Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-03-05
The stage rang with gay song:

"Red or white liquor,
Coarse or fne
What can T. matter
70 we have wine7"
Students, citizens, soldiers, girls
and matrons whirled lieht-heartedly
before the inn with the figure OF
Racchus for sign. siebel made her
entrance Christine Daae locked
charming in her boys clothes; and
Carlottas partisans expected to hear
her greeted with an ovation which
would have enlightened them as to
the intentions of her friends. But
nothing happened.
On the other hand, when Margarita
crossed the stage and sang the only
two lines allotted her in this second
act:
mo. my lord. not lady am I. nor yet
And do not need an arm to help me on
my way"
Carlotta was received with enthusiast
tic applause. It was SO unexpected
and so uncalled for that those who
knew nothing about the rumors
looked at one another and asked what
was happening. And this act also was
finished without incident.
Then everybody said: "Of course, it
will be during the next act"
Some, who seemed to be better in.
formed than the rest. declared that the
row" would begin with the ballad Of
the King of Thule and rushed to the
subscribers entrance to warn Carlot-
Ia. The managers left the box during
the entr'acte to find out more about
the cabal Of which the stage-manager
had spoken; but they soon returned
to their seats. struggling their shout
ders and treating the whole affair as
silly.
The first thing they saw, on enter.
ing the box, was box of English
sweets on the little shelf of the ledge.
Who had put it there? They asked
the box-keepers, but none of them
knew. Then they went back to the
shelf and next to the box of sweets,
found an opera glass. They looked at
each other. They had no inclination
to laugh. All that Nine. CRY had told
them returned to their memory /.
and then and then (.
they seemed to feel a curious sort OF
draft around them. They sat
down in silence.
The scene represented Margarita's
garden:
Gentle f,ow'rs in the dew,
BE message from me. 30
with her bunch of roses and lilacs in
her hand, Christine. raising her head,
saw the Vicomte de Chagny in his
box; and, from that moment. her
voice seemed less sure, less crystal
clear than usual. Something seemed
to deaden and duh her singing.
What a queer girl she Isl" said
one of Carlotta's friends in the stalls,
almost aloud. "The other day she
was divine; and tonight she's simply
bleating. She has no experience. no
training"
Gentle fow'rs lie We there
And tell her from me -
The viscount put his head under his
hands and wept. The count, behind
him, viciously gnawed his mustache.
shrugged his shoulders and frowned.
For him, usually so cold and correct.
to betray his inner feelings like that,
by outward signs, the count must be
very angry. He was. He had seen
bis brother return from rapid and
journey in an alarming
state OF health. The explanation that
followed was unsatisfactory and the
count asked Christine Daae for an ap-
pointment She had the audacity to
reply that she could not see either
him or his brother.
''would she but deign to hear me
And with one smile to cheer me-"
1.-THE little baggage!" growled the
count.
And he wondered what she wanted.
What she was hoping for.
She was virtuous girl. she was said
to have no friend. no protector of any
sort. That angel from the
north must be very artful!
Raoul. behind the curtain of his
hands that yelled his boyish tears.
thought only of the letter which he
received on his return to Paris. where
fleeing from Perros like
thief in the night, had arrived before
him:
MY Dear Little Playfellow:
you must have the courage not to
see me again. not to speak OF me
again. = If you love me just little. do
this for me. for me who will never
forget you, my dear Raoul My life
depends upon it. Your life depends
upon it,
YOUR LITTLE CHRISTINE"
Thunders of applause. Carlotta made
her entrance.
II wish l could but know who was he
That addressed me,
II he was noble. or at least, what his
name Is -.
When Margarita had finished sing
Ing the ballad of the King of Thule,
she was loudly cheered and again
when she came to the end of the jewel
song:
"Ah. the iov Of past compare
These jewels bright to wear!"