The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-23
TnEOPHIlE GAUTlER.

 probably his most popular novel, though 1t is not nearly so fine in lit- erary value as ..The Romance of the Mummy and "A Night with Cleo patra. Unfortunately Gautier suffered from the not infrequent deiusion of artists that art has the right to free itself from all trammels of decency, and that to depict morbid excesses is . high and worthy aim deserving a writer's best efforts. Again and again he is guilty of the gross artistic blund- Dr of using a noble style for the por- arayai of an ignobIe, tawdry subject.
 The chateau Of the Barons de Sigoe- mac and the last of the line. the young Baron de Sigognac, were in an equal state of melancholy ruin. The ances- tors of the young Baron had gambled. wasted the estate till nothing was left except the crumbling chateau staring with broken windows on an abandoned wilderness. while the young Baron fathers clothes and rode out furtively on an old mare, the only horse in the great stables.
 He was quite penniiess. and sub tBisted rneanly on cabbage soup and dry bread--a repast that seemed to make the portraits of the dead and gone Gigognacs in the great banquetting hall look down on him with horror.
 Though he was only 2s he was quite weary of life quite hopeless of better fortune and quite ready to snatch any wild chance for changing his condition. The chance came one stormy night in lthe shape of a great oxcart that Ad in the woods and distressed by the tempest, they asked shelter at the chateau. De Sigognac was amused and finally charmed by their conversa- tion. for these were no. common stroll 1ers, but a company of repute, suffer ing from a temporary disfavor of for tune.
 When they departed next morning he rode with them as their poet. It had cost him no small struggle to gtoop: but he reflected that as soon as he reached Paris he could reassume his real character. He did not con- 2ess to himself that the most potent argument in favor of his course lay in the soft eyes and rosebud mouth of IsabelIe hhe ingenue of the troupe, who had been guarded by the kind hearted actors since her childhood and was the pet of all.
 De Eigognac thought that he never had seen g giri so beautiful; and. in- deed, her sweet almost chiIdlike face her cleaning chestnut hair, the mo- .desty and purity that were expressed lby every feature and word were suf- 1icient to enthraiI even men accustom- Dd to seeing beautiful women. I So he suppressed his trouble at the khouEht of De Sigognac going kAbroad with company of players. and Iset forth by the side of Isabelle. The @hxee golden stoEks on the coat of @rnle over the pdptdco caught his wlanco. but he turned to Isabelie and Boxgot his pride of race. They passed hhe tomb where his parents and an- &he gray pile looked reproach at him, hut he listened to the voice of Isabelle Rnd forgot that his father had been grand seigneur and cornrade in arms with princes.
 The poor players fared H. cold weather, snow. poor country and acci- nents combined to make their circum- etances so miserable that they were in Manager of starvation at last. To grown their distresses their chief ac- Rof. who played the important part Eaptain F'racasse, lost his way in a Bncwstorm and perished,
 In this predicament the Baron dc yEi5osnae swallowed his pride and of 9ered to assist his comrades of the road by playing the part. They &C., cepted thankfully and from that mo- ment the Baron dc Sigognac disap- peared and became Captain Fracasse. "A half-mask so altered his appearance that there was no danger of any one recognizing him.
 This gave him confidence which stood him in good stead. Soon he be- came so good player that the whole troupe declared his part far superior 10 that of the original actor.
 Fortune seemed to turn at the same dime. They found receptive audiences and when they reached Poitiers they were able to enter that important town with a good equipage and to alight at the largest hotel.
 All the young men of wealth and fashion fiocked to the house at once to question the host about the names and beauty of the actresses. Chief among these beaux was khe very great Duke of ValIombreuse--a famous devil of a young fellow. He was so lucky as to catch glimpse of Isabelle and he fell in love with her immediately. When she turned away coIdly, iknor- ing his sweeping bow, her. modesty only enhanced her attraction in his eyes.
 In common with other distinguished nobles of Polithers he obtained admis- sion to the dress rehearsal that was held that evening. As soon as he be- held Isabelle in the greenroom, he marchel boldly up to her toilet table where she was putting some finishing touches on her face. He leaned one
 
 for her to glance at him.
 He was incomparably dressed. Ills costume was of rich white satin. Blashed and trimmed with crimson. and adorned with knots of ribbon held by diamond clasps. There was broad rufies of exquisite lace at his throat and wrists A wide belt of silver SUD- ported his sword. Perfumed gloves were on the hands that held his white felt hat with its crimson feather.
 The beautiful garb was worthy of the man. His black hair fell glossiIy around a naughty, handsome head with pair of splendid black eyes that dashed imperious challenge. His figure showed the strength and the ability that had made him one of the first swordsmen of France. He was &C., customed to conquer. and he stood be- fore Isabelle. confident that she would be impressed by his appearance.
 To his surprise, the girl seemed not to be aware that one of the greatest and handsomest noblemen of France was standing before her. At last he was so exasperated that he conde- scended to speak first.
 Isabelle listened to his compliments coldly, and merely nodded her head without looking up. Quite carried away, the Duke tried to adjust a patch on her cheek Isabelle shrank way, terrified at his effrontery. He pressed nearer. Then his arm was seized from behfnd in a clutch that held him im- movable. He turned and looked into the masked face of Captain Fracasse.
 DMademoiselle is in no need of as- distance from you" said the actor --,,ro1u and relaxed hfs grin as Tea