The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-07

Story of the Prince Imperial

prosperity, great commotlon occurred
one day at the Palace of the Tulleres.
The Prince Imperial was missing. His
tutor M. Monnier, bis valet Uhlmann,
his equerry M. Bachon, might have been
observed tearing down the terrace which
skirts the Quai du Louvre, followed by
young Louis Conneau, the Princes play
mate Young Conneau appeared ready
to cry; and the three officials above
named seemed disposed to hold him re-
sponsible for the mishap which they
dreaded, for every now ard then they
turned round gesticulating, and sharply
repeated the question, when did you
see him last% 1t was about ten o'clock
on a summer morning, and the public
part of the Tuieries gardens was already
crowded with nursemaids and children.
Some other walkers were abroad too,
inhaling the tonic Of Partisan June air,
and several of these, noticing the goings
to and fro Of the persons on the terrace,
stopped and stared, imagining that some
court-dog must have played the truant.
It would have given them an electrical
sensation if they could have guessed that
being SOUGHT for among the rhododen-
drons and lilac bushes. This little bit of
news, retailed by them in cafes-as it
would have been very 'speedily-would
have been enough to occasion a heavy
fall in rentes and to have spread panic
on the Bourse that afternoon.
The Princes tutor, equerry, and valet
tbi, l,,,+ +ao wall. o,,I so Il ~
Conneau, whose youthful mind had long
ago opened to the comprehension that
his Imperial playmate was not boy like
Others. Guards surrounded him; all his
steps were watched he could not wander
out of the sight of those appointed to
keep their eyes on him without raising
an amount of fuss of which Cenneau
himself always suffered rather more than
the Prince did.
The functions of whipping-boy had
Happily been abolished before Louis Con-
neau's time; but whenever the prince
did anything amiss, it was Conneau who
was held blameworthy. He was told
that he ought to set better example,
hat he ought not to lead His Imperial
IIighness astray; that he was boy who
enjoyed great honors and had conse-
Quently big duties all of which sayings
Conneau bore with an air of outward
penitence but with inward mutiny.
Now, this much-lcctured youth happened
10 know that the Prince Imperial chafed
considerably under the tutelage in which
he was held, and had long cherished the
ambition of going forth and having
long days spree by himself in the streets
of Paris. There was certain fried-p
jato stall where H. l. H. had said he
should like to regale himself incognitio,
and he much wished to 90 and mix with
the herds of boys whom he had seen
streaming out of the Lvcees towards
four in the afternoon, and to Join in
some of those delightful combats which
they waged among themselves with their
dictionaries and satchels.
Too generous to drag his comrade into
a scrape, the Prince had never asked
Conneau to join him in an escapade; but
he had solemnly warned him that on the
first occasion when he should catch NJ.
Monner mapping, the officer on guard
lozing, and the sentry at the garden gate
looking stupid ON his post, he should
avail himself of the combination of cir
cum9tances and be off. Louis Conneau
had treated this confidence as sacred but
he had used the voice of wisdom to per-
suade the Prince that there were lust as
good fried potatoes to be had at the
Tuileres as at the corner of the Rue st.
Honore; and that eating these delicacies
with ones fingers out of a piece of greasy
Yellow paper constituted no such treat as
H.I.H. fancied. However, the Prince
seemed now to have disregarded the ad-
vice, and Conneau, harried by questions
was at last fain to own that he thought
His Hlghness had gone out for a bit
Of fun.
"Fun" yelled NJ. Monnier, lifting his
arms in desperation; "does he think it's
fun to make us run about after him in
this fashion Where has he gone now?
Tell us at once if you know"
perhaps he has gone to buy two sous
worth of potatoes" suggested young Con-
neau timidly. 1t was hazardous state
ment to make, for the three officials
glared at him as ii they thought jest
would be most unreasonable at such a
moment.
''Potatoes" echoed the erudite NJ
Monnier. "Why, he only breakfasted an
hour ago"
''Boys are often ready for two .break-
fasts," remarked NJ. Bachon, the equerry,
luminotIsly
That's not the question:" cried the
tutor, retracing his steps and walking
rapidly back towards the palace. "You
must lead us to the potato shop, Con-
neau, if you know where it is. Quick.
come, now, | take it for granted you are
not misleading u.s."
81 can't affirm he has gone for pota.
toes" whined Conneau, feeling the con-
iuncture was serious perhaps he has
gone to have fight with the Lycee
boys"
s'Mein Gott! a fight NIT vauriensr
exclaimed Uhlmann, his honest Alsatisr
face turning to the color of beetroot.
"Not word more gasped NJ. Mon
nier, for they were nearing sentry, ant
observed the captain of the guard stand