The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-02
NAPOLEON's GRATITUDE.
Or the Schcming Colonel.
BY GAIT. cHAs. HOWARD.
CHAPTER I.

Or the Schcmins Colonel.
BY CAPT. cHAs HOWARD
CHAPTER I.
Il was q cold. fearless, Russian night.
The winds howled disrnalIy through the
de1t RED city Of Moscow, and pierced to
the very marrow in the bones Of the
b French soldiers. The march to Moscow
had been q perilous and bloody one,
and the soldiers saw that a retreat vas
inevitable. The guards standing on the
corners Of the silent streets, shivered,
leaned against the buildings, and thought
of past conflicts, new victories, and
home and friends. But alas! how few OF
then. survived that disastrous retreat to
clasp wives, sisters, mothers, andsweet-
heart to their war-worn breasts.
It was nearly midnight when a figure
eMerced from an imposing Russian
building land hurried of down the street.
The step upon the frozen walkswssyttas
OF q soldier and q monarch. He was en-
veloped In q long military cloak, that al
most touched the ground. His face was
not visible; but the richly trimmed,
three-cornered hat, proclaimed him a
man ranking high in the armies of
Franc . And he did rank high, for he
was the man upon whom the eyes of all
Europe we're fixed. In his hand he held
the destinies of empires, and mighty POI
tomatoes were conspiring for his over
throw.
Now the reader knows who that single
pedestrian was-Napoleon Bonaparte,
lie sas on his way to the headquarters
q ms royal brother in-law-the s'preux
Chevalier1'---Joachim Marat.
Etreet after street the mperor thread.
ed, unaware that he was marching to
the knife of the ASSASSIN. With hands
ciutch,ng his cloak to keep it around his
person, the emperor was thinking Dean.
". He foresaw the horrors Of the
coming retreat. and he tremb,edsats the
dreadful late OF his brave seldisHe.as He
wished u thousand times that he had
Profited by the words Of Mu at, which
still rang in bis ears.
'Tqrn back" the dashing cavalry
will besthe destruction of the arIuy.n
But he had not listened to the pro-
phetlc words, and hecursed his folly as he
walked along.
Around the angle Of an old cathedral;
bearded Russian crouched. with dag
Ger whetted for the heart of the worlds
Conqueror This man had remained in
me city for the purpose of killing Nspos
Icon, and thus, at one blow, end
the war. that WAS draining En-
rope OF her treasure of mi and
blood, He was q religious fanatic. who
thought that the blow, il surely given.
would entitie him to q seat at the right
hard of the Throne of Allah. for. in the
Moelem faith he had been educated.
he knew Murat waited for Napoleon.
q that the emperor would surely be-
etone, for the conference between the
6ruthers-in-law was to be secret. Ev-
cry now and then he peered around the
corner 70 9 il his royal victim was APP
preaching, and at last his eyes flashed
are, Tor he saw the little mufiod figure
striding towards him. He drew back.
ana drew y kAensedge Of the knife
mouth = divide a heart of stone, and
sopr0vide him with strength for the
blow, the maniac crouched ready for
b spring.
On, onscame the unsuspecting monarch,
and With . tiger spring the Russian
scaught him by the throat, and raised
tho glfttering blade alofs. Another mo
ment, and BOnRparte wonldhave been O
corpse. But he vas not to fall by the
dagger of the assassin, for while the
knife was hold In mid-air, the door Of
b cathedral was thrown open, . gren-
adler dashed out. and. with the butt Of
his musket, levelled the Would-pe muI-
derer to4the ground.
The emperor drew q long breath, OF
relief. and prevented his Dreservlr from
pfnnsng the Russian down with his bay
Dnet.
Stay said Napoleon gently. do
not mutilate his BODY
HE is dead, SIRE replied the spl-,
der. My blow merely stunned him."
"But do not kill him.
he would have slain you sire"
True; but we should deal leniently
with our anenies. DID you know hi .,??ifs
"Only rs q Russian and q maniac.
took mp my quarters in this old church,
u eaW Elm come hither and crouch by
the wall knife in hand. Thought I
would wait and see whom he intended
e clay. little %suspecting It was you,
1Y.sur hand" cried the emperor,
Arnsping tbs hand OF the grenadier.
ssYOu have doneja noble deed. Napoleon
thanks yspn;; butsshs will reward
,JAcqdesVraiHont SIRE
: Jacques Vramont. / will not forget
It Good night, my brave fellow. Do
not i pray you, mention this ~rencontre,
for the soldiers would seek the life OF
this poor maniacaHs
will obey yorl, sire,n said the eren.
adiers bowling To- theemperor.-Good