The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-05-09

horror ana was clu4auAus MT "a "a ~
gram in her bands.
just az he was wondering what TO DO
for the best. Jeanneis paller gave way
70 a rush OF color TO her cheeks. she
read the telegram 70 him: 'We have
been defeated at Worth. They are tax
ing me TO house near by. AmpuIatlon
probable Pray for NE. Ny love, Oar
Hng.-Rogers Beleourt glanced a the
telegram and saw that it was unintelll-
gible, but a kind Of alphabet on the table
showed him that it had been written by
signs agreed upon.
He stood a. though thunderstrgcie-
Suddenly Jeanne puton haband threw
a long brown cloak over herstage dress.
"What are you going to do?" be ex-
claimed.
81 am going to Roger"
"Buf, in heavens name, Jeanne, stay
a little while. The curtain viii be going
up Think what you are doing. 4cn
viii Re ruined-yon viii spool your
whole life. Wait til tomorrow
Listen, said Jeanne, in a clear, de-
eided tone. 1T is now a qaarter 10 ten.
I know there is a train from the Care
de FEST at II, for l have sent my letters
by a friend Of Rogef's p~lao is going by
IT. Il you prevent my going b that
train, you see this digger well, will
kill myself with it,
Louis stepped back, dazsd and nor
ror-strucll. Jeanne opened the door,
went quickly out b a back door and
Louis followed her. watched her hail
cab and drive away.
When Beleeurt reentered the thfateI
Re found everyone behind the scenes in
a terrible state Of excitement
Mile. de Bolney could net be found.
The house was impatient and the man
ager desperate He was sending for
the police, that she might be found and
arrested Suddenly Beleourt, at the
idea of the possible consequences o.
Jeanne's flight, determined on a bold
move.
He stepped up to one of his friends
who had been taking part IN the play,
whispered to him and appeared to be
begging him to consent to what he had
asked.
Finally the friend yielded. opened the
door and walked towards the stege
Then gelcouft, pushing away the di-
rector and stage manager. who attempt
ed to stop him, gave the signal TO lift
the curtain and appeared himself be-
fore the house a deep silence easued.
"Ladies and gentlemen said Bel
court, mile de Bolney has received
telegram announcing that there has
been a disaster on the German frontier
and our army has sustained a defeat.
She is overwhelmed by the news, and we
must ask you to have patience until she
feels able to continue her role"
A dimnaI silence followed these words.
Belcoart's friend now stepped forward
and executed the order he had re-
ceived.
''We, too, are surely as good patriots
az Mile de Bolney! Surely, the play
ought not to be finished before a French
audience, who has just heard that our
army is defeated!n
Cries of Bravo were heard. and
unanimously the whole house rose and
prepared to leave the theater.
Belcourt had saved the honor Of
Jeanne and Of the theater.
The rumor of the defeat of Reich
shoffen, which the government was
keeping secret, was soon spread abroad
in Paris by the spectators who had
heard it from Belcourt and the news
caused fearful calm in the gay capi-
tai
Belcourt had been congratulated Dy
all the authorities Of the theater on his
happy idea, but just as he was prepar-
ing to leave the theater that same night
he was seized by a police official and
conducted to the Mazas prison on
charge Of "hying diyulged state Sc
cret," a crime always punished at least
by hard labor, and in time of war by
death.
For more than a month Belcourt had
been in Mazas prison, with nothing to
lcok forward to but dishonor or death.
He had been questioned over and over
again as to how he had discovered the
secret, but in vain; nothing could in.
ducc him 10 give any details, for he did
not know whether Jeanne would for
give him for having said so much as he
had. The next day sentence was TO be
passed upon him.
Successive defeats had cmbittered the
minds Of his judges, and it was pretty
sure that he had little chance of getting
off without paying the full penalty of
his crime. Belcourt was thinking sadly
Of his hopeless love for Jeanne which
had caused him to act as he had done
IN order to save her when suddenly the
door of his cell opened and the porter
announced: MINT. the Countess de
Morfeuille." 1t was Jeanne herself,
dressed in the deepest mourning.
Her beautiful hair haS some silvery
threads, her face was cold and severe
as marble, her beautiful mouth was
rigid, her eyes seemed TO be gazing at
some invisible object, and she had
deathly pallor-such as one sees on the
faces of those who have received some
mortal wound.
II was pathetic to see so fair and so
young a girl in such hopeless despair
and BeIcourt was deeply touched by it,
"You are free, Louis, she said, gently
but sadly. The empress herself has
asked for your release. Thank you 50
much, my friend, for all you did for me
I came directly / heard Of your impris-
nnment. Nv hnshand had only lust