Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-11-02
DUCHESS AND COMMUNIST.

The results OF the great electioneer-
ing battle Of tho 9th Of january will
be known, commented on, thrashed
out BY the time these lines are in
print; but the struggle has lent such
passion, to opinion that may even
now record a circumstance connected
with its progress. And ventu q TO
do so with all the more confidence be-
cause the anecdote throws a curious
light on certain aspects: of social life.
The story ia positively authentic. but
1t comes back to my mind in q dramat-
ic form, and with your kind permits
sion willgive it in acts each having
its own scene.
Act i. A miserable room. where an
old woman lies dying on n truckle-bed.
A great lady, whose indefatigable
charity Is known to all Paris. is sit
ting at the right hand side Of the sick
woman. On the left another woman
takes her. seat, rough-looking, and
with thick, short hair. Both alike
give every care to tho sufferer. She,
having fallen into short doze, the
two watchers exchange few words.
and each mentions her name. They
are equally amazed when the lady says
that she is the Duchesse dues, the
working-woman, that she is the noto-
rious Louise Michel.
Act IL We are now In the fine house
OF the Duchesse dues. The lady has
just received small packet tied with
string and a letter Of explanation.
The letter Is from Louise Michel,
and what she writes amounts to
this: 1.-The poor woman we both were
nursing died yesterday in my arms.
Before she breathed her last she told
me TINT she had left an humble offer
ing in gratitude for your kind care.
The parcel sent herewith contains the
little keepsake"
The Duchesse opens the packet,
which contains small cross. She IT,
mediately writes to Louise Michel, in
the first place TO thank her, and also to
beg her to call on her, that they may
decide together on what cnn be done
to help the dead woman's family. This
Lotto is at once answered by the
recipient. who apologies for her in
ability to wait on the Duchess She
Ia IL and confined to her bed.
Act Ill Louise Michers room. The
Duchesse Dues has thought it her
duty to go herself and visit the famous
MAID Of the Commune" As, she
mounts the stairs she sees a great
number Of ragged-looking wrctehes
going to see Louise Michel, or coming
down again. When she is in tho.room
she finds herself jostled by some Of
these visitors, vino. however, discreet
ly withdraw whom she appears, and she
goes into the inncr room, where Louise
Michel is really and truly i'll, in bed.
After the ordinary civi.ities, Louise
Michel addresses her to this effect:
"Those people. madame, whom you
saw in such numbers that you may br
puzzled, n q cd mates Of mine from
Noumcn at the time when / WIS i'm
penal se"vitude after the Commune.
They always come To- ask my advice
whenever the 9 Is an election In Paris.
Now. have just told them all to vote
for General Boulanger: For my own
part / have no particular reason to
support him, but I know you take an
interest In his success, and / have
done my best for him to mako you
some return in my poor way for your
great kindness to my dead friend"
This is tho drama; rs to the Outcome
OF the plot, you now know it. 1t WI,
hidden la the baltoting urns of the
votes givcn tho 9th OF Januay.-Le
Paris 1llustrc.