Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-07-05

ihtci HiisslOH between the second ana
third acts, when young woman en-
tered 1t. She was alone, and seated
herself with such an air of languid in
difference to operas in general and to
Carmen" in particular that one won
dered for what reason she chose to
lend her presence to the scene. She
did not even raise her lorgnet and
sweep the house with an inventorying
glance. Many glasses, however, were
leveled at her. Even In The family
circle there was murmur of recog'
milton. Sydenham Willoughby's
laughter was familiar to all classes of
society, for reporters heralded her do
ings and printed her portrait when
there was the slightest excuse for it
and often when there was none, be.
cause she was beauty as well as an
heiress. Leaning back in her seat she
was ravishing vision. Her black vel
vet costume was in sharp contrast to
the ivory-whiteness of her skin, and
there was an unusual charm in her
expression and manner, which her air
of unconcern heightened.
The curtain rose. There was twi'
light and fire-glow in the smuggler's
stronghold. The audience drew quiet
breaths while the strains of the ex.
quisite prelude sounded. Gilmore Will
loughby looked on as one who, seeing,
sees not, and having ears, hears not.
She had not drifted to the opera house
that day, nor yet had she come to hear
Carmen" for the twentieth time,
Each motif and action she could an.
ticipate, but for her there was no
motive of any Importance except that
which was the key to her own personal
affair. The singers might have been
puppets, might have left the stage, the
audience might have dispersed-and
she would scarcely have taken note of
it. She only saw before her those
scenes which for many days had been
filling her mental vision.
She had come to the opera for free.
dom; to think, to decide; to avoid
questioning eyes and testing voices,
for her world was waiting breathless
TO hear the truth. The solitude of her
own room was oppressive-she craved
the aloneness that only a crowd can
give. To come to a decision--why
should she? Life was pure pleasure
as it had been-why must it change?
She was possessed with feeling OF
profound irritation that all the pc.
tentialities of wealth and beauty
which before had shielded her from
every annoyance now availed nothing.
Decision could not be bought not put
aside on any preteXt. What should
she do? Which should it be? Pros
and cons presented themselves in
quick succession. Moods as varying as
the colors in bubble claimed her for
their own. What should she do?
In the stage twilight Mercedes and
Frasquita shutiied cards and read their
destinies in clear tones. To Gilmore
the recitative brought only the famil-
lar voice of one in her mind-picture;
Luomo che amared amaro!" c'Iiim l
loved and will love ever"). Before
Gilmore there stood form, young and
strong and masterful, with a proud
Joy in smile and gesture. There was
moonlight-the dash of waves over the
rocks-a woman's promise given.
"Un amor -si Carmen non qua
durar!" ("Carmen's love does not
last").
Quickly Elinore's first mind-picture
gave place to more brilliant one, and
in it she was central figure against
background of the luXuries she loved.
She saw retinue of attendants, thor
oughbred horses, rare jewels, houses
and lands-and beside her small, bent
and insignificant-th master of it all.
With nervous restlessness she changed
her position, feeling that emotion was
overmastering the voice of calm rea-
son. The curtain fell on the twilight
scene, the lights flashed high again.
Gilmore drew herself up in dignitied
erectness as IL to defy the weakness
that was enticing her, and spoke with
in herself.
at is right and best. The other
would be madness. ] should be I'M
hap" but even the thought shrank
back unfinished in the presence Of a
great truth. Hush!-the first violin
the haunting thrilling Toreador mu-
sic! Over her nature swept second
wave Of stern resolve. And yet the
eternal feminine still asserted itself.
Resolved irresolute; firm, undecided
Gilmore paused, for one recapitulat-
ing moment before the irrevocable
aman of her choice should be said.
In the adjoining box plainly
gowned woman had entered, was seat
ing herself with the children, beside
golden-haired Agatha. Turning to her
with a quick scream of joy, Agatha's
chubby finger slid down the front OF
the plain black waist, from one button
to another, while the sweet, shrill
voice rang out: Rich man!-Poor
man!-Oh, auntie, auntie, it's poor
mani"
Everyone who saw, and heard, and
understood, smiled; some who had
counted buttons in long gone cLlld
hood, sighed; but the person who sat
alone in No. II grand tier neither
smiled nor sighed. Turning startled
eyes upon the little fortune teller
Gilmore Willoughby's resolve gave way
before the sacred featherweight OF
omen to which her heart was ready to
respond.
The child Agatha counted buttons
and by so doing became the uncon
scious arbiter of destiny.
Reform mt Buffalo.
1t may cost you 5000 to be put of
at Buffalo this summer, warningly re
| marks the Chicapo Tribune If w,