St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-09-09
4 PaR|SIaN EPISODE.

ders to paralyze by bold stroke thu
combined action of Northern and South
ern Germany.
In Paris-as in all France-the feve
of anxiety shook everybody. Peopl
strove to escape from the anguish Q
waiting by the excess of pleasure AM
| discounted in advance-or. at least
feigned to-the first victory by givin!
the reign to folly. The opcn-air restau
rants mingled their tumultuous CHATTER o
arms with the trumpet fourishes of thu
Champs Elysees; the lights of the cafes
| chantants illuminated enlaced couples
who glided toward the gloom; brillian
toilets bloomed in the groves of tn
public gardens Like every place wher
the intoxication OF forgetfulness Wa
sold, the theatres were crowded to over
flowing, and among them was one of tn
principal boulevard theatres in which
the public, thronging from parquet t.
dome, seemed one evening particular.
impatient.
The audience had assembled there t.
witness the debut of Mile. Jane deeBol
ney-that was the nom de theatre of thu
debutante- for some months pas
those who knew her-and the Journal!
repeated their judgment - had beer
proclaiming in advance that star of the
first magnitude was about to rise in the
French dramatic sky.
She was known to be handsome; She
was said to be entirely devoted to he1
art, marvelously gifted and of a natura
briliancy, which illuminated everything
as soon as she appeared
She had, for her debut, chosen 'La
Dame aux Cameliias," then still in the
radiance of its first success, and it was
known that the author of the play had
said that the role of Marguerite seemed
to have been written for her, and for he1
alone.
The result, indeed, had justified from
the first act the most enthusiastic predic-
tions. The mere presence Of Jane de
Bolney had, in fact, sutficed to win every
heart, to delight every eye. When the
spectators had seen that exquisite crea-
ture advance. with her tall and willowv
figure; when they had perceived that
pale, fine face, with lips at once naughty
and caressing, with limpid blue eyes,
with pure and vigorous forehead and
white complexion; when, by graceful
movement of that profile of supreme clc-
gance, they had seen revealed Il supple
and proud neck and pink little ear
which shonc like a rearly shell against
q golden flood of hair floating down over
the back of the neck, a murmur of adini-
ration had arisen from the dense crowd,
and, by it's prolonged buzz, had inter-
rupted for long minute the dialogue of
the actors.
From that moment the ovation had in
creased, and the second act had ended
in an explosion of triumph which no past
success had equaled.
Among those whom this victory had
most deeply affected was Louis Belcourt,
one of the pcnsionnaires of the theatre,
thanks to whom Jane, whom he had
loved from her early youth, had sue
ceeded in making her debut; in fact,
leagued with the majority of young jour-
nalists, Louis Belcourt had been able to
force the manager to give her chance,
notwithstanding his exclusive passion
for pupils of the Conservative, through
which Jane had refused to pass.
This young mans passion had excited
the sympathy of all who knew him; he
loved Jane with a boundless devotion
and loved her without hope, fer he was
acquainted with the man to whom the
young actress had betrothed her soul and
for whom she reserved her life.
Only recently had this infinite love
filed the actress heart.
At the finish of the last Longchamps
races, at which Napoleon III. was pres
ent, she had paused in front of the i'm
perial tribune to look at the ladies who
garnished the first rows. Suddenly she
had felt something like blow ON her
heart. From behind the fauteuil of one
of the Empress danes of honor she had
seen emerge the face of man bronzed
by the Southern sun, whose eyes had
pierced her with look in which was
painted the same profound commotion
which she herself had felt.
AS if moved by superior power, the
man had drawn up his martial figure.
He lilly hid beneath his citizens dress
his military bearing. Quitting his place,
he suddenly left the tribune, came
through the crowd thronging around it,
and, apparently unconscious of his move
ments, presented himself before Jane de
Bolney.
There only he seemed to have recovered
his senses. A rush of blood spread over
his bronzed cheeks, his eyes were wet
with tears. He bowed, confused and hu-
to the young woman, and STAN
lneringly attempted an excuse.
But, as troubled as he, seized upon by
that instinct OF supreme pity which pen
etrates the hearts Of women simultane-
ously with the birth OF love in them, the
young actress paled at the sight of him
and murmured:
''My name is Jane de Bolney; I shall
soon make my debut in La Dame aux
Camellias
"And /, madame" answered he. bow
ng again, "am Roger de Morfeuille,
captain OF Spahis and, for the moment,
orderly to the Emperor"
twas caseof unspoken love. Neither
the one nor the other strove to struggle
against an imperious domination. From
that moment it had seemed to them that
they were born for each other. Without
syllable everything was under
stood.
But the war was at the horizon, and it
was tacitly agreed upon that their life in
union should not commence until after
the fight. Roger was sure Of being one
Of the first to depart. Jane would wait
for him.
They lived in that constant intimacy
(which the assured morrow does not