Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-03-29
his brOther'S hand

He dismissed the servants with a
wave of the hand and the two
Chagnys were left alone. But the men
were not out of earshot before the
counts valet heard Raoul say, dis.
tinctly and emphatically:
81 shall carry off Christine Daae to-
night"
This phrase was afterward repeated
to M. Faure, the examining-magis-
trate. But no one ever knew exactly
what passed between the two broth
ers at this interview. The servants
declared that this was not their first
quarrel. Their voices penetrated the
wall; and it was always an actress
called Christine Daae that was in
question.
At breakfast-the early morning
breakfast, which the count took in
his study-Philippe sent for his broth
er. Raoul arrived silent and gloomy.
The scene was very short one. Phil
ippe handed his brother copy OF the
Epoque and said:
Read that"
The viscount read:
"The latest news in the Faubourg
Ia that there is promise of marriage
between Mile. Christine Daae, the
opera-singer, and M. lie Vicomte Raoul
de Chagny. If the gossips are to be
credited, Count Philippe has sworn
that, for the first time on record, the
Chagnys shall not keep their promise.
But. as love is all-powerful. at the
opera as-and even more than-else'
where, we wonder how Count Philippe
intends to prevent the viscount. his
brother, from leading the new Mar
garita to the altar. The two broth.
ers are said to adore each other; but
the count is curiously mistaken If he
imagines that brotherly love will tri'
umph over love pure and simple"
"You see, Raoul," said the count,
''you are making us ridiculous! That
little girl has turned your head with
her ghost-stories."
The viscount had evidently repeat.
ed Christine's narrative to his broth.
er, during the night. All that he now
said was:
"Good.by. Philippe"
"Have you quite made up your
mind? Are you going tonight? With
herr"
No reply.
Surely you will not do anything 80
foolish? I shall know how to pre-.
vent you!"
"Good-by, Philippe" said the Wis.
count again and left the room.
This scene was described to the ex.
aiming ma gistrate by the count him.
self, who did not see Raoul again I'M
til that evening, at the opera, a few
minutes before Christmas disappear.
ance.
Raoul, in fact, devoted the whole
day to his preparations for the flight.
The horses, the carriage, the coach
man, the provisions, the luggage, the
money required for the journey, the
road to be taken Che had resolved not
to go by train, SO as to throw the
ghost off the SCENT: all this had to
be settled and provided for; and 1t
occupied him until nine o'clock at
night.
At nine o'clock, sort Of travelling
barouche with the curtains OF its win
dows close-down, took its place in the
rank on the Rotunda side. It was
drawn by two powerful horses driven
by coachman whose face was al
most concealed in the long folds Of q
muff1er. In front of this travelling
carriage were three broughams. be-
longing respectively to Carlotta, who
had sudd emily returned to Paris. to
Sorelli and, at the head of the rank,
to Comte Philippe de Chagny. No one
left the barouche. The coachman re-
NAMED on his box, and the three other
coachmen remained on theirs.
A shadow in long black cloak and
! a soft black felt hat passed along the
pavement between the Rotunda and
the carriages, examined the barouche
carefully. went up to the horses and
the coachman and then moved away
without saying q word. The magis'
trate afterward believed that this
shadow was that of the Vicomte Raoul
de Chagny; but do not agree. see
ing that that evening. as every eve
! ming, the Vicomte de Chagny was
wearing q tall hat, which hat, be
sides, was subsequently found. l am
more inclined to think that the shadow
was that of the ghost. who knew all
about the whole affair, as the reader
will soon perceive.
They were giving Faust. as 1t hap
pened, before a splendid house. The
! Faubourg was magnificently repre-
scented; and the paragraph In that
mornings Epoque had already pro-
duced It's effect, for ally eyes were
turned to the box in which Count
Philippe sat alone. apparently in q
/. very Indifferent and careless frame OF
mind. The feminine element in the
brilliant audience seemed curiously
puzzled; and the viscount's absence
gave rise to any amount of whisper
ing behind the fans. Christine Daae
met with rather cold reception. That
special audience could not forgive her
for aiming 80 high.
The singer noticed this unfavorable
attitude of portion Of the house and
was confused by 1t.
[; The regular frequenters OF the
opera, who pretended to know the
truth about the viscount's love-story,
exchanged significant smiles at GER
tain passages in Margarita's part; and
they made a show of turning and look
ing at Philippe de Chagny's box when
Christine sang:
wish could but know who was he