Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-04

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be took # more quietly, 1 knew he was quito
as anxious as myself. I watched him as ho
read; his glance seemed TO hy along the lines;
a look Of satisfaction, almost e~xultauoni
came over-h bis face, GndI saw that the good
news had come. Raoul clasped my q
you were right,n he said; 'the comedy is
accepted R~eadr-then sank back nerve
lessly on his pillow.
This was the letter:
ODEoN THEATRE, Dec. "a, 1856.
MONSIEUR: In the named of the adIninistra-
ton Of the Odeon theatre, l have the honor
to inform you that your comedy, '"The Gold
OF Toulouse" has been accepted for early
representation at the Odeon.
I'm my own name, Monsieur, allow me to
congratulate you on your work. 1t is more
than amusing; it is brilliant. This is the
opinion also of my colleagues who have read
it. 1 desire, Monsieur, to make your ac-
quaintance, and request you to favor me by
a visit on an early day.
"Your comedy will be sent almost imme-
diately to rehearsal, and will be put on the
stage after the withdrawal of NJ. Victor's
piece, 1.-THE Hunting Party" I shall have
the honor Of intimating to you ere long the
day on which you will be requested to send
your comedy before the artists to whom the
parts will be allotted.
II subscribe myself, Monsieur, with every
assurance of esteem, your very humble, very
obedient servant,
"DEsNoUETTEs, Manager
I shall not try to describe our proceedings
during the next quarter Of an hour-or rather
l should say my proceedings, for Raoul lay in
bed laughing, while 1 waltzed round the
room, hurled the English book into a corner,
read the letter aloud with comments, waved
it triumphantly aloft, and performed other
~absurdities; l was, indeed, overjoyed. Raoul
was going to be a great man!-he would
rival Scribe, Angler, Sardou, those giants of
the stage-he would make his way into the
charmed circle of the Coincide Franchise! l
said all this, which made him laugh more
than ever. He begged me to sit down, before
Pierre came up stairs to see which of us had
gone mad.
but you are satisfied ~ 1 said to him, sink
ing at last, out of breath, into a chair.
"Does that letter not tlatter you sufficiently"
"Satisied-I tell you, Paul, this is wonder
full 1t is one of those things which happen
once in half a century. Now that it has hap
pened, | begin to wonder how l could ever
have imagined it possible!"
''You must go to NJ. DeEatlettes to-mor-
rowl You must"
'Ask him for a loan, eh ~
"And why not? He might have advanced
you a few napoleons; it is the only omission |
notice in his otherwise admirable letter.
Money we must have. Who, after this, could
60 on translating English n
II am not going to borrow from N. Des-
nouettes."
VERY good; there is another way. Give
me the letter, and 1 will turn it into money.
Times will change in the Quarter before a
man with a comedy accepted by the Odeon
needs to ~starve!'
by all means take the letter and get the
money if you can. And now, like a good
fellow, give me pen and paper. l have three
lines to write-you can guess to whom.n
"Of course. It's a pity we can't spare her
the letter, is it not?"
II will tell her the good news. How it will
rejoice her! Last night, after l left you,
Paul, / saw her. We talked of this very
thing, Of the comedy. Like you, Gabrielle
never lost faith in it. She has prayed to the
Virgin every night that it might be ac-
cepted."
well, it has been, anyhow. Here are the
pen and paper. Wait one moment while |
put some water in this ink; it is almost
dry"
Just then there came a knock at the door.
1t was Pierre who entered.
ut is the coat of M. Girard," he said:
"Nannetto bids me say that she has done her
best, though a tailor would doubtless have
been more skilful."
GLOW, my coat" said Raoul; ''what, then,
was the matter with my coat?"
Monsieur has, then, fotgotten?' said the
servant; the sleeve was torn from the wrist
right up to the shouldern'
At this moment | had my back turned to
Raouls bed, being engaged at the wash stand
in dropping water into the ink bottle. Asud-
den cry Of alarm from Pierre startled me;
"sQuick, Monsieur, quick!-he has faintedI
MyGod, he is deadr'
l flew to the bedside. Raoul's face had he
come OF q deathly pallor; his eyes were closed;
his lower jaw dropped down; his right arm
hung faced over the bed.
"Gracious heavenw I cried in alarm; "what
is wrong with him3 Quick Pierre, dip this
cloth in cold water-then run for brandy
run your fasteStI Hereis-oh, my God, Ihave
not a SOUP
"Say not a word more, Monsieurl I will
will fy-I will bring the brandy
Let Monsieur be at ~ease-there is no need of
the money"-and here this paragon of SER
wants had rushed off and down the stairs be-
l could say a word. l had passed nv
arm under Raouls head, and was bathing his
brow with the wet cloth. Before Pierre cams
back he had revived, to my intense relief.
He opened his eyes, and looked me wildly in
the face. II had forgotten that!' he said, in a
voice quite unlike his own, and with a shudder
l could feel.
Forgotten what, my dear Raoulp' but
again his eyes hal closed, and his head
dropped back on my shoulder.
Pierre returned Htter a short absence with
the brandy. We anade RaouI drink some,
presently he came init of the second f~ainting.
tit, and looked at I'D curiously.
What is wrongF he said.
Monsieur has tainted" said Pierre; 'Mon.
sleur feels better now, is it not 500"
THE good news has been too much for Won.
dear Raoul," l said; "you are certainly I'm.
well. Shall I bring q doctor to see YOUR
'On no account. l am better now-uuite
The tone in which he said this was
very decided. "As you say, it is nc doubtthe
sudden joy that has overwhelmed me-. shall
now, and tomorrow l shall be quite re-