The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-18

talk of nothing but the opera. They
We're all going. They had boarded up
their money and bought their tickets,
and heaven would open Monday night
at O'Clock sharp. The parsons wife
began to wish that the opera company
would stay away. Then she wished
that 1t would come and that her hus-
pand was doctor or a lawyer or a
broker or anything so that she might
De justified in going. Alasl who is
strong to stand in the hour of tempta-
ton? She had hardly wished the last
wish when her husbands brother, a
worldly amusement-loving fellow came
in. Say" said he, come to the opera
wednesday night. Jim's away and all
the church folks will be at prayer meet
ing and nobody'll know the difference.
sue and are going Monday and Tues
day, but she says she doesn't care a
rap for this 'A-dea' or Idea or what
ever you call it, and she said she knew
you'd enjoy it,
"oh, you know I would. Fred. but
would it be right?"
Right? OF course. Come on. It'll
do you good"
But you know James thought he
would be home by Wednesday in time
for prayer meeting"
WELL I'll fix that Look over your
apparel and come along. I'll call for
you at about half past O'clock"
The parsons wife had many qualms
during the next few days. She said to
herself over and over again that there
is nothing wicked in opera, unless it
is the ballet She hoped there would
be no announcement of ballet but
there would be one nevertheless. She
wanted to know what the shocking
thing is like
She was relieved when she found her
self in the balcony of the music hall
Wednesday night with not a soul any
where about whom she knew Pres
emily two persons brushed past them
and sank into the next seats, and then
she heard a familiar voice cry, why,
Sister Goodman! You herev'
Alas. for the parsons wife, two of
the stanchest members of the church
were there beside her. There was moth
ing for 1t but to brazen IL out. They
were just as culpable as she was. Yes,
I'm here. / just couldn't stay away,p
she said. And you. Why are you not
at church,"
Well we couldn't stay away, eth
err said Brother Baldwin. He saw
that the parsons wife was somewhat
i'll at ease, and when the curtain de-
scended on the first act he diverted
himself at her expense. Dear me-"
said he, why, 1t looks as though most
of the fathers in Israel were here to-
night"
What? What do you mean?" asked
the scandalized parsons wife.
why, way over there i see Brother
Siddons. and there's Father Blodgett
down there in a box, and"
Where? where?" cried the parsons
wife, clapping her opera glasses to her
eyes You don't mean to say Father
Blodgett would come to the opera, of
all thingsr' 49, #r..--------...- $3.50. y
Look out! look OUT he's squirting up
here and he'll see your
The parsons wife involuntarily
ducked. Indeed, the opera was WE'LL
nigh finished before she was assured
that the venerable churchmen whom
Brother Baldwin had pretended to
point out were not in the audience. /
And she was glad, for she did not think /
that the ballet would have been good |
for them. When she got home whom .
should she find there but the parson
himself, who had arrived by a late
train. Goodness. my DEAR" said he,
looking at the clock, What an extraor-
binary long meeting tonight"
YES" said she, looking at her hus-
bands brother in agonizing appeal.
1T was long,"