Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-02-27
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER I.-Consternation IL caused
on .t the e, last night that the Opera is man. n,
the appearance of a ghost. said to have
been In evidence on several previous oc-
casions. Later In the evening Joseph
Buquet Is found dead. having hanged
himself.
CHAPTER II.-Christine Daae. a menu
to fill very important part and scores
q great success. Count de Chagny and
his brother Raou are among those who
applaud the singer. Raoul tries to see
unable to do so and later discovers that
some one is making love to her. She
emerses alone, and upon entering the
room he finds 1t empty.
CHAPTER III-While the farewell
ceremony for the retiring managers is
goinns on, the Opera Ghost appears and
death. Richard and Moncharmin. the
new managers. are then informed OF the
clause in the contract which stipulates
that certain sum shall be paid to tho
ghost and that box No. shall be re-
served for him.
CHAPTER Iv.-Box No. s Is sold with
disastrous results. The managers receive
letter from the Opera Ghost calling at
tention to the error. The box keeper Is
called In and gives her experience with
the ghost.
The first time that Raoul saw Chris
tine at the opera, he was charmed by
the girls beauty and by the sweet
images of the past which it evoked,
but was rather surprised at the mega
tive side of her art. He returned to
listen to her. He followed her in the
wings. He waited for her behind
Jacobs ladder. He tried to attract
her attention. More than once, he
walked after her to the door OF her
box, but she did not see him. She
seemed, for that matter, to see no.
body. She was all Indifference. Raoul
suffered, for she was very beautiful
and he was shy and dared not con-
Tess his love, even to himself. And
then came the lightning-fiash OF the
gala performance:-the heavens torn
asurder and an angels voice heard
upon earth for the delight OF mankind
and the utter capture of his heart.
And then and then there
was that mans voice behind the door
You must love me!"-and no one
In the room.
Why did she laugh when he remind
ed her of the incident of the scarf?
Why did she not recognize him? And
why had she written to him?
Perros was reached at last. RaOIl
walked into the smoky sitting-rocm OF
the Setting Sun and at once saw Chris
tine standing before him, smiling and
no establishment.
so you have Gomez" she said. II
felt that should find you here, when
[ came back from mass. Some one
told me so, at the church."
"Who?" asked Raoul, taking her
little hand in his.
"Why. my poor father. who is
dead"
There was silence; and then
Raoul asked:
Did your father tell you that
love you, Christine, and that can
not live without you?"
Christine blushed to the eyes and
turned away her head. In a trem.
bling voice. she said:
ME? You are dreaming. my
'riend!"
And she burst out laughing, to put
herself in countenance.
Don't laugh, Christine; l am quite
Raoul answered.
And she replied gravely: II did not
make you come to tell me such things
Is that"
you made me come Christine;
you knew that your letter would not
cave me indignant and that l should
hasten to Perros. How can you have
bought that. ii you did not think
owed yOu?"
Il thought you would remember our
.ames here. as children. in which my
ather so often joined. l really don't
Know what | thought. Per
laps I was wrong to write to you.
This anniversary and your
sudden appearance in my room at the
opera the other evening reminded me
# the time long past and made me
write to you as the little girl that
hen was.
There was something in Christine's
Lttitude that seemed to Raoul not
latural. He did not feel any hostility
n her; far from it: the distressed af-
ection shining in her eyes told him
hat. But why was this affection dis
ressed? That was what he wished
o know and what was irritating him.
when you saw me in your dress
ng-room, was that the first time you
oticed me, Christine?"
She was incapable of lying.
NO." she said, Il had seen you sew.
raj times in your brothers box. And
lso on the stage!"
Il thought sol" said Raoul, COM
ressing his lips. But then why,
Ihen you saw me In your room, at
our feet, reminding you that l had
escued your scarf from the sea. why
i'd you answer as though you did not
now ME and also why did you
augh?"
The tone OF these questions was so
ough that Christine stared at Raoul
'1thOut replying. The young man him.
elf was aghast at the sudden quarrel
'hich he had dared to raise at the
cry moment when he had resolved to
peak words OF gentleness, love and
ubmission to Christine. A husband.
lover with all rights, would talk
O differently to wife, a mistress
tho had offended him But he had
one too far and saw no other way
ut OF the ridiculous position than to
ehave odiously.
You don't answer" he said angrily
nd unhappily. Well, will answer