Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-08

AT the close or une second act NJ Desnouettes
and a great crfic-one of those who can
speak in golden pieces, if they will-came
round to our box to congratulate the
author. The color came back to Raoul's
cheek and his eye sparkled. From the
inmate of a prison cell-hom man all
but conference.-the become the cy-
nosure of Parish The men and
women who had but yesterday mentioned his
name with cynical Indifference or fppant
afectation of horror, were now the willing
captives of his genius unconscious mir
rors of his moods, as the dialogue shifted from
grave to gay. Raoul had drunk of the cup of
despair; he was now to taste of the sparkling
draught of fame. / feared the revulsion
might be too great. And SO, indeed, it might.
had not Gabrielle been there. But the love
which had sustained Raoul in his hour of agony
Gained and steadied him in his hour Of til
umph. His eyes were turned less often to the
stage, where his ideas were finding body and
voice and clothing themselves in new power,
than to Gabrielle. Asfor Gabrielle, she passed
the time in a charmed distraction between
her lover and the creatures Of his imagination
For my own part, am afraid could no
that evening have given a very clear account
of all that passed on the stage Of the Odeon
Indeed, nowhere, perhaps, in all the theatTs
was Raoul's comedy followed with less intel
igent attention than in the box occupied b.
the author and his friends. But it was the
happiest hour of my life, and the thought
which always came TO me was-What a won
derful thing is this love! 1t has lifted Raoul
out of the shadow Of q terror worse than death
it has made him strong to receive with com
posure an ovation from the elite Of Paris.
For it was, in truth, an ovation. I need
scarcely remark that Rarisian audiences are
not, as rule, prone to enthusiasm. But
when the curtain fell that evening on Raoul's
comedy, the house fairly rose athim. A grea4
shout Of ''Authorl Authorl'' went up from al
parts of the theatre. Then, for the first time
Raoul turned pale and trembled slightly.
SIT is too much, he said, 'let us 60"
We hurried to the cloak-roonl+ the roar OF
the theatre resembling in our ears. M. Des
nouettes, as we learned afterward, came for.
ward and assured the audience that the author
was deeply grateful for the reception they ha6
given his piece, and that only the state Of his
health prevented his appearing in answer te
their call
When we came out of the Odeon said:
''You have borne yourself bravely, my
dear Raoul, but your trials are not yet ended.
Even a Moliere is not privileged to break hi
promises. You have conquered Paris, but
you must obey me-you must still follow"
''Are we not to go back to the Rue dc
rOdeon?" said Gabrielle. sWhat do you
meang'
81 mean that since Raoul has tonight pro
vided SO well for the mind, it is for me to
provide for the body''-and led the ittl
party to Bignnn's.
What supper that wasl We laughed-w,
grew witty-at least some of us did-we con-
graduated one another, we basked in the
fame Of our dramatist, we were eloquent,
childish, whimsical, satirical, sentimental
we uttered a thousand absurdities we
we're wildly, supremacy happy. But if our
lalk was beaded with the bubbles of frivolity
its current flowed from the deep places of the
heart. Our light words were often only the
mask Of our up-welling emotion.
The honors of the evening were carried oe
by Sapinaud, who relieved his feelings in
speech of SURPRISING eloquence- indeed, i:
was so ingenious, so thrilling, SO ornate, thai
I had an idea it must have been intended fol-
delivery at the trial-the trial that was never
to take place. Then had to tell Raoul the
story of his liberation. When had ended
Gabrielle, who was seated next me, seized
my hand and kissed it before could prevent
her. Need I say that felt myself richly
rewarded
''My dear Raoul," said, II am charmed
to see how well you bear yourself already
Retirement for little while in the society OF
Gabrielle is all that is necessary to complete
the cure. The past will soon DO forgotten
believe me. Mime. Dumaine and have this
day seen villa at Auteuil, which we think
will suit you perfectly. 1t is handsomely
furnished. 1t has pleasant garden sloping
down to the river-the very spot for a drama
tist to compose or rehearse love scenes You
can become its tenant at oncan