Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09

old sexton. He could give no explanation
of its meaning, and but little information
about the lonely grave under the Normandy
poplars. could not shake thoughts about
it from my mind. So after supper sat
down and wrote soliloquy upon
the strange occurrence without for an in
slant imagining what was to come of it.
While was writing an old Baltimorean
came in, and he gave me sort of vague ex-
PLANTATION which 1 embod led in my letter.
1t was sent away that night to the paper
upon which was then employed, and ap-
peared on Sunday morning, the editor hav-
ing put the head ga Graveyard Secret"
upon it.
From that time the subject was dismissed
from my mind. One day months afterward
l received rather a mysterious letter saying
that if would call upon distinguished
professor of languages in one of the promi-
nent educational institutions in this country
I would receive some documents and in
formation that would explain the graveyard
mystery about which had written unwit-
tingly and with very little knowledge of the
facts. Filled with curiosity followed the
directions given and did receive a most in
teresting and dramatic story, which was
elder Booth and his wife from Brussels,
Belgium.
BOOTHS BETRoTHAL IN BELGIUM.
With them came an oil painting executed
in 1926 upon MI. Booths first return to
England, after coming to this country in
1921. Upon the canvas is splendid like
ness of himself as young man and Of his
wife and the boy, Richard Junius Booth,
the surviving fruit of that marriage. 1t
was painted BY Mr.. Williams, one of the
early friends of the great actor. The let
tiers and the picture tell q most pathetic
story of the life of noble woman welded
to a great man, in whose life she never lost
interest up to the day of his DEATH With
them there is no need for the Imagination
of q writer, for all the eloquence necessary
to fascinate the mind is contained in these
missives.
In 1915, Just before the battle of Water
loo, Junius Brutus Booth went with q COM
pany of actors to Brussels. The hotels were
crowded and the actors and actresses were
billeted around in private houses. 1t fell
to Mr. Booths lot to nnd lodgings in the
house of Mrs. Delannoy, a gentlewoman of
good birth and education, having three
daughters, Agatha, Therese, and Adelaide,
who was the youngest of the group. Be-
tween her and the young actor there imme-
diately sprung up strong attachment.
They were soon in love, and together they
made known to the mother their desire for
q union.
THE YOUNG COUPLE ELoPED.
She refused, and under the laws Of the
country they could not be welded without
her written consent. They perfected their
plans, and at the end of the actors engage
ment they eloped. On the way to London
they stopped at Ostend, where Mr.. Booth
opened a correspondence with the mother
in Brussels, asking for reconciliation and
permission to marry. She consented, upon
the condition that he would give up the
stage, return to Brussels and accept situa-
tion which she would secure for him. While
this correspondence was going on the TRACE
dian had placed Miss Delannoy in the FAM
lily of friend of his in Ostend by the name
of Arthur Jones. When he received her
mothers consent and conditions he prompt
ly agreed to the latter in these words:
OsTEND, March II, 1915.
Madame and Dear Friend;
have received your dear letter Of the 4th
inst, and am delighted that you have part
ly succeeded in the matter Of the place you
know how much the place is worth. My
salary as an actor brings me 81 francs
week, with u benefit in each town II ike
to take it, and / assure IL is none too much.
But as l should like TO be in Brussels L
should not care much about that have
written to my father for the letters of recon-
mendation. i am, meanwhile, waiting your
reply, as also the Information concerning
when should leave here. Believe in my
entire gratitude. embrace you with all