| Show ator STOUT r lime drouet hiie bocis lire I 1 and works uy far alic midmost lasting of victor hugos friendships for women ended in the death ot mine drouet a few days ago she was an actress years ago when hugo birst met her tall of superb figure find lively intellect she inspired in the poet 1 passion which only deepened with time and change of fortune this friendship was stronger than the poets will it outlived als marriage and alleviated its disappointments it followed him into thrived in liis darkest years who called at the hue de clinchy were expected to ignore the tact that ame mme dronet lived in the bouse before them she was treated by victor hugo witti reverential gallantry she had none of the ways of an old stage beauty though in her youth she had been a paragon of plastic loveliness and bad to boot grace sensibility and a bright wit her ways showed good breeding and rectitude her musical talents were brilliant and had a delicious voice she had been left au orphan at an early ago agnand and her paternal uncle a famous general of the to keep the beauty out of danger she should enter a convent for life on the cac of the day on which she was to have assumed the veil with other mgr visited the convent lie congratulated the breton gill on the strength of her ro cation sec felt eliat if she did not that moment act with decision WOULD BE ALIVE lok l OK mustering up all her courage she replied the truth is I 1 have no call whatever and do not want to be a nuu the archbishop had bacu told just the contrary and in a severe tone ached the superior why he had been kept in the dark she said with more zeal than discretion the fad is this young girl is an orphan and penniless her relations have no choice for her between heaven and perdition they alca for god and and she elects for satan la belle julietta Juliet tc as she was then called thus escaped the and went to the vaudeville and afterward 10 lo alic porte st martin and here she met her fate the young poet she was given the part of the princess in lucietia borgia and her superb beauty f bcd victor hugo who though young was even then famous ju remorse for having trifled with him abid sought employment at brussels and st petersburg the poet was beside himself with grief on hearing of her plans for the future he was glorious but not rich and what right he himself had lie to stand in glicr way tho tempest that raged in his mind is described in the chapter about in les HIS GOT OUT av literary work was neglected the idea that a wife and four entirely depended upon his exertions crushed liim the actress meeting him by cliance clia was horror stricken by he clinge that had taken place in him alic was a woman of rapid decision and resolved to quit the theater to devote herself to the pod and indeed as it appeared to to poverty also to bear tic reproaches chhith she knew would be heaped upon her ro resent nothing those who would have a right to hate her might say against her and to have no ambition except victor hugos welfare he wanted a secretary why not she asked employ glicr as one the salary for the work he required to bf done would be for all her wants and could be accepted dignity juliette went in the palace royale aad there became ammo drobel although alic exercised an unquestioned empire over the pool slie never misused it nor was auy member of his ever beard tu complain of her presence there she was associated with of his brightest literary triumphs in such a manner that lie anist hiiva considered iiii almost an inseparable part of alie description convent at petit ii alic is taken almost word for thord aiom mine lips she was in convent when a girl many other scene in acs aud in one or two of hugos poems arc clue lo 10 the inspirations and suggestions of mine drouet fmc drouet is bun cd in the cemetery at st where lies the only child had a press |
