Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-03

laughing. quite confident he had dispelled
som OF the gloom. II was raining again.
He buttoned his o~vercoat close to the throat
and hurried away on his daily visit to the
war office.
The streets he traversed we're filled with
people, the Place Saint Sulpice was black
with n mob shouting and gesticulattng.
Down with the ministry Resigni' 1t was
Impossible to approach the war office. The
Place de rHotel de Vile, the square In front
OF the Louvre, the gardens OF the Luxem-
Sourg, were swarming with excited crowds,
indignant at the ministry's suggestion OF an
armistice, which they considered preliminary
TO the surrender OF ParisAfurious at the
news from Metz. and hysterical over the
disaster of lie Bourget.
AT s o'clock that morning the carbineers
had marched into Paris, spreading the re-
port that lie Bourget had been betrayed to
the Prussians, that they had escaped after
prodigies Of heroism, and that the govern
ment was responsible for everything.
Bourke, hosting himself upon the railing
OF the Luxembourg, looked out over the
vast throng toward a window, where, hedged
in by the bayonets of the sarbineers. Buck
hurst sat, pale aud impossible beside
Flourens. Mortier had just finished a
venomous grafton, and Flourens, booted and
s%purred, had risen and was facing the mob,
His handsome face grew red with excite
ment, his gestures became more violent as
the roar of appreciation increased. "Vive
Flourensl Down with the governments"
The speech was a passionate plea for the
Commune and a pledge that the city would
never surrender.
What is this senile ministry that il
seek peace for us who demand war! war;
war! What was its price when Metz was
sold, when lie Bourget went up in flames
The day will come when the government
must answer to the Commune, and the day OF
atonement shall be terrible"
The uproar was frightful. The carbineers
charged their rifles in the air and shouted
"Vive lie Commune!"
A mob of national guards cheered them
vociferously. In the midst of the din Buck
hurst rose. Slowly his white, impassive face
bent to meet the sea of upturned faces. The
drums were silenced. the explosion of rifles
ceased, the harsh yells died away.
THE minister's" he said, in a low voice,
ARE at the Hotel de Vile. The government
must resign. The Commune is proclaimed
Who will follow me to the Hotel de Ville?'
There came a laundering shout, For.
ward!" The throngs surged, swung back
and burst into cheers as the carbineers
drums rolling, bayonetS Slanting, wheeled
out into the Boulevard st. Michel.
Bourke followed the crowd, now almosI
entirely composed OF national guards, mo-
biles, franc-tireurs, and swarms OF rufians
from Belleville. AS they marched they bel.
lowed the "Carmagnole," the sinister blasts
of the buglers. the startling crash of drums
the trample and shouting combined In one
hideous pandemonium of deafeniug sound
AS they poured through the Rue de Rivol.
and flooded the square of the Hotel de Vile
Bourke saw General Trochu come out on the
marble steps and wave back the leaders
who were already smashing in the iron gate
Burkhurst ran up the steps and faced the
governor OF Paris. There was a sharp ex.
change of words, a menacing gesture from
Buckhurst, then he showed the governor
aside. In a moment the yelling pack
swarmed into the splendid building. The
ministers fled to the Sale du Conseil, and
barricaded the door. Flourens set his car
bineers to guard it. Buckhurst let the mob
loose throughout the great marble building
and the pillage began. The splendid rooms
were looted, gilded mirrors smashed, furni-
ture mutilated, walls and frescos torn ia
atoms.
(To Be Continued)