Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-21
rwRrTTEN FOR THE DISPATCH J

The incident 1 relate came within nv owl
experience.
1t was in 1870. War had Just been de
clared. McMahon had received orders t.
cross the frontier and, by bold stroke, par
alyze the combined action of North an'
South Germany. France was afiame witt
excitement; and especially in Paris thu
fever heat of anxiety had reached hig'
pitch. With characteristic impetuosity anC
sanguineness, and as if victory was alread.
theirs, the Parisians plunged the deeper
into the pleasures of the hour, and every
where folly was given full swing. The
chatter and din from the open-air restau
rants rose above the music from the band'
in the Champs Elysees; the lights of the
Cafes Chantants shone brilliantly upon the
dancers disporting themselves beneath the
trees; the CLINT of dainty dresses was visi'
bic In the groves of the public gardens
and lines of carriages swept by, carrying
other pleasure seekers to the usual resorts.
The theatres were all too small for the
crowds that besieged them. Especially was
this the case at one of the largest on the
Boulevards, where an impatient, eager
throng surged around the doors and fought
for admittance to witness the first appear
ance of a new actress.
Mademoiselle Jeanne de Bolney was an
nounced to make her debut that evening.
For months past her friends had pro-
claimed that star of the first magnitude
was about to rise in the dramatic sky, and
the press, voicing these opinions, had
aroused popular expectation to point not
usually reached in the case of a debutante.
DE Bolney was credited with being marvel
ously endowed, strenously devoted to her
art, and gifted with a natural splendor OF
appearance which charmed everyone on first
seeing her.
For her debut Jeanne had selected 'La
Dame aux Camelias," then in the zenith of
its success The author of that work had
declared that the part of Marguerite seemed
written for her and for her alone
The result more than justified the ex-
pectations of her friends. From the moment
of her first entrance her very presence had
suficed to capture the hearts of the
audience. When she advanced into the
full glare of the foot-lights, disclosing to
view an eIquisitely formed figure; head
faultlessly turned, resting on a neck
whose curve was perfect; ears, delicate and
rosy, which shone like pearl shell in the
food of gold that mantled her superb bosom
and beautiful face as she bowed again and
again In the acknowledgement of the cor
diality of her reception; eyes, blue and
clear and expressive of naive astonish-
nent at the applause which greeted her, a
murmur of appreciation, increasing to a pro-
longed burst of enthusiasm, arose from the
crowded house and continued for many
minutes Similar manifestations of approval
were continued through the first act, and
the second ended in an ovation such as few
artists have received on a first appearance.
Among those most profoundly affected by
her victory was Louis Belcourt, pension
aire of the theater. 1t was through him
that Jeanne had been enabled to make her
first appearance at this house, the director
being preiudiced in favor of pupils of the
Conservatoire, through which Jeanne had
refused to pass Belcourt loved Jeanne
from his earliest youth. His devotion to
her was unbounded and the admiration of
his friends His love was unselfsh, but
hopeless, for Jeanne had already bestowed
her affections and was loved in return.
This had happened not long previously at
one of the last races at Longchamps at which
Napoleon Ill had been present JEANNE
had paused before the Imperial tribune to
gaze at the ladies of the court While thus
occupied, she all at once became aware of
new and strange sensation in her heart as
she encountered the gaze of man whose
bronzed face was visible from behind one of
the chairs. His eyes sought and held hers,
conveying to Jeanne an emotion she strove
in vain to subdue He in turn appeared to
be profoundly affected; leaving his place
he made his way through the crowd as if
impelled by some unknown force, and
abruptly presented himself before Jeanne
Only then did he become aware of his
strange conduct With his face flushing
with shame, he bowed confusedly before
her. stammering forth his excuses. Con-
fused as he, and pale, Jeanne, seized with
the instinct of pity which in a woman's
heart keeps pace with love, murmured:
my name is Jeanne de Bolney. / intend
10 make my first appearance in few days
in la Dame aux Canelias.'"
"And 1, madame" bowling profoundly,
sam Roger de Morfeuille, Captain of
Spahis, and for the present officer of ord
nance to the Emperor
1t was a case of love at first sight, and
neither strove against its imperious domina-
ton. From that day life had nothing for either
apart from the other. Fate, it seemed to
them, in its mysterious workings had
brought them together But war was on
the horizon, and it was tacitly agreed that
life for them would commence with but tie
cessation of hostilities. Their ways, for
the present, would be different Roger was
sure to be ordered to the front: Jeanne
knew she had to make her debut Thus for
a brief period they lived in each others
presence. Happy in their new-found love,
they knew they would be all in all to each
other until the end of life's road was
reached. Then at length Roger had to leave
for the front, and when the final moment of
separation arrived they silently betrothed
themselves by the exchange of rings.
y
When the curtain had been lowered for the
sixth time upon the second act of the ''Dame
aux Camelias" and the plaudits which
greeted Jeanne, she slowly assembled to her
dressing room conscious of feeling of mel
ancholy, which her triumph could not dis
pei Her success would not be complete
without congratulations from Roger Even
amid the smoke of battle, she thought, he
would find opportunity to send her some
token, some sigI of remembrance. Anxious
ly she had listened to every football on the
stair, and watched the door for the expected
message from her beloved.
1t was, then, with a mingled burst of ioy,
love and pride that on entering her room
she found awaiting her telegraphic mess
age. Quickly closing the door SO as not
20 be disturbed while devouring the
precious words, she did not perceive
t hat Belcourt was following her. All at
once scream, startling in its intensity,
rang through the building. Belcourt, rush
ing in, received Jeanne in his arms as she
fell in q swoon. In her hand was the mes
sage. While he was still thinking what he
should do in the emergency, Jeanne re-
vived Gathering sudden energy, she re-
pested, as if unconsciously, the fatal words
of the dispatch:
owe have been crushed at Woerth. They
are carrying me to the neighboring chateau;
probable. Pray forme. James