The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1910-08-30

Truth is so much stranger than ic
tion that perhaps IL is better TO stats
that the main incident Of this story
actually happened just IS it is re
corded.
The French revolution had reached
that stage commonly designated tn,
reign Of terror. Every day the doors
Of the conciergerie prison opened 4
let out a number Of human beings, not
10 slife. liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness" as was enunciatcd shortly
before by the American eol0nists IN
their Declaration Of Independence, but
10 suffer death on the guillotine. Al
first the victims were confined 70 those
who stood for tyranny. The king. the
queen, the nobility. royalty and its
supporters lost their heads. Then the
different factions that had brought
about the revolution began 10 fight for
power. and the Conservatives were
euillotined 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 10 his long home.
II was not always an enemy that
was TO be got rid Of Sometimes 1t
was a 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 q
young couple, Henri and Marie Cha
teaubrun. who were devoted TO each
other. Henri when the struggle against
Oppression began took 4 deep Interest
in II, advocating the REFORMS that We're
ptpposed. He and friend of his,
Antoine Boyg, became s9.meysat
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 in
the early efforts Of the revoluuonists
TO make France n constitutional mon
archy and was usually present at the
conferences Of her husband and his
friend
During these meetings Boyer con
ceiyed a passion for Nine. Chateau
brun. For time he struggled against
It, not even acknowledging 20 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 a 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 ,benefcent results
to France, who had worked for the
beginning Of a better regime, found
themselves In the position Of enemies
to their country. In attempting TO
stay the flow of blood they incurred
the enmity Of those who were she'd
ding II. Then it was that Nine.
Chateaubrun began to fear for the
safety of her husband She urged him
TO retire from any further partici-
patton in public 'ffairs, TO 60 TO a
small estate he owned in the country.
But, dangerous as It was to continue a
contest with the leaders Of the mob,
Chateaubrun was too much Of man
TO cease TO defend what he considered
the best interests of his country.
Fiercer and fercer grew the mob,
requiring of their leaders more and
larger drafts of blood Mime. Chateau
brun begged her husband to leave
Paris. He sent for his friend Boyer
now one of the Jacobin leaders, and
asked him what he had better do,
Boyer said he would take the matter
under advisement and let him know
his conclusions.
The day after this interview there
was a knock at Chateaubrun's door
and when It was opened party Of
soldiers entered and informed Cha
teaubrun that he was under arrest by
order OF the convention. In spite OF
his clinging wife he was dragged away
and lodged in the conciergerie.
He demanded-all arrested persons
made the demand-to know the charge
brought against him. He received no
reply till he was brought up for the
semblance of a trial he was given,
then was informed that he was accus-
ed Of conspiring with others to bring
the Duke Of Orleans across the border
and establish him as king. Chateau
brun knew that there was not word
Of truth in the charge, but its very
absurdity told him that 1t was a pre-
text rather than an accusation, and he
lost hope at once.
There were twenty-one persons tried
ne tba cama tfma with Chatpauhrl1n