Amador ledger., 1909-09-10
THE BALL IN BOHEMIA
au BELLE c. WARREN.

the poet BeIdllBeI' lhc luOi VI 'Vbup
llcan 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-
tion of the city given over to students
and grizettes. 1t was in those days q
vcritable Bohemia in the height of
that splendor pictured by Du Maurier
in his novel 'Trlby" Among the
dancers was Gustavc RieuX. who had
been active in opposing the assumption
of imperial power by the president
Upon the enthroncment Of Louis Ma.
poleon. IiicuS. realizing that he was
not safe i'm France, fled to America,
but after Il time returned to Paris,
purporting to be Henry Underwood.
an American student Of art.
Eicux's partner in the dance was
Clochette Nericr. at the time the ac.
knowledged queen of Bohemia. Nev-
ertheless not n word had ever been
spoken against her purity. Born In
higher class. fond of social life. but
denied by poverty entrance to the so
cicty Of the upper circles, She entered
Bohemia destined rather to rule it
than to be ruled by it. There. on his
return from America. HieuX met her,
and tile meeting resulted on both sides
in what the French call a grand pas
sion
RicuX had been warned that the
government had trulnped UP charge
against him of completely in Il case
of murder ana If caught he would be
tried under imperial influences and
doubtless convicted. He had delayed
flight because he could not tear him
self away from Clochette Verier. 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. il it must be. forever She con
sented.
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. \ figure had been danced. and
the musicians had stopped for brief
interval before beginning to play for
the next. Suddenly RieuX. who faced
the door, saw it opened and man
enter. Clochette. 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 it. She had seen the poet
Beranger and supposed the man who
entered to be he.
ut is NJ Claude" whispered EieuX
"IIe has come for me. [ am lost"'
Claude glanced quickly about the
room. and. his eye lighting upon RieuX
he advanced straight toward him. But
ike flash Clochette's wit came to the
rescue
"Bcrangerr' she cried, pointing to
Claude
"Rcrnnger. our idol" Rieux shouted,
taking up the cue
"Beranger. Beranger! BeranGer"
rang through the hall.
ClCchette advanced to meet the de-
tective. whispering to every girl she
passed. Come; let us greet the poet.
At Chat moment the music started for
the next figure, but no one paid any
attention to it. a bevy Of girls block
el the way between Claude and the
man he had come to arrest. Snatching
the lowers from their corsagcs, they
tossed them at the detective. enough
fr, lint ont
view of his victim. who was retreat
ing to the door CIochette, having seen
/ the people in the hall crowding around
the man they supposed to be Beranger,
followed her lover. ana together they
gained the street door. where Claude's
carriage was waiting to take IIieuX to
Jail. Avoiding it, they hurried away,
called Il cab and drove rapidly toward
he barrier
Meanwhile the detective was the
center Of attraction at the ballroom.
70 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
he 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 RiCuX. throwing
his arms around her as they rolled
away in the cab, you have saved me.
Go with me to America as my wife.
There. free from the Sights Of my
family and my friends here, we can
/ I Fl,
"If YOU are not taken" she replied,
with a shudder.
We will escape" he said hopefully.
"Escapp-both OF us in ball dress.
] ~. ~ Cn.t tiunn n DnnmIrnl tn the