Gloucester County Democrat., 1900-02-15
WOODBURY., n J, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 1900

uedu IKE SfuHu priest y, was the
president, Ambrose Thomas, and the
merry, mocking silhouette in the last
row was Cadet, of the Comedie Fran
caise. 1t was great fun for me- Mme
Irrimard knew snem all very well, she
had been to see them so often on her
daughters account.
'Now and then the prince leaned for
ward from his seat in the official box
and gave me little confidential smile
with a sort of wink, which meant, 4
cannot be with you in person on ac-
count of my official position, but am
with you in spirit
"Wasn't it nice of him?
"At last, after several other debu-
tantes had appeared, Leona's turn
came. There was moment of silence,
and the master of ceremonies an
nounced:
"'Mlle. Leona Bourrimel, aged 20
years, appeared last year and the year
before without SUCCESSFULLY did the
wretch have to say that?-'assumes the
role of Blanche in lie Roi s'Amuse," I"
assisted by Mile. Frimard.'
"Ah, NJ Richard, you don't know
how felt! You are not mother. My
heart was in my Oh, the second
floor is waiting for his candle! Please
hand it to him through the window.
Thanks
that the management was very mean
about the stage setting. A table with
a green cloth, two plush chairs-that
was all What would they say if we
should come to their theater in rags.
should like to know?
"But. ah. how pretty Leona looked
when she came on, with her fiowered
gown and her old fashioned cape with
steel clasps. A murmur Of admira-
tion ran through the theater NJ Du-
mas twirled his mustache, and NJ
Halevy adjusted his opera glass-both
good signs. AS for NJ. Tourcey, he
kept on sleeping, but it seems that this
never interferes with his ability to
criticise-not in the least. When Leona,
as Blanche, confessed her love for the
king, she looked straight at Prince
Tapaloff
''Ah, NJ Richard, if you had seen and
heard her! She was the living, loving
Blanche. and one could feel the force
of the passion that consumed her. The
jury felt it evidently, for they became
intensely absorbed and excited, the lit
tie dried up man especially. And at his
age!
"My daughter went on with her lines,
which described the noble appearance
of the king, his graceful bearing in the
saddle and so forth, and still she kept
her eyes fixed on the prince. She sure
ly could do no less after what he had
done for her-the gown, the cape, the
jewels and all the rest.
"Of course the lines referred to King
Francis 1, but the prince no doubt saw
In them a delicate allusion to himself,
and he smiled in way that showed
he was much gratified And indeed
he, too, is a tall, handsome gentleman
and a splendid horseman. One might
have fancied that Victor Hugo had
him in mind when he wrote the lines.
'The presidents wife smiled also
Perhaps she was thinking of the pres
ent ruler of France But all of a sud
den some crank cried, Face the audi
enceF
"The cry was taken up and repeated
from all parts of the room.
"'Yes; face the audience! Never
mind the fine people in the boxesr
''The foolsl Just imagine, they
thought that Leona was looking at and
playing at the presidents wife, and SC
they were jealous.
81 rose in my place and said in q
loud voice, but with great dignity:
"'But she Is not looking at Nine. Ia
Presidente She does not care that q
snapped my fingers for Nine. la Presi
dente. She is looking at Prince Tapa-
loft
"At this the disturbance Increased
In the midst of laughter, yells and hiss
es turned to the jury and added:
"T should think l ought to know.
am her mother
''Then there was a fearful row
Leona could not go on, the jury retir
ed and presently. by NJ. Thomas or
ders, was thrust out of doors in com
pany with Nine Frimard, who as hel
daughters lines had been thus cut off
protested as angrily as | did.
"And that's the way that Leona
through a silly mistake of the audi
ence, has again failed to get the 'prix.
For my part. as soon as | saw the
prince, said, with great dignity:
"'My daughters career is ruined ant
through you. If you have the instincts
of a gentleman, you will know you
duty and perform it,
"The princes conduct. l must admit
was perfect.
"'Mme Bourrimel' he said, 4 am a
gentleman. and | know my duty
which will also be my pleasure.
"T will marry Leona at once. We
will leave for Dieppe tonight. and yor
and your husband shall join us within
a month
"And, in fact, he did marry her, ant
they went off on the. o'clock express
All, NJ. Richard, begin to think there
is a future in store for us"
"Alrs well that ends WE'LL" | said
'Allow me to return you your arm
chair and latchstring. Good evening
Nine. Bourrimel Translated From
the French For Short Stories.