The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-08-17
THE BALL IN BOHEMIA
Ry sELLE c. WARREN.


AAnNN0 hlNuhy Acncupleu III person
the poet Beranger. the idol Of repub.
lican France. having the same bald
head and the same benevolent countc-
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 a
yeritable Bohemia, IN the height Of
that splendor pictured by Du Maurier
in his novel 'srrilby." Among the
dancers was Gustave Rieux, who had
been active 10 opposing the assumption
Of imperial power by the president.
Upon the enforcement of Louis Ma
poleon, Rieux, realizing that he was
not safe In France. fed to America,
but after a time returned TO Paris,
purportlng to be Henry Underwood,
an American student OF art.
Rleux's partner Ia the dance was
Clochette verier. at the time the nc.
knowledged queen OF Bohemia. New
ertheless not word had ever been
spoken against her purity. Born in
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 II
than to be ruled by it. There. on his
return from America, Rieux 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 case
Of murder and II caught be would be
tried under imperial influences and
doubtless convicted. Ha had delayed
flight because he could not tear him
self away from Clochette verier. She,
realizing bis 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,
''in that bohemian life amid which we
have met and loved Then We win
part, II 1t must be, forever" She con-
scented.
They were standing as first couple
in dance which was then new IN
Paris. but which was later imported
TO America and Is occasionally danced
here even at the present day-the Ian
GERS. A figure had been danced, and
the musicians had stopped for a brief
interval before beginning to play for
the next Suddenly Rieux, who faced
the door, saw 1t opened and a man
enter Clochette. who was looking at
her lover, saw him turn pale aud. fol
lowing the direction Of bis eyes, dis
covered the cause But she could not
understand IT, She had seen the poet
Beranger and supposed the man who
entered to be he.
ut Is NJ Claude" whispered Rieux.
''He has come for me. l am lestf'
Claude glanced quickly about the
room. and. his eye lighting upon Rleux, |
be advanced straight toward him. But
like flash Clochette's wit came to the
rescue.
"BerangerF' she cried pointing to
Claude.
"Beranger, our idolg Rieux shouted,
taking up the cue.
"Beranger Beranger! Berangerw
rang through the hall
Clochette advanced to meet the de-
tectiye, whispering to every gifl 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 beyy Of girls block
ed the way between Claude and the
man he had come to arrest. snatching /
the flowers from their corsages they I
tossed them at the detective, enough |
OF them striking his face to shut out I
a view OF bis victim. who was retreat /
ing to the door Clochette, having seen i
the people in the hall crowding around /
the man they supposed to be Beranger,
followed her lover. and together they
gained the street door, where Claude's (
carriage was waiting to take Rieux to
jail. Avoiding 1t, they hurried away.
called a cab and drove rapidly toward
the barrier.
Meanwhile the detective was the
center Of attraction at the ballroom.
TO tell the admiring throng that he
was not the poet they idolized. but an
agent OF the government sent to arrest
one Of their number. was more than
be dared do. He did deny that he
was Beranger, but even this they
would not believe. Finally he made
his escape loaded with flowers.
"Clochette, cried Rieux. throwing
his arms around her as they rolled
away III the cab, ''you have saved me.
GO with rae to America as my wife.
There, free from the Sights of my
family and my friends here, we can
build d home for ourselves"
IF yon are not TAKEN" she replied,
with a shudder
eve win escape" he said hopefully
Escape both OF us IN ba dress!e
For the first time it occurred to the
fugitive that as soon as Claude could
get away from his admirers be would
put the police on guard, and the lovers
began to lay a plan. They first drove
to the house Of friend Of Rieux,
where he borrowed clothing and dis.
nuised himself. They then drove to
friend Of ClOchette's, not daring to 90
10 her home. where she. too. changed
her dress. Thus prepared they reached
the channel, crossing II IN sailing
vessel
In England, after waiting for funds
from Paris, they took passage FOR
America. where they remained With.
out even a temporary return to France
till after the downfall Of the empire
a consaaueuce Of the Franco-Prus-