Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-02


q look of satisfaction, almost exultation,
came over his face, and saw that the good
news had come Raoul clasped my hand.
"You were right" he said; ''the comedy il
accepted Readr-then sank back nerve
lessly on his pillow.
This was the letter:
ODEoN THEATRE, Dec. "a, 1856.
''MoNsIEUR: In the name of the administra-
ton of the Odeon theatre, have the honor
to inform ynu that your comedy, "The Gold
of Toulouse has been accepted for early
representation at the Odeon.
"In 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 10 favor me by
a visit on an early day.
sYour comedy will be sent almost imme-
diately to rehearsal, and will be put on the
stage after the withdrawal of NJ. Victor's
piece, '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 tho
parts will be allotted.
81 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
should say my proceedings, for Raoul lay in
bed laughing, while I waltzed round the
room, hurled the English book into corner,
read the letter aloud with comments, waved
it triumphantly aloft, and performed other
absurdities; was, indeed, overjoyed. Raoul
was going to be q great manl-he would
rival Scribe, Angler, Sardou, those giants of
the stage-he would make his way into the
charmed circle sf the Comedie Franchise! l
said all this, which made him laugh more
than ever. Hebegged me to sit down, before
Pierre came up stairs to see which of us had
gone mad.
"But you are satisfied ?' said to him, sink
ing at last out of breath, into O chair.
"Does that letter not flatter you sufficiently!"
"Satisfied-I tell you, Paul, this is wonder
full 1t is one of those things which happen
once in half century. Now that it has hap
pened, [ begin to wonder how l could ever
have imagined it possible!''
'sYou must go to NJ. Desnouettes to-mor-
row! You must"
'Ask him for loan, eh ~
"And why not He might have advanced
you few napoleons; it is the only omission l
notice in his otherwise admirable letter
Money we must have. Who, after this, could
60 on translating English9 ~
81 am not going to borrow from M. Des-
nouettes.n
''Very good; there is another way Give
me the letter, and will turn it into money.
Times will change in the Quarter before q
man with comedy accepted by the Odeon
needs to starvel"
'tBy all means take the letter and get the
money if you can. And now, like good
fellow, give ME pen and paper. have three
lines to write-you can guess to whom"
''Of course. It's pity we can't spare her
the letter, is it not?' 4... e.
81 will tell her the good news. How it will
rejoice her! Last night, after I 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 knock at the door.
It was Pierre who entered.
tsIt is the coat of M. Girard,n he said
s'Nannette bids me say that she has done her
best, though tailor would doubtless have
been more skillful."
''How, my coat?' said Raoul; s'what, then
was the matter with my coat?"
"Monsieur has, then, forgotten? said the
servant; ''the sleeve was torn from the wrist
right up to the shoulder?'
At this moment had my back turned tt
Raoul's bed, being engaged at the wash stan6
in dropping water into tho ink bottle. A sud
den cry of alarm from Pierre startled me:
''Quick, Monsieur, quick-he has tainted
My God he is deadr' s..
I flew to the bedside. Raoul's face had be
come of deathly pallor; his eyes were closed
his lower jaw dropped down; his right arm
hung flaccid over the bed
''Gracious heaven!' cried in alarm; ''wha
is wrong with him? Quick Pierre, dip thi
cloth in cold water-then run for brandy
run your fastest! Here is-oh, my God, hav
not O sou!'
"Say not q word more, Monsieurl viii
hasten-I will fy-I will bring the brandy
Let Monsieur be at ease-there is no need o
the money"--and here this paragon of ser
wants had rushed off and down the stairs be
fore could say q word. I had passed m
arm under Raouls head, and was bathing hi
brow with the wet cloth. Before Pierre cam
back he had revived, to my intense relief
He opened his eyes, and looked me wildly i
the face 81 had forgotten thatf' he said, in
voice quite unlike his own, and with shudde
I could feel.
Forgotten what, my dear Raoul?' bu
again his eyes had closed, and his hea
dropped back on nly shoulder.
Pierre returned after a short absence wit
the brandy. We made Raoul drink some
presently he came out Of the second faintine
fit, and looked at us curiously.
''What is wrongp' he said
ssMonsieur has tainted, F." said Pierre; sMor
sieur feels better now, is it not so!'
'tThe good news has been too much for yol
dear Raoul," I said; ''you are certainly III
well. Shall bring doctor to see you9"
s'On no account. am better now-quit
better" The tone in which he said this we
very decided. "As you say, it is no doubt tt
sudden joy that has overwhelmed me. sha
sleep now, and tomorrow shall be quite I,
covered"
He seemed disinclined to talk further.
sat beside him, watching, till he fell ASLEEP
There was something in his manner and al
pearance that puzzled me and made N
anxious, for had never seen Raoul like th
before. began to fear lest this might
the beginning of serious illness, and yet, Q
the evening before, at the cafe Of La Sourc
he had seemed to be in his usual healtl
There was nothing that knew of weighin
on his mind; he had had no quarrel wit
(ssahy.ialle. the cofnafly had been accented