Gilpin observer., 1913-07-31

CarlOtta nearO OF the aStOuuulu8 70
ception bestowed upon her under
study. she was at once cured OF an
incipient attack OF bronchitis and q
bad AT OF sulking against the manage
ment, and lost the slightest incAna-
ton to shirk her duties. From that
time, she worked with all her might
to smother" her rival, enlisting the
services. OF influential friends to per-
suade the managers not to give Chris
tine an opportunity for fresh trt-
umph. Certain newspapers which had
begun to extol the talent Of Christine
now interested themselves only in tho
fame OF Carlotta. Lastly, in the the
ater itself. the celebrated. but heart
less and soulless diva made the most
scandalous remarks about Christine
and tried to cause her endless minor
unpleasantnesses.
When Carlotta had finished think
ing over the threat contained in the
strange letter. she got up.
I'VE shall see," she said, adding q
few oaths in her native Spanish with
a very determined air.
The first thing she saw, when look
ing out of her window, was a hearse.
She was very superstitious; and the
hearse and the letter convinced her
that she was running the most serious
dangers that evening. She collected
all her supporters. told them that she
was threatened at that evenings per-
formance with a plot organized Dy
Christine Daae and declared that they
must play a trick upon that chit by
filling the house with her, Cariotta's,
admirers. She had no lack OF them,
had she? She relied upon them to
hold themselves prepared for any
eventuality and to silence the adver-
saries, II, as she feared. they created
disturbance.
M. Richards private secretary
called to ask after the diva's health
and returned with the assurance that
she was perfectly we'll and that.
were she dying" she would sing the
part OF Margarita that evening. The
secretary urged her. in his chiefs
name, to commit no imprudence. to
stay at home all day. and to be care
full of drafts; and Carlotta could not
help, after he had gone. comparing
this unusual and unexpected advice
with the threats contained in the let
ter.
It was i've o'clock when the post
brought a second anonymous letter in
the same hand as the first. 1t was
short and said simply:
You have a bad cold. II you are
wise. you will see that 1t is madness
to try to sing tonight"
Carlotta sneered. shrugged her
handsome shoulders and sang two or
three notes to reassure herself.
Her friends were faithful to their
promise. They were all at the opera
that night. but looked round in vain
for the fierce conspirators whom they
were instructed to suppress. The only
unusual thing was the presence OF M.
Richard and M. Moncharmin in Box
Five Carlotta's friends thought that,
perhaps. the managers had wind. on
their side. of the proposed disturbance
and that they had determined to be
in the house. so as to stop 1t then and
there: but this was un1ustinable sup
position. as the reader knows. M.
Richard and NJ. Moncharmin were
thinking Of nothing but their ghost.
..vainl In vain do call. through my vigil
weary.
On creation and its Lord!
Never reply will break the silence drearyl
No signl No single word!"
The famous baritone, Caroius Fon-
ia. had hardly finished Doctor Faust's
first appeal to the powers of darkness
when M. Firmin Richard. who was
sitting In the ghosts own. chair, the
front chair on the right. leaned over
to his partner and asked him chaffing
ly:
well. has the ghost whispered q
word in your ear YETI"
wait, don't be in such q hurry
replied M. 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 q
friends, because Margarita does no,
sing In this act AS for 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 q bad house." said Mon
charmin, for a house with a curse
on IT."
M. Richard smiled and pointed to 6
fat, rather vulgar woman. dressed II
black. sitting in a stall in the mid
die OF the auditorium with q man in q
broadcioth frock-coat on either side
| OF her.
who on earth are 'those?" asked
Moncharmin.
Those my dear fellow, are my
concierge, her husband and hel
brother"
did you give them their tickets?"
~ did. My concierge hac