The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10
CHAPTER I.
The Contract.


Letter Of Demoiseile puchene OF the Theatre
Iyrique, rich. beautiful. reckless. 10 Monseigneur
the Marquis de Saint-Flcury, q pauper. to whom
the eilced doors OF Versailles would have been
open II he had had only q decent coat on his
back:
Paris. May /. 17Se.-Thc preiirn!naries Of our
marriage having been agreed upon. / propose
that tho Marquis do Saint Fleury will be at
the Church Of St. Roche on the 18th OF this
month. at noon sharp. that I may become his
wife before the law. AS 1 have no time TO lock
after the details OF procuring the necessary cocu-
ments. 1 enclose fifty Louis d'ors for that pur-
pose"
The Marquis do Saint F1eury to Demoi.elle
Duchene of the Theatre Lyrique:
Paris. May .. 17S9.-Accepted for May Is. at
noon sharp. The Marquise do saint-Fleury will
procure the documents needed. but begs TO IN
form Demoiselle Duchene that She must send
him. besides. twenty Louis d'ors for clothes and
q ~periwig."
pemoiselie pucheno to MonseAncur tho Mar
Cuis de Saint-Fleury:
..Paris. May 2 Ifss.-The twenty Louis d'ors
are enclosed. Monseigneur the Marquis will bring
one OF his friends along as a witness. 1 Will do
the same. We VIII meet at the western side door
and the Marquis will offer me his arm and con-
duct me to the altar"
The Marquis de Saint Fleury to Demoiselle
Duchene:
Paris, May 3. l7ss.-Acccpted. though It's
somewhat humiliatins that tho Marquis is not
permitted to call for Mademoiselle at her hotel.
The Marquis regrets TO be unable to bring q
friend. He has none. Since he became poor only
his shoemaker remained true to him. II Made
moiseile wants tho shoemaker as u witness. he
will attend"
pemo,seIIe DIT .ene TO Mons sirneur the Marquis
Dc Saint-F1eurys
Paris, May e. 17s.-ImmediatcIy after the
wedding the Marquis receives three hundred
livres. that is. one-fourth OF the annuity / al
low him, and which will be regularly paid in
advance nv my notary This meaus tyeiye HIM.
dred livres per annum: no moro. no less"
Tho Marquis de ss,nt-F!eury to Demoisslls
Duchenei
Paris. May 4, 17ss.-Acc.pted..'
Demoiselle Duchene TO Monseigneur the Marquis
Dc saint F1eury.
paris. May .. 17ss.-After the wedding I don't
want to see tho Marquis again. The Marquis
agrees never TO enter my house. and II we should
meet at any other place. or at any other time.
Monsei6neur Will oblige by not recognizing me-"
Tho Marquis de saint-Fleury to Demoisells
Duchene;
paris. May s. 17ss.-Acceptcd with all my
heart"
On May g. 1889, at noon. the wedding be-
tween Demoiselle Duchene of the Theatre
Lyrique and Mgr. Axel, the Marquis dc
Eaint-F7eury. was duly solemnized. I saw
the entry in the ancient book Of st Roche
pastorage with my own eyes, while con-
temporary writers egree that Demoiselle
Duchene was at the time tho most popular
star of comic opera in Paris. Nightly she
was the recipient of ovations, the richest
men in France rivaled with each other to
ruin themselves for her sake. Her naked
shoulders glittercd with diamonds that the
Queen might have envied her-indeed, It
was whispered that Marie Antoinette some
times went to the Lyrique %incognito with
her brother-in-law the Count Of Artois, to
0ee La Duchene's new gown and to study
her performance. Marie Antoinette, as you
know, tried to be somewhat of an actress
herself.
AS to the Marquis. his name was inscribed
in the golden book of France. He was
privileged to stand covered before the King,
but his coat was shabby and his velvet
brooches were in tatters. He had lost his
enormous fortune to the last franc.
Duchene was ambitious. She was one of
The birds that are happy only on the top
OF a tall rock. While she was throwing
away money by handsful. the Marquis was
starving. She learned of his plight by the
merest accident. Here was the chance for
getting rid of her plebeian name. She would
buy his And she did.
But when the unequal couple stood before
the priest their eyes hardly met. They had
the utmost contempt for each other and
70: themselves.
After the ceremony the new Marquise de
S~aint-Fleury rode homo in her gorgeous
carriage. with head held high and pride in
her heart. The Marquis: hurried to a cheap
restaurant and ordered a outlet and half
a bottle OF wine. instead of the dog steak
he had been In the habit of eating. But
though his fortunes had materially i'm
proved, he looked sadder and more decrepit
than ever.