The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-10-17
"A TRUE HERO"
The Tragic Story Of Two Ill
Starred Lovers.

He was only poor artist; she was an
opera singer, playing a long engage
ment in one of the popular theaters Of
great city. She was admired, petted
and spoiled-was the recipient of fine
presents-and had only to smile to
bring the wealthiest to her feet. He
lodged and toiled in the garnet of a
miserable tenement in crowded por-
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
this artists work and were quick to
recognize the merit in it, and had en-
gagged him to paint picture for them,
for 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
espec ally since Celestine Bordelon had
been playing.
This Celestine Bordelou was an un-
commonly pretty woman-small, but
graceful as swan, and the glorious
golden hair that fell down and around
her in shining. clustering curls, had
stirred many masculine heart with the
fire OF love. Her eyes were the most
beautiful ever set in woman's head
so large and tender and brown; so
changeful in expressions; 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-
tocrat,c and proud. A thorough star in
the theatrical firmament-she was born
for that and that alone.
Nightly she held her vast audiences
spell-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-ave.
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 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 unassuming
fowers-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
enthusiasm-far 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 and 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