Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-08-12
Profound silence cnsued.

patch which announced that the French
army had just met with a grave check
on the frontier of Germany; as soon as
she RECEIVERS consciousness she will reap
pear before you, and until then we beg
you to be patient!
A murmur followed these words. A
wind of mourning passed over the house.
People no longer commented on the in.
terruption of the performance, but on
the news of the disaster.
Then silence resumed its sway, deeper
and more moWnful than before.
Louis Belcourt's comrade, who had
made his way into the auditorium and
mingled with the audience, carrying out
the directions he had received from his
friend, arose.
1--WE are as good patriots as Mile. de
Bolney," cried he, the play should not
60 on before Frenchmen who have
learned of defeat of their arms F."
Unanimous braves greeted this decla-
ration. Then the audience dismissed
themselves the prey of deep emotion.
Belcourt had saved the artistic honor
CT Jane de Bolney
The rumor of our check, which the
Imperial Government had carefully con-
cealed, spread rapidly through Paris,
causing frightful stupor.
AS Louis Belcourt was returning
home from the theatre Commissioner
of Police, wearing his sash and
furnished with warrant of arrest,
presented himself before him. The
young actor was accused of having di-
vulged State secret, crime punisha-
BILE with death in time of war He
was arrested, and taken to the prison of
Maza.
For more than month Louis Belcourt
had been incarcerated, face to face with
the terrible accusation which lowered
over him.
He had been Intercepted as to why
he had divulged the State secret; he had
been questioned as to how he had OBJ
tanned the news; he had kept silent, not
knowing whether Jane would forgive
him if he spoke.
He was to be tried on the morrow
The successive defeats of our troops,
but i'll commanded-had irri-
tated all minds; the Government was
about to show itself memorable in order
to distract attention for an instant.
Louis Belcourt was thinking, with
grief. of the hopeless love which had
led him to the threshold of death, when
the door of his cell opened and the di-
rector of the prison, Standing aside, an
Madame, la Comtesse de Morfeu-
ille.p
1t was Jane, covered with her long
mourning veil.
Her beautiful hair, but the other day
of golden chestnut, now counted more
than one silver thread; her forehead
had assumed the austerity of marble;
her mouth, still beautiful, maintained
rigid contours; ar und her eyes were
traced blush circles, aud she had up
on her.entire visage that indelible paller
of beings wounded forever, who weep
within
Louis Belcourt felt himself seized upon
by deep emotion at the sight of this suf-
fering without remedy.
"lou are free. my dear Louis" said
she. II have obtained your pardon, and
you see that they have extended the
favor so far as to permit me to bring i
to you personally. Alas, they can nj
longer conceal our reverses, and youl
trial would chlnge nothing; it would
appear iuiquitous now that the news you
announced has been confirmed by the
official dispatcher thank you for what
you have done for me-"
And. after a silence, as if she had re-
pressed a sob which had arisen in her
throat, Jane resumed.
Il remained beside my husband till
his death. Then | took his body to Nor
feuille. After that | was free | returned
and was informed of the danger you were
running"
She could not continues her tears were
sitting her.
A few minutes later the order to release
Louis Belcourt reached the office of the
clerk of the prison, and the necessary
formalitiei were proceeded with: the
young actor was at liberty.
A few days afterward Nine. de Nor
feuille set out FOR the domain where re-
posed the man she had married on his
death bed
Roger had been buried with the ring
which Jane had given him at the moment
of his departure, the young wife kept on
her finger that which her husband had
handed her at the time of their poignant
betrothal.
When, some time later, Louis Belcourt
strove to make her see the weakening of
her grief, possible consolation and life
with now love, she stopped him with a
gesture:
Pursue this no further, - she said: IL
shall forever remain the widow of Roger
de Morfeuille, and not having been able
to be his, shall never belong 10 any one
else"
This was the denouemcnt Of one of the
most exciting evenings Paris theatre
has ever seen, and thus was arrested
upon the threshold OF certain glory. the
dramatic career Of great artistic. the
fashionable life OF a woman Of exqui lite
beauty. who had been hailed at her debut
as wholly irresistible
The noise Of this episode of Partisan
existence, and the remembrance of its
consequences, have been lost among the
thousand events which marked that ter
rlble epoch
But. more tnan one, on reading the
recital | have last given, will, perhans.