The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-02-02
THE MYSTERIOUS
PRIMA DONNA.
She Came From No One Knew Where
and Disappeared as Strangely.
A Diamond Earring Re-
vealed Who She Was.
BY HARRIET E. MEAD.

1t was the third day of the carnival at
tcrpiece, Lucia di Lammermoor," had
been revived and was to be presented for
the first time in this country by COM
pany of Italians. New Orleans was in
an uproar, the streets, squares and ar
cades were illuminated, while the joyous
laughter of 10000 pleasure seekers made
the old streets ring and echo again, and
the st. Charles thcater, ablaZe with glo-
ry, had placed before its entrance in let
tiers of fame the magic word. Lucia"
No wonder the crowd fastened thither,
for it was the first presentation, and
fame, beauty or gold could not force an
entrance. 1t was now o'clock, and the
pit and gallery, boxes and stalls of the
immense theater were crowded to suffo-
cation. Two thousand eager people were
waiting with subdued frenzy for the cur
tain to rise.
The heat was sitting. At 7:3O the
overture began. The immense throng
was silenced at the first wave Of the con-
ductor's baton. How the audience was
moved! How it trembled with expectant
ecstasy! For were they not to hear Cas-
sella, the gifted songstress, over whom
all continental Europe was wild? The
curtain rose.
The hunters chorus was listened to
with Indifferent attention. The baritone's
song which followed caused but n slight
impression in spite of its excellence, and
the shifting of the scene to the park
where Lucia makes her first appearance
was welcomed with hushed murmur of
delight. There was q sudden hush, a mo-
ment of suspense, while they waited the
entrance of the angel voiced Cassella.
A frail, white robed female form adj
vanced toward the footlights. Her eyes
were cast down, and she moved slowly
to the center of the stage. There she
stood still, raised her eyes and gazed
upon the audience.
A howl of anger and disappointment
arose from the crowded house.
"She is not Cassella" was echoed on
all sides. Groans, Kissing and stamp
ing of feet drowned the orchestra. The
frail woman confronting the audience
seemed not in the least disconnected
and walked leisurely around the stage
during the uproar.
side scenes who is that womanT he
asked. mo one knows-no one saw her
enter" was the reply.
The unknown prima donna seemed to
rouse herself from her pensiveness and
again took her position at the center Of
the stage.
The clamor had ceused. She raised her
eyes and stood in the full force Of the
light. She was wondrously beautiful,
but white-white as a shroud of snow,
deathly, specially white. Not tinge
of color enhanced the marble beauty of
her face. which was faultlessly Greek.
Her eyes. black and radiant, flashed
luridly. When she dropped them, their
tint became sud, gray and crepuscular.
Her lips shone red Us vermillIon and
seemed like gash-like hideous CASH
when contrasted with the glacial white
ness and rightly Of her face. Her hair,
long and purpljsh, rioted over her Shout
ders. She had no ornaments. A tube
rose thrust in n rebelious curl adorned
her brow. Around her throat was
piece Of broad, black velvet. Her gown
was all white.
She gazed wcirdly upon the audience
and began, in strange, unearthly tone
of voice, the ravishing aria Of Lucia"
upon her entrance. l recall perfectly
the cold sensation and chilliness l felt
when she delivered the first few notes
Vi utT SOUS. 1t 10 NE as IL SOlllc
humid cavern had been suddenly opened
upon me and that l had breathed the first
icy watts of air cmanating therefrom.
She continued Not sound save her
voice was heard. Her hands hung list
lcssly by her side. | do not remember
how she finished. 1 heard her first
strange tones change to n soft. sweet
voice of fascinating, bell-like brilliancy
and awoke from trance by hearing
the audience shrek and stamp with de-
light The first act ended in an indie
scribable state Of wonder and amaze
ment.
"Who is she?" "Who is she?" "What
a voiccw were the ordinations heard on
all sides
The manager appeared Mt this moment
evidently anxious to find out for himself
who the beautiful songstress was, but
could answer no inquiries.
In the meantime l hurried behind the
scenes and, in company with the mana
ger, sought Cassella's dressing room, OK
pecting to see this marvellous creature.
The apartment was dimly lighted. The
bridal costume for Lucia's second act
was ready on the sofa. 4 bottle of Asst
wine, Cassclla's favorite rcfreshmcnt,
was on the teblc, but naueht proved that
the room hal been occupied previously.
Nothing showed the presence of the new
conner. The manager was called away
and, saying he would return shortly, left
me alone. l waited n few minutes, took
a few whiffs from my cigarette and was
about to leave when | spied upon the
floor an earring of such uncommon size
that l stopped to pick it up and gazed
upon it in wonder.
1t was a solitaire diamond. richly set
and of slightly greenisn color. l knew
the value of green diamonds and esti-
mated this one to be worth $1,000 to
$4,000. l FASTENED down to the man
ager's Office to remit it, thinking 1t be-
iopged to the newcomer or Cassella. :.