The Arvada enterprise., 1913-07-03

nST plaCe ut u IuOLnSDl Hptlce- W men
Carlotta heard of the astounding re-
ception bestowed upon her under
study, she was at once cured OF an
incipient attack of bronchitis and a
bad fit of sulking against the manage
ment, and lost the slightest incllna-
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 tri-
umph Certain newspapers which had
begun to eXtol the talent OF Christine
now interested themselves only in the
fame of Carlotta. Lastly, in the the
alter 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 a
few oaths in her native Spanish with
very determined ar.
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 that she
was threatened at that evenings per-
Torrance with a 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 th/ selves prepared for any
eventI-s, and to silence the adver-
sarig ~ as she feared. they created
a <Aturbance.
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.
1t was five O'Clock when the post
brought a second anonymous letter in
tho sauna bo,d % tho erst II w,s
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 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 NJ.
Richard and NJ. 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. 80 as to stop 1t then and
there but this was unJustitiable sup
position, as the reader knows. M.
Richard and M. Moncharmin were
thinking OF nothing but their ghost.
"va,p, In vain do 7 call tbropph NV y,pu
weary.
On creation and Its Lord
Nerei fep'' w'a o,ean L'.e s'e"'e III e"'S'
The famous baritone. Carolus Fon-
ia. had hardly finished Doctor Faust's
first appeal to the powers OF darkness.
when NJ. Firmin Richard. who was
sitting in the ghosts own chair. the
front chair on the right, leaned over
to his partner and asked him chatting
ly:
We'll, has the ghost whispered
word in your ear YETI"
Wait, don't be in such hurry"
replied NJ. 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