Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-03-05

position, as the reader knows. NJ.
Richard and M. Noncharmin were
thinking of nothing but their ghost.
"Vain, In vain do ] call, through my vigil
weary.
On creation and its Lord!
Never reply will break the silence dreary!
No sign. No single world"
The famous baritone, Carolus Fon-
tn. had hardly finished Doctor Faust's
first appeal to the powers OF darkness.
when NJ Firmin Richard, who was
sitting in the ghosts own chair, the
front chair on the right, leaned over
to his partner and asked him chatting.
ly:
We'll, has tho ghost whispered a
word in your ear YETI"
wait, don't be in such hurry"
replied NJ. Armand Moncharmin, in
the same gay tone. The perform
ance has only begun and you know
that the ghost does not usually come
until the middle OF the first act
The first act passed without Incl
dent, which did not surprise Carlotta's
friends, because Margarita does not
sing in this act. As tor the managers,
they looked at each other, when the
curtain fell.
That's one" said Moncharmin.
Yes. the ghost is late" said Fir
min Richard.
It's not bad house, said Mon.
charmin. for a house with a curse
on it.
NJ. Richard smiled and pointed to
fat, rather vulgar woman, dressed in
black. sitting in stall in the mid
die OF the auditorium with man in a
broadcloth frock.coa on either side
Of her.
who on earth are 'those?" asked
Moncharmin.
Those, my dear fellow. are my
concierge, her husband and her
brother"
Did you give them their tickets?'
Il did. =. My concierge had
never been to the opera--this is the
first time-and, as she is now going
to come every night. wanted her to
have good seat, before spending her
time showing other people to theirs"
Moncharmin asked what he meant
and Richard answered that he had
persuad ed his concierge. in whom he
had the greatest confidence, to come
and take Name Girys place. Yes, he
would like to see If, with that woman
instead of the old lunatic. Box Five
would continue to astonish the ma,
tives?
by the way" said Moncharmin,
you know that Mother CRY is going
to lodge complaint against you"
with whom? The ghost?"
The ghost. Moncharmin had al
most forgotten him. However, that
mysterious person did nothing to bring
himself to the memory OF the man
ayers: and they We're Just saying sc
to each other for the second time
wheE the door OF the box suddenly
opened to admit the startled stage
manager.
whats the matter?" they both
asked, amazed at seeing him there al
such time.
1T seems there's a plot got up BY
Christine Daae's friends against Car
lotta. Carlotta's furious
What on earth -" said Rich
ard, knitting his brows.
But the curtain rose on the kermess
scene and Richard made sign tc
the stagemanager to go away. When
the two were alone again, Monchar
min leaned over to Richard:
"Then Daae has friends?" he asked
Yes, she has
"Whom?'
Richard glanced across at a box on
the grand tier containing no one but
two men.
The Comte de Chagny?'
Yes. he spoke to me in her favor
with such warmth that, if had not
known him to be Sorelli's friend -
Really? Really?" said Monchar.
min. and who Is that pale young
man beside him."
That's his brother, the viscount.''
"He ought to be in his bed. He
looks ILL.,"