Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-08-26
THE BALL IN BOHEMIA
Nv BELLE C. WARREN.
copyright, 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l

chief of police under Napoleon III.
Claude greatly resembled IN person
the poet Beranger, the idol of repub-
licau France, having the same bald
head and the same benevolent counte-
nance.
One night ball was in progress IN
the Latin quarter Of Paris, that por-
ton of the city given over to students
and grizettes. 1t was In those days
yeritabe Bohemia, in the height OF
that splendor pictured by Du Maurier
in his novel "rrlby." Among the
dancers was Gustave Rieux, who had
been active in opposing the assumption
of imperial power by the president.
Tpon the enthronement Of Low Ma
poleon, Rieux, realizing that he was
not safe in France. fed to America,
but after time returned to faris.
purporting to be Henry Underwood
an American student OF art.
Rieux's partner in the dance was
Clochette Verier. at the time the ac'
knowledged queen Of Bohemia. New
ertheless not word had ever been
spoken against her purity. Born in
n higher class, fond OF social life. but
denied by poverty entrance to the So
ciety Of the upper circles. she entered
Bohemia destined rather to rule IT
than to be ruled by it. There, on his
return from America, RienX met her.
and the meeting resulted on both sides
in what the French call grand pas
sion.
Rieux had been warned that the
government had trumped up charge
against him Of completely In cas-
of murder and if caught he would be
tried under imperial influences ana
doubtless convicted. He had delayed
flight because he could not tear hlnl-
self away from Clochette terier she,
realizing his danger, had begged him
to leave France and he had promised
her to do so on the morrow. Let us
spend one evening together" he said.
lin that bohemian life amid which we
have met and loved. Then we will
part, If 1t must be. forever She con-
sented
They were standing as first couple
in a dance which was then new IN
Paris. but which was later imported
to America and IL occasionally danced
here even at the present day-the IAN
GERS. A figure had been danced. ana
the musicians had stopped for bricf
interval before beginning TO play for
the next. Suddenly Rieux. who faced
the door, saw 1t opened and man
enter. Ciochette. who was looking at
her lover saw him turn pale and. fol
lowing the direction Of his eyes. dis
covered the cause. But she could not
understand 1t. She had seen the poet
Beranger and supposed the man VIII"
entered to be he.
1T is NJ. Claude" whispered Rieux.
"He has come for me- am lost"
Claude glanced quickly aboht- the
room, and. his eye lighting upon RieuX,
he advanced straight toward him. But
like a flash Clochette's wit came to the
rescue.
"Beranger"" she cried, pointing to
Claude.
"Rerangcr. our idol!' Rieux shouted.
taking up the cue.
"Reranger. Beranger. Beranger.'
rang through the hall
Clochette advanced to meet the de-
tective. whispering to every girl she
passed. Come; let us greet the poet.
At that moment the music started for
the next figure, but no one paid any
attention to it. A bevy of girls block
ed the way between Claude ana the
man he had come to arrest. SnatchinS
the flowers from their corSageS. they
tossed them at the detective, enough
OF them striking his face to shut out
n view Of his victim, who was retreat
ing to the door. Clochette. having seen
the people In the hall crowding around
the man they supposed to be BcranEef,
followed her lover. and together they
gained the street door, where ClaudeS
carriacp WAS waiting to take RieuX to
Jail. Avoiding it. they hurried away.
called Il cab and drove rapidly toward
thr barrier.
Meanwhile the detective WAS the
center Of attraction ut the ballroom.
70 tell the admiring throng that he
vas not the poet they ihOliIci. but IN
agent Of III" government sent t. arrest
one Of thei.' number. was more than
he dared do. He did deny that he
was Reranrcr. but oven this they
would not believe Finally he made
his escape loaded with flowers.
"Clochette." cried RieuX. throwing
his arms around her rs they rolled
away in the cab, "you have saved me.
Go witt, me to America as my wife.
There. free from the Sights If my
family and my friends here, we can
build home for ourselves"
III you ERE not taken" she replied,
with Il shudlcr
I'VE will escape" he said hopefully.
Escape both of us in bah Dress
For the first time II occurred to the
fugitive that rs soon rs Claude could
get away from his admirers he would
put the police on guard, and the lover1
began to lay II plan. They first drove
to the house of Il friend Of l,irNX
where lie borrowed clothing and Dis
guiSed himself They then drove to Il
friend of Clochette's. net daring t" &"
to her home, where she. too. changed
her dress. Thus prepared they reached
the channel, crossing 1t in sailing
vessel
In England. after waiting for funds
from Paris. they took passage for
America. where they remained with
out even temporary return to France
I'll after the downfall Of the empire
in consequence of the Franco-prus-
sian war. Then I;ieux took his family
to Paris ard was offered Il prominent
post under the republic But he CO
tllned 1t. having become an American