Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-09-09

vile or one OF the other towns where
the school-master imbibed too much
brandy, he was more irritable than
usual. Usually he laid aside the dig
nifty of school-master at recess and.
notwithstanding his silvered locks,
Joined the boys on the play ground,
making one of their number. But
being more morose than usual he sat
alone at his desk when the hour of
noon came, and burying his face in his
hands, refused to move during the en-
tire hour given to recreation. When
the time came to resume school duties
the master seemed to brighten up,
and rang the bell bringing in the
boys and ranging them in seats. But
few moments later he sank back in
his chair and buried his face in his
hands as if he were in confusion and
doubt, or had sunk into an apathetic
state. Suddenly he started, assumed
military position, much to the aston
ishment of his pupils, and saluting,
shouted:
"Vive Ia republique! Nve rEm-
peretwr'
A moment later he stood proud and
commanding as if he were at the head
of division and the Emperor was in
front of him, and then as the shadowy
visions his memory and imagination
had conjured up faded away, leaving
only score of astonished boys, he
realized how ridiculous his position,
and sat down.
The school-master got through the
day, but the children had strange tales
OF what they had seen, and it only
added one more to the general mys-
teries about the school-master.
He is more than he seems" said
Mr.. Houston to his wife. . He may
be-" he stopped short; whatever he
was about to say he checked himself
in it, not because he had any thing he
wished to conceal but because he had
nothing to say. What connection had
this country school-master with the
portraits of those two distinguished
men! 1t was riddle he could not
solve even to his own satisfaction.
A few months later the school
master went to the village where he
''got on a SPREE" and again was his
tongue let loose. Mr.. Houston knew
nothing about it until few days later
when one of the villagers came to him
and informed him that in a boastful
mood, while intoxicated, the school
master had declared he was Marshal
Ney, Napoleon Bonaparte's celebrated
officer.
Marshal Ney," cried Mr.. Houston,
in establishment. 1.-THE man was
drunk. He can not be Marshal Ney-
Marshal Ney was killed in Paris on the
9TH of December, 1916" Then to con-
vince his neighbor of the fact he took
from shelf an old history of France
in which he read the details in full
of the execution of the great Marshal.
There was Il mystery about the school
master and the Ie mot d engine was not
in their reach.
For eight years the mysterious
schoolmaster had lived in close inter-
course with the people of Mocksville.
Newspapers came to the neighbor-
hood which Peter Ney read with avid
ity. Peter had great scar upon his
forehead over which he kept his IRON
gray locks combed. The good people
began searching the history of the de-
funct Marshal of Napoleon, and to their
surprise found he had similar scar,
the effect of saber cut His feet and
legs bore the same scars of wounds
that did the Marshal's; many now boldly
asserted that this mysterious man was
none other than the materialned spirit
of the Marshal come back amongthem
to engage in school teaching. The ac-
cession of Louis Philippe 10 the throne
of France in 1880, was first discovered
in the papers by the mysterious school
master. His conduct was so strange
as to brighten and astound even his init
mate friend, Mr.. Houston. He gave way
alternately to paroxysms of rage and
grief. At one moment he was swear
ing and raging like mad man, and
the next he was weeping like child.
Mr.. Houston did every thing he could
to console the poor school-master, and
after time he partially succeeded. A
week passed and the school-master was
a changed man. He had grown more
haggard and melancholy.
One day he asked Mr.. Houston if he
did not regard his conduct as strange.
II certainly do" was the answer.
IF you only knew me and my his
tory you would not blame me. l am the
most miserable of men. Know you
that am dead"
The former. not altogether free from
the superstitions which prevailed in the
neighborhood, felt his hair raising on
his head. He could only gasp: What
do you mean?"
II am dead to the world, the school
master continued. II am, l solemnly
declare. Michel Ney, Duke OF Elchingen
and Prince of the Moskwa. | am the
great cavalry officer of Napoleon Bon
aparte at the side of whom | have
fought on hundred fields. see you
stare and look incredulous," the school
master continued. land do not blame
you. l was tried by court of peers
after my brothers in arms had refused
to sit IN judgment on me and sentenced
to death, They were all political enc
mics, and knew my fate was sealed.
But the officers and soldiers intrusted
with my execution were friends and
informed me that my life should be
spared. Twas forced for their sakes
never to reveal the fact while they
lived, for they would be put to death
for non-performance of duty Not
even my wife and children know that
/ live. On the 18th of December, 1915,
just fifteen years ago, took an atfec-
tionate leave of them and was marched
by men whom / had led to battle, to
the end of the Luxembourg garden and
there took my place by the side of my
coffin. l was told that those guns
would be loaded with blank cartridges
and they were. Throwing away my
hat l told them to fire at my heart, and
when the volley rang out fell. The
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