The Elbert County tribune., 1913-08-15

study, she was at once cured OF an
incipient attack of bronchitis and a
bad flt OF sulking against the manage
ment. and lost the slightest inciina-
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 a fresh trf-
umph. Certain newspapers which had
begun to extol the talent OF Christine
now interested themselves only in the
fame OF Carlottn. Lastly. In the the
ater itself. the celebrated. but heart
less and souiless 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
few oaths in her native Spanish with
a very determined air
The first thing she saw, when look
ing out OF her window. was 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 :ss=-. she
was threatened at that evenings per
Torrance with plot organized by
Christine Daae and declared that they
must play a trick upon that chit by
filling the house with her. Carlotta'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, If, as she feared, they created
disturbance
NJ. Richards private secretary
called to ask after the diva's health
and returned with the assurance that
she was perfectly well 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.
1t was five O'Clock when the post
brought second anonymous letter in
the same hand as the first. II was
short and said simply:
You have 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 we're 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 NJ Moncharmin in Box
Five. Carlottas 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 It then and
there: but this was un1ustifiabIe sup
position. as the reader knows. M.
Richard and NJ Moncharmfn were
thinking OF nothing but their ghost.
"vaini In vain do call. through my vigil
weary.
On creation and its Lordi
Never reply will break the silence drearyi
No signl No single wordi'
The famous baritone, Caroius Fon-
ia, had hardly finished Doctor Faust's
first appeal to the powers OF darkness.
when NJ Firmfn 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 a
word in your ear YETI"
Wait, don't be In such a 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 8
friends, because Margarita does not
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.
ITS not a bad house." said Mon
chai uhihs iof nouee Win CURSE
on it
M. Richard smiled and pointed to a
fat. rather vulgar woman. dressed in
black, sitting in stall in the mid
die of the auditorium with man in a
broadcloth frock-coat 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 haen to the nnara-thfa Ia the