be
termed golden, IL was so fair. How could
i 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
Its place lay bouquet of niauve and white
primulas. A small bunch OF the same
flowers was pinned into her simple high
white dress at the throat, and another
showed among the loosely coiled tresses
OF her hair.
1T cannot he the same woman" said
to myself; and yet my eyes were not closed |
for more than minute or two, am GER |
tain. There could not have been time-and-
yet" The irritating accompaniment
to the '.recitatiye,' the perfume o I my chap |
erone-hostess' bouquet, the effort TO eX-
plain the mystery, the unusu a!ness of the |
scene and the exhausted state Of the air,
all combined TO produce an overpowering
effect on my brain. closed my eyes again
and was very nearly asleep-not quite, 1 |
am eertain-w whena touch from Mrs. Waldo's |
fan, and the sound of a light, unfamiliar
laugh. recalled NE TO myself and 10 a con- |
seriousness of my duty.
The first act had come to an end, and Il |
gentleman had just entered our box to pay |
his respects to my cbaperon, who forth 1
with introduced US: "Mr. Venning Miss |
/ bowed and felt very sheep |
lsh. l had literally been caught mapping. |
Mrs. Waldo's explanation was not soothing.
Miss Linthrop is unaccustomed to late
hours, Mr.. Venning. This is her first sea-
son, and her very first opera. l wish for |
her sake that it had been a more amusing /
one. ValezZi has clearly mistaken his vo-
cation He must never attempt another |
opera, must he? This one is dep,orably :
dull"
1T is, as far as we have gone. But still
ones first opera is always-one's first |
opera; and one is too well amused 10 be
hypercritical. I'm sure Miss Linthrop
wasn't bored, although she might have
been little sleepy
II was not at all bored" replied. and
then, going straight TO the point, as has
ever been my wont, continued: "Who are
the people-the lady ard gentleman in the |
opposite boX-the lady WITH with 1
the primulas," was going to say. But, 10,
they had vanished, 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?"
'aid MI Venning, interrogatively. THAT
8 Baroness Kurz, and that is her husband
With her, or, rather, he was with her mo-
nent ago, but, as you see, he has just left
the box"
who is Baron Kurz?'' asked Mrs. Wal.