The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-16
The Dancer and the Duke.

A correspondent writing Of the once
famous danseuse, Fanny Elssler, says:--
ssFanny's beauty and fascination were
very dishonesty employed to win lhe
heart and confidence OF Napoleon ps
only legitimate child, the young Doka de
Reiehstadt. The Duke, delicate in health
from his birth, had never seemed capable
of feeling the least interest in lite. He
was bIGse congenitaliy; nothing could
rouse him from profound indifference
and melancholy that permeated his whole
being. He distrusted everybody; was
unwilling to go into society; was never
SO disconnected as when walking alone
in the gardens of Schonbrunn, y suburb
of the Austrian capital. 1t was thought
that If his affections could be enlisted his
mind would assert itself. A number Of
the tairest young women about the Court
| were presented 20 him, and they lab9red
vainly to make an impression. Their
charms, their Establishments, their fat
terry, their conversation, their passion,
real or feigned, moved him not a j0t. He
turned from them in weariness, and beg.
ged to be excused. Some Sagacious fuBe-
tionary suggested that the ballet queen
should be Introduced to the forlorn youth
in the guise of peasant, In the hope that
she, SO accustomed to conquest, might
conquer even him. The proposal having
been made to her, she consented, in con-
srderation of 20,0U0 forms, it is said, to
undertake the delicate mission.
A sterling artistic Off as well as on the
stage, the details were lett to her, and
wisely lett, as the sequel lproyed. Know
ing the hour of the day when it was his
habit to be on the grounds OF fSchonbrunn,
she managed to be there likewise, as If
by accident. Very carefully and dainti-
ly attired as q peasant girl, set Oft win
every article she could command, she
looked bewitching, and she thoroughly
understood how to enact the part of u
charming ingenue. The youth could not
help but notice her, for she assumed to
be so busy tending the flowers as TO be
unaware Of his presence. For several
days he satisfied himself with admiring
her, but at last a curiosity he had never
felt before prompted him TO accost her.
She klusbed when she replied, and every
word she spoke appeared to him like a
revelation. In short. he fell in love with
her, and she pretended 10 return his love,
never intimaLing that she was not ignor.
ant of his birth and position. Day after
day they met in the gardens; then they
extended their excursions. on loot and
in carriage, until a new spirit and q new
life became his. He made her his conf
dante; he told her of his bitter past, the
aespondency; of the hope and joy she had
been the first to awaken in his nature;
that she was the one human being, in ali
the world, he loved or cared for. Theirs
was an idyllic life, while it lasted. He
was known to her only as Louis, she to
him only as Marie.
every soon they were almost insepara-
BILE. Everything was made to favor their
being alone; high expectations having
been formed that the much desired
,In hann IUrnyIUhf Thnf he.
loved her deeply, devotedly, absorbing
ly, as man can love once, there is no rea-
son TO doubt. In the midst of this beau
tiiul dream of happiness, the Duke. being
one day in the city, felt inclined to visit
the theater, having heard, even in his
solitude, OF the wonderful dancer. That
evening he sat listless in the box, hardly
needing the performance, scarcely no.
ticing the ballet, until q 1.-THE figure of
brightness and beauty bounded upon the
scene. He was all eyes and animation
at once. He had never imagined SO
marvellous likeness to Marie. Could
he be mistaken2 He leveied his lorgnette
again and again. The vision of tine lover
could not be deceived. The truth, and
the whole truth soon flashed upon him.
His Marie and everyb0dy's Fanny were
one and the same. The glass fell from
his hand; the poor boy turned deadly
pale, and would have eWooned In MS
seat had he not been taken from the thea
ter and driven home almost insensible.
The next morning the story was all ever
Vienna. louis never saw MARIE more.
The little hope and faith he had she had
aroused; after that cruel trick he tell
once more into himself, never to hope
again. He did not live very long. The
very night he died she was dancing in q
crowded and applauding theater. She
had forgotten all about him, bus she still
the 10000 fiorins."