Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-05-14

not only tested her heart, but had in some
subtle way heightened her beanty and given
it a new dignity and sweetness soft witch
cry, a calm, spiritual rapture born OF deep
ened thought and proved devotion
l need not repeat here what Gabrielle and
Raoul said to me as we three sat, holding
each other by the hand, in the darkened box
! in the Odeon. Suffice it TO say that they so
! exaggerated my share in restoring Raoul to
liberty that, protest, it was almost a relief
( to mo when the door opened, and there ap-
peared NJ Sapinaud, leading in Nine. Du-
! maine. Then there were fresh congratula-
tions, and we were still in the midst of a con-
versation, joyful, but on the part of the
| ladies fearful also, when q bell rang and O
! hush succeeded to the hum that had filled the
| theatre
Then drew back the curtain of our box,
IND looked, for the first time, on the audience
| that had assembled to witness Raoul's play
\ The house was crowded from floor to ceiling
looked from the circle, from the beauty and
rank that filled it-from the snowy, lustrous
dresses, the brilliant uniforms, the sparkling
! jewels the flowers, the white-gloved fingers
toying with fans or raising lorgnetteS-I
looked from the circle to the stalls, to the
black coated gentlemen among whom, l knew,
were seated the keenest dramatic critics of
Paris. The thought that they were there
Tiled me with exultation. | had no fear for
The success of Raoul's comedy. Ihad no doubt
that before the night was over several of the
brightest pens in the most critical city of the
world would be running swiftly in his praise.
Many eyes were turned to our box that
night. The evening papers had already an
Rounced the fact Of Raouls liberation, and a
rumor that he was present in the theatre had
circulated through the house. But it was
not merely to the romantic experiences of its
Luthor that the comedy owed its success.
its power, its pathos and its wit would of
themselves have insured that. 1t was so
strong that it held that brilliant, that fastidi.
Gus audience from the first scene to the last
At the close of the second act NJ. Desnouettes
md great critic-one of those who can
speak in golden pieces, if they will-came
round to our box to congratulate the
Guthor. The color came back to Raouls
cheek and his eye sparkled. From the
inmate of prison-cell-from a man all
but condemned-to become the cy-
nosure of Paris! The men and
women who had but yesterday mentioned his
name with cynical indifference or a flippant
affectation of horror, were now the willing
captives of his genius-the unconscious mir
rors of his moods, as the dialogue shifted from
grave to gay. Raoul had drunk of the cup of
despair; he was now to taste of the sparkling
draught of fame. I feared the revulsion
might be too great. And so, indeed, it might,
had not Gabrielle been there But the love
which had sustained Raoul in his hour of agony
Gained and steadied him in his hour Of tri-
umph. His eyes were turned less often to the
stage, where his ideas were finding body and
voice and clothing themselves in new power,
than to Gabrielle. AS for Gabrielle, she passed
the time in charmed distraction between
her lover and the creatures of his imagination.
For my own part, am afraid I could not
that evening have given very clear account
of all that passed on the stage of the Odeon.
Indeed, nowhere, perhaps, in all the theatre
was Raouls comedy followed with less intel
ligent attention than in the box occupied by
the author and his friends. But it was the
happiest hour of my life, and the thought
which always came to me was-What won
derful thing is this love! 1t has lifted Raoul
out of the shadow of terror worse than death;
it has made him strong to receive with COM
posure an ovation from the elite of Paris
For it was, in truth, an ovation. I need
scarcely remark that Partisan audiences are
not, as a rule, prone to enthusiasm. But,
when the curtain fell that evening on Raouls
comedy, the house fairly rose at him. A great
shout of "Autbor! Author!' went up from all
parts of the theatre. Then, for the first time,
Raoul turned pale and trembled slightly.
''It is too much" he said, "let us CO."
We hurried to the cloak-room, the roar Of
the theatre resounding in our ears. M. Des-
nouettes, as we learned afterward, came for
ward and assured the audience that the author
was deeply grateful for the reception they had
given his piece, and that only the state of his
health prevented his appearing in answer to
their call.
When we came out of the Odeon said:
"You have borne yourself bravely, my
dear Raoul, but your trials are not yet ended.
Even Moliere is not privileged to break his
promises. You have conquered Paris, but
you must obey me-you must still follow"
'Are we not to go back to the Rue de
rOdeon?" said Gabrielle. "What do you
meang"
II mean that since Raoul has tonight pro-
vided so well for the mind, it is for me to
provide for the body'-and I led the little
party to Bignon's
What supper that wasl We laughed-we
grew witty-at least some of us did-we con-
graduated one another, we basked in the
fame of our dramatist, we were eloquent,
childish, whimsical, satirical, sentimental
we uttered thousand absurdities-and we
were wildly, supremely happy. But if our
ak was beaded with tie bubbles of frivoity,
is current flowed from the deep places of the
leart. Our light words were often only the
mask of our up-welling emotion.
The honors of the evening were carried of
~ Sapinaud, who relieved his feelings in
peech of surprising eloquence-indeed, it
vas SO ingenious, so thrilliNg, so ornate, that
had an idea it must have been intended for
lelivery at the trial--the trial that was never
o take place Then | had to tell Raoul the
tory of his liberation. When I had ended
Gabrielle, who was seated next me, seized
ny hand and kissed it before could prevent
Ter. Need say that I felt myself richly
rewarded!
"My dear Raoul,nI said, II am charmed
o see how well you bear yourself already.
Retirement for O little while in the society of
Gabrielle is all that is necessary to complete
he cure. The past will soon be forgotten,
believe me. Nine. Dumaine and have this
lay seen villa at Auteuil, which we think
will suit you perfectly. 1t is handsomely
furnished. 1t has pleasant garden sloping
1own to the river-the very spot for drama
list to compose or rehearse love scenes. You
ian becom its tenant at once"
- Il I6-zl