The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-20
Need I say that l passed a sleepless

Need I say that passed a sleepless
/ night?
The morning found me with my pen
I IN hand. confronting the serious re-
/ spOnSlbility of writing to the Princess.
: and not knowing - ifat to say. | had
already torn up two letters. when Uncle
I David presented himself With amcssage
/ from his niece Jeanne was in trouble,
and wanted TO ask my advice.
Ny state Of mind. on hearing this. be-
came simply incNpiicable Here was an
interruption which ought To- nave an
noyei me. It did nothing Of the kind
1t inspired me with a feeling Of relief
/ ! naturally expected that the old
! ErenChman would return with me to
/ his niece. and tell me what had happen
f ed. To my surprise. he begged That
/ would excuse him, and left me without
/ a word OF explanation. / found Jeanne
/ walking up and down her little sitting
room flushed and angry. Fragments
4 of torn paper and heaps of flowers lit
4 tered the floor; and three unopened
! jewel-cases appeared To have been
/ thrown into the empty fireplace. She
/ caught me eXcltedly by the hand the
/ moment ] entered the room.
You are my Jrue friend she said:
i you were present the other night when
/ / sang. Was there anything I'm NV be-
/ havi0r on the stage which could justify
/ men who call themselves gentlemen ia
| insulting me-
Nv dear, how can you ask the ques-
/ tone
/ Il must ask It. some Of them send
/ flowers. and some of them send Jewels:
and every one of them writes letters
1 Infamous abomiuable lett,rs-s3yiug
I they are in love ~ tn me, and asking for
i appointments as if l Was
She could say no more Poor dear
Jeanne-her head dropped on my shout
der, she burst out crying. Who could
see her so cruelty humiliated-the fai lh-
. ful daughter. whose one motive for ap-
/ peariug on the stage had been to pre-
serve her father s good name-and not
/ feel for her as ] did? ] forgot all con-
slderatI0ns of prudence; I thought of
nothing but c0nsoliDg her. | took her
in my arms; ] dried her tears: | kissed
her; / said: Tell me the name Of any
I one Of the Wretches who has written 10
you, and / viii make him an example 10
the TeStl" She shook her head. and
pointed TO the m0rseiS of paper on the
floor. ~Oh, Ernest. do you think [ ask
ed you 70 come here for any such pur-
pose as thatr Those jewels, those hate
ful Jewels. tell me how | can send them
back, spare me the sight Of them,7
80 far, It was easy 10 console her /
sent the jewels at once to the manager
IF the theateT-with a written notice to
be posted at the stage door. stating that
they were waiting to be returned 10 the
i persons who could describe them
Try, my dear. to forget what has
happened" said. @Try to find consola-
ticn and announcement ii your art"
Il have lost all interest in my success
on the stage she answered. now /
know the penalty / must pay for it.
When my fathers memory IS clear OF
repTOach, | shall leave the theater never
to return to il again."
Take time 10 consider jeanne
Il VIII do anything YOU ask Of me-
| was called away 10 speak to my ser
want. lie brought with him the secre-
tary's card. having a line written on it:
Il am waiting at your rooms. on bIsi-
ness which permits of no delay"
As we shook hands. Jeanne asked me
if knew where her uncle was. Icould
only tell her that he had left me at my
own door. She made no remark; but
she seemed TO be uneasy on receiving
that reply.