The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-09-03
"A TRUE HERO"
The Tragic Story of Two Ill
Starred Lovers.

He was only poor artist; she was an
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-and had only to smile to
bring the wealthiest to her feet He
lodged and toiled in the garret of a
miserable tenement in a 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 60 without decent clothes in conse-
quence. He was a remarkably hand
some man, and to those he liked could
be very charming. Hewas 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 a 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
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
Tor 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.
Ane country, far and near, resounded
win her name. Presents. smiles-aye,
ana hearts-were showered upon her.
poS with all her marvellous success, her
neaft near remained pure and her soul un-
Inc poor artist loved her when she
nfst appeared before him in the glare of
she Ioot-lights, with love he had never
SsAperienced before. Amonth had gone
" ana she was still playing, and his
IoVe all the time grew stronger. He al
ways occupied the same remote seat in
sue crowded theater, and he failed new
CT 70 send the beautiful actress a bunch
" ol,le-eyed pansies. Inspired with he1
Oeauey and his love, he was painting the
P'esure that was to bring him fortune
Neiestlne, touched by the unassumine
nuwors-so different from the Other
G u,s mat were showered upon her-had
.athomed out the donor, and as she OBJ
IeiFeo MN nightly in his lonely seat hel
heart went out to him something like
pty; out one night as she watched him
VIII WIN MS face all aglow with love anc
ssn'nuslasm-far handsomer than an,
human being she had ever seen-the
..eeenng OF pity was changed to love-
s.ne! are SO near akin. This was tn,
1gnnlng 1t was not hard to effec
a shat which two loving hearts so mucl
ueslfed' and the brilliant and popula
actress and the almost unknown an(
~ n9mole a artist met and exchanged VOW
Nightly would he escort her to he
sumptuous lodgings in the most brillian
sVs'oa Of the great, gay city. One b