AN ACTRESS' ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 57, 16 June 1910, Page 6

AN ACTRESS' ROMANCE.

itdlle. Juliette Thaldy now shares an almost vice-regal throne.- Six months ago she was an unknown young actress. The other day she was quietly married to M. Merlaud-Pontv, Governor of French West Africa. The story of: her engagement and courtship was rapid and dramatic. Last September a company in which she was touring-. was homeward bound from South America. At Rio de Janeiro the manager decided to give one performance at Dakar, on the coast of West Africa, where the ship called for twelve hours, and lie-cabled to that effect. The boat was due at 6 .p.m., and the performance was announced for eight. A storm delayed the vessel several hours, and she stood off Dakar at midnight. ''No matter," says the manager, "we will give* the performance." Blacks row the company off in in canoes ashore in the dead of night, and towards one o'clock the performance is ready to begin. "Where are the spectators?" "In ibed." "Then wake them up," says tile manager, and is obeyed. "Where is the Governor?" "In bed, too." "Then wake him also," and awakened he is. By 2 a.m. the audience are in the theatre, rubbing their eyes, the Governur among them. Before the curtain rises the Governor gallantly pays his respects to his countrywomen behind the scenes, enters the dressing room of the leading ladv, and "jtands transfixed." He. has beheld in a corner of the room Mdile. Thalcly, a young colleague of the leading ladv, and it has been the coup de foudre. Henceforth he will love only her till •death do them ipart. He never takes his eves off her during the performance. At tile close he entertains the company at supper in his house towards G a.m., and at eight lie accompanies them on board to Ibid good-bye to the lady who shall be his wife, or he will die single. A month or so later lie can obtain leave, comes to Paris, marries the lady, who had accepted him by letter already, and takes his bride back to Dakar, wheres lie now reigns 'with liim over French West Africa—Paris correspondent of the Telegraph.