Year: 1875

The Dancer and the Duke.


A correspondent writing of the
once famous danseuse, Fanny Els
sler, says:-"Fanny's beauty and
fascination were very dishonesty
employed to win the heart of Napo-
lson rs only legitimate child, the
young duke de Reicnstadt. The
Duke delicate in health from his
birth, had never seemed capable of
feeling the least interest In life. He
was 6lase congenitally; nothing could
rouse him from a profound indiffer-
ance and melancholy that permeated
his whole being. He distrusted
everybody; was unwilling to go into
society; was never so disconnected
as when walking alone in the gar
dens of Schonbrunn, a suburb of the
Austrian capital. 1t was thought
that if his affections could be enlist
ed his mind would assert itself. A
number of the fairest young women
about the Court were presented to
him, and they labored vainly to
make an impression. Their charms,
their Establishments, their fattery,
their conversation, their passion,
real or feigned, moved him not jot
He turned from them in WEAKNESS,
and-begged to be excused. Some
sagacious funetionary suggested
that the ballet queen should be in
troduced to the forlorn youth in the
guise of peasant, in the hope that
she, so accustomed to conquest,
might conquer even him. The pro-
posal having been made to her, she
consented, in consideration of 10000
forms, it is said, to undertake the
delicate mission. A sterling artist,
off as we'll as on the stage, the de-
tails were left to her, and wisely
left, as the sequel proved. Knowing
the hour of the day when it was his
habit to be on the grounds of Schon-
brunn, she managed to be there like
wise, as if by accident. Very care
fully and daintily attired as peas
ant girl, set off with every article
she could command, she looked be-
witching, and she thoroughly under
stood how to enact the part of
charming inge'aase. The youth could
not help but notice her, for she as
sumed to be so busy tending the
flowers as to be unaware of his pres
ence. For several days he satisfied
himself with admiring her, but at
last a curiosity he had never felt be-
fore prompted him to accost her.
She blushed when she replied, and
every word she spoke appeared to
him like a revelation. In short, he
fell in love with her, and she pre-
tended to return his love, never in
timating that she was not ignorant
of his birth and position. Day after
day they met in the gardens; then
they extended their excursions, on
foot and in carriage, until a new
spirit and new life became his. He
made her his co,1tfdante; he told her
of his bitter past, the dependency;
of the hope and Joy she had been
the first to awaken in his nature;
that she was the one human being,
in all the world, he loved or cared
for. Theirs was an idyllic life, while
it lasted. He was known to her on
ly as Louis, she to him only as Marie.
Very soon they were almost inaepa-
rable. Everything was made to ia
vor their being alone; high expecta-
tions having been formed that the
much desired change had been
wrought. That he loved her deeply,
devotedly, absorbingly, as man can
love once, and only once, there is no
reason to doubt. In the midst of
this beautiful dream of happiness,
the Duke, being one day in the city,
felt inclined to visit the theatre, hav-
ing heard, even in his solitude, of
the wonderful dancer. That evening
be sat listless in the box, hardly
needing the performance, scarcely
noticing the ballet, until 1.-THE fig
ure of brightness and beauty bound
ed upon the scene. He was all eyes
and animation at once. He had
never imagined so marvellous like
ness to Marie. Could he be mistaken
He leYelled his lorgnette again and
again. The vision of the lover could
not be deceived. The truth, and the
whole truth soon flashed upon him.
His Marie and eYerybody's Fanny
were one and the same. The glass
fell from his hand; the poor boy
turned deadly pale, and would have
swooned in his seat had he not been
taken from the theatre and driven
home almost insensible. The next
morning the story was all over Wen
ma. Louis never saw MARIE more.
The little hope and faith he had she
had aroused; after that cruel trick
he fell once more into himself, never
to hope again. He did not live very
long. The very night he died she


was dancing in a crowded and ap-
plauding theatre. She had forgot
ten all about him, but she still re-
membered the 10000 horins."