Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-21

| There is train from the Eastern station at IL
| o'clock If you prevent me from catching
that train-you see this dagger?-I swear 1
! will kill myself"
Louis drew back terrified at this threat,
| uttered with an intensity of determination
which showed she was in earnest.
Jeanne passed out and in another moment
had called carriage and disappeared in the
| darkness. Belcourt was constrained to see
her as far as the street.
When he returned to the stage he found
| the greatest excitement prevailing. The
| caller had Just told the manager that
| Mademoiselle de Bolney could not be found.
When the director arrived few minutes
| later to inquire why, it was too
late, as Mademoiselle de Bolney was
| even then driving in a hired coach
T in the direction of the Boulevard de
| Strssbourg What was to be done? The
audience was getting clamorous, and every
minute of delay only seemed to make mat
ters worse. What should be done? Have
Jeanne followed and arrested-but then how
| TO placate the audience
Meanwhile Louis Belcourt, inspired by
desire to save Jeanne, had hit on q plan.
After a hurried conversation with a COM
rade, who Immediately went around to the
front of the house, Louis, forcing his way
past the manager and director, who sought
,, to prevent him, gave the signal for the cur
tain to rise and stepped on the stage His
unexpected appearance brought about
silence.
Gentlemen" he said, ''Mademoiselle de
Bolney has tainted on receiving dispatch
announcing that France has suffered defeat
on the frontier. As soon as she RECEIVERS we
hope she will reappear before you, and we
ask you to be patient" This speech was
raoei vad with oo1d silanea mt bafore
unfriendly demonstration could be made
Belcourt's friend arose in his place and ex-
claimed:
''We are as good patriots as Mademoiselle
de Bolney. The performance must not con-
tinue under the news of defeat to the
arms of Francer'
This sentiment had the desired effect. 1t
was greeted with innumerable bravos from
every part of the house, and the audience
dispersed, now altogether absorbed in this
unlocked for intelligence. Belcourt had
saved both Jeanne and the theater from
disaster
The rumor of the defeat of Reischoffen
which the Government had carefully con-
cealed, spread through Paris. Dismay took
the place of the rejoicings in anticipated
victories. While Belcourt was still re-
ceiving congratulations on his coup, he was
arrested and lodged in the prison of Maszas
on the charge of having divulged state
secrets. His crime was punishable, during
times of war, with death.
A month elapsed, during which Belcourt
resisted all the efforts of his guard to OBJ
tain from him a confession of his reason for
divulging the news of the defeat. He daily
expected to be taken out and executed. The
day at length arrived which he was told
would be his last on earth. He was think
ing of something like sorrow of his love
without hope which had brought him to the
brink of dishonored grave when his cell
door was opened.
'tMademoiselle la Comtesse de Nor
feuille''
1t was Jeanne, indeed, but not the idol of
a short month ago. Her shapely figure was
hidden beneath heavy mourning; her beau
tiful hair was sprinkled with silver threads;
her mouth had lost its mobility and con-
tracted rigid lines, and her face bore the re-
flex of lost hope and inward suffering. Her
whole appearance was an embodiment of
incurable grief
Belcourt was profoundly touched by the
sad picture.
"You are free, dear Louis she said.
''The Empress has just obtained your par
don. 1 thank you from my heart for all
you have done and suffered for my sake.
returned to Paris Immediately after burying
my husband at Mor1eullle. Let US leave
together
Jeanne soon after left for the resting
place of him who had given her his name
on his death-bed. Belcourt had tried to
prevail with her that there was another
love which might in time take the place of
that she had lost, but she had stopped him
with gesture:
''Do not proceed" she said mournfully,
Il am henceforth but the widow of Roger
de Morteuille Not having been able to
be his, L shall never be another's."
Thus ended the sequel to that evening in
the French Theater, and thus was blighted
on the very threshold of great career the
dramatic vocation of a great soul. The in
cident was lost in the thousand events that
marked that period, and even those who
were connected with it have probably long
ceased to recall it.
HENRI RoLLIN PARKER.