The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-08-22
"A TRUE HERO"
The Tragic Story of Two ILL.,
Starred Lovers.


opera singer, playing long engage
ment in one of the popular theaters of
great city. She was admired, petted
and spoiled-was the recipient of fine
presents-an had only to smile to
bring the wealthiest to her feet. He
lodged and toiled in the garnet of a
miserable tenement in crowded Dor.
ton OF the metropolis. He ate-which
he did only about six times during a
week-at cheap restaurant.
He had no friends, but he had a pure
soul and noble heart. He had genius,
too, but people were slow to recognize
it, and so he had to starve and freeze
and go without decent clothes in conse-
quence. He was remarkably hand
some man, and to those he liked could
be very charming. He was engaged on
a picture that when finished, would
bring him both fame and fortune. A
certain art firm, very popular with the
fashionable world, had seen some of
TINS artists work and were quick to
recognize the merit in it, and had en-
gagged him to paint picture for them.
Tor which they had contracted to pay a
fabulous price-and the picture was
nearly complete. Poor as he was, he
always managed to attend the opera
especially since Celestine Bordelon had
been playing.
This Celestine Bordelou was an un-
commonly pretty woman-small, but
graceful as a swan, and the glorious
golden hair that fell down and around
her in shining, clustering curls, had
stirred many masculine heart with the
IRE OF love. Her eyes were the most
beautiful ever set in woman's head
so large and tender and brown; so
changeful in expression; so bewitching
always. AS we have said. her admirers
were legion-all kinds, conditions and
classes bowed in willing homage at her
feet. Lovers, too, she had-rich. aris-
tocratic and proud. A thorough star in
the theatrical firmament-she was born
for that and that alone.
Nightly she held her vast audiences
spcll-bound. With voice like an an
gel, she would draw tears from the most
stony-hearted Her reign was imperial.
The country, far and near, resounded
with her name. Presents, smiles-aye.
and hearts-were showered upon her.
But, with all her marvellous success, her
heart remained pure and her soul I'M
sullied.
The poor artist loved her when she
first appeared before him in the glare of
the foot-lights, with love he had never
experienced before. A month had gone
by and she was still playing, and his
love all the time grew stronger He al
ways occupied the same remote seat in
the crowded theater, and he failed new
er to send the beautiful actress a bunch
OF blue-eyed pansies. Inspired with her
beauty and his love, he was painting the
picture that was to bring him fortune
Celestine, touched by the unassuminp
flowers-so different from the other
gifts that were showered upon her-had
fathomed out the donor. and as she OBJ |
served him nightly in his lonely seat her
heart went out to him something like |
pity; but one night as she watched him.
with his face all aglow with love and
enthusiastically handsomer than any
human being she had ever seen-the
feeling OF pity was changed to love-
they are so near akin. This was the
beginning. 1t was not hard to effect
that which two loving hearts so much
desired, and the brilliant and popular
actress and the almost unknown and
humble artist met aud exchanged VOWS
of eternal love.
Nightly would he escort her to her
sumptuous lodgings in the most brilliant
portion OF the great. gay city, One by
one the wealthy suitors were rejected
and their costly offerings of love re-
turned. All the city wondered and
many tongues were set a-wagging. Lit
tie Lucien and Calestine cared for the
gossips and scandal-mongers. They
knew that they loved each other, and
that the love was pure. The poor artist,
raised to the seventh heaven of bliss.
worked with an inspired brush, and day
by day the wonderful picture that was
to bring him wealth, fame, his Celestine
and happiness grow. Only one more
week OF labor lay between him and all |
this. His Celcstine, with love-impas-
stoned eyes. gave him sweet encourage
ment.
The minutes heightened into hours,
the hours into days and the days into a
week, and at last the painter pronounced
his work complete. With sigh of in
finite satisfaction and relief he laid his
brushes and palette aside. Now was his
struggle with grinding poverty at an
end. The happiness that he had so
long coveted, but never hoped to gain,
was almost within his grasp. How
cheerful the world looked; how brightly
the sun shonc, and how deliciously
sweet the birds sang all around. As he
gazed in rapture on his beautiful picture
tears of Joy coursed down his cheeks;
his heart swelled with pride, and
prayer Of thankfulness assembled to
Heaven from his moving lips.
When night at last infolded the world
within her sable arms. and the lighted
lamps Of the city cleaned like so many
stars, the artist sailed forth to the
theater, and took his accustomed seat.
Never was such a crowd packed within
the spacious hall before. Celestine
Bordclon closed her engagement on this
night. and her friends. of all classes.
had gathered to honor her. The or
chcstra sounded, the curtain was raised
and Celestine, In all her dazzling, gli'.
tering beauty, stepped upon the stage.