Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-12-09
ROCKVILLE. FRIDAY DECEMBER
Beside the
Cuinotine
A Break In the Grim Machine
Made a Great Difference.
By HERMAN WINFIELD.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Truth Is so much stranger than fic-
ton that perhaps 1t is better to state
that the main incident of this story
actually happened just as 1t is re-
corded
The French revolution had reached
that stage commonly designated the
reign Of terror Every day the doors
of the conciergerie prison opened to
let out number of human beings, not
to life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness" as was enunciated shortly
before by the American colonists in
their Declaration of Independence, but
to suffer death on the guillotine. At
first the victims were confined to those
who stood for tyranny. The king, tho
queen, the nobility, royalty and its
supporters lost their heads. Then the
different factions that had brought
about the revolution began to fight for
power and the Conservatives were
guillotined by the Radicals. After this
whoever desired TO get rid Of one he
wished to remove had but to inform
upon him as an enemy to France, and
the accused would join the "innumer-
able caravan" passing under the yoke
of the guillotine to his long home.
1t was not always an enemy that
was to be got rid of. Sometimes it
was n friend. That friend might pos
sess something that at his death would
fall into the hands Of the informer.
There lived In Paris at that time a
young couple, Henri and Marie Cha
teaubrun, who were devoted to each
other. Henri when the struggle against
oppression began took deep interest
In It, advocating the reforms that were
proposed He and a friend of his,
Antoine Boyer, became somewhat
prominent as leaders In that quarter
Of the city In which they lived. Boyer,
who was a bachelor, came often to the
Chateaubruns to consult with his
friend upon the course to be adopted
by them In public affairs. Nine Cha
teaubrun took lively interest I'm
the early efforts Of the revolutionists
to make France a constitutional mon.
archy and was usually present at the
conferences Of her husband and his
friend.
During these meetings Boyer con.
ceived a passion for Nine. Chateau.
brun. For time he struggled against
It, not even acknowledging to himself
that he loved his friends wife. But the
time came when he knew that life for
him was not worth living without her.
As the revolution proceeded the two
friends and coworkers found them
selves on different paths. Chateau
brun continued Conservative, while
Boyer Joined the ranks OF the blood
thirsty Jacobins. The latter did not
give up his visits to the Chateaubruns.
Indeed, he was not able to keep away
from the young wife Of his friend.
Since neither she nor her husband sus-
pected his love he was always well
come.
And now, the revolution having
swept beyond the conservatives, those
who had hoped for benehcent results
to France, who had worked for the
Desiinius VI De'oe, iesine, lounu
themselves III lne poSi'ioii VI enclnies
F" 'ne" Iou"y III a.'op"ns
stay 'ne no" Vi o'oou they incurreu
the enmity OF those who were she'd
uins II, Ineh was tn"t MINE.
OhateauDruh pegah 10 rear Ior thS
SURETY Oh her huspahu' one urBeu MIN
10 retlre from any iurtner parucl-
patioh III puDlc aHalrs' 10 20 10
sina' estate no owned IN tne country
nut, dangerous as II was 10 commune
contest WIN tle leaders Oh tne MOP
OnateauDrun was 100 mucn OF man
70 cease 10 derend what ne CONSIDERED
inc Oest interests OF MS country
Flercer ana mercer grew lhe mop,
requiring OF tnelr leaders more ana
larger drafts OF blood. Mime. Chateau
Druh Degged her husband TO leave
rarls. ne sent Tor MS FRIEND boyer.
no" one oI tne JacoDlh leauers, ana
asked MN what ne mad better DO.
boyer SAID ne would take the matter
under amusement ana let MIN Know
ms CONCLUSIONS
The day after TINS interview there
was Knock at CnateauDruns door,
ana wneh II was opened party OF
soldiers entered ana informed Cha
teauDrun that ne was under arrest by
order OF the convention In spite OF
0F0RRAn