, 1888-09-09
AURORA.

Capt. Dupinl' called Murut, who, in
one of the most beautiful halls # the
Prince de la Parks palace. at Ma was
occupied in drawing up some military
documents. AS no one answered Murat,
the prince, as they called him since his
! recent ennoblement, raised his head,
( glanced over the group of officers who, O
few PAGES off from him. were awaiting
! his commands; and, not perceiving among
! them him whom he wanted, repeated with
irritation: well, then, Capt. Dupin is not
thereY" Then, in the same way as an ar
ticle passes from hand to hand when a
line is formed, the name of the aide-de-
camp went flying from mouth to mouth,
from room to room, through the vast
abode-all it's doors being open, because
Of the temperature, which is SO warm in
May in Spain-was off on it's way to find
the absentee. Because Murat did not trife
with the negligent. He again applied
himself to his writing in silence. consent
ing, doubtless, to wait a few minutes; but
the contraction OF his eyebrows into a
wrinkle oil his forehead indicated his bad
humor.
This happened in 1908, when Napoleon's
envoy, who had e. y entered Madrid,
thanks to the dis. lAnces in the king
dom, was awaitins lie progress of events
with the secret hope of being named king
of the conquered country, and hardly
suspecting that in the hands of his mas
ter he was only a pawn left there, IN n
of the squares of the European chess
board, to keep the place for the emperor's
brother Joseph.
Soon was seen running, thanks to the
obliging call of his comrades, the cul
prit, a charming young man of about %,
much beloved, an excellent soldier, but
who, however, for nearly a week had ap-
peared restless, troubled; in a word, quite
different from what he usually was.
Where were you, then, captain2" said
the prince, severely, on seeing him come,
agitated and slightly out of breath.
In the palace, marshal"
"Tha is not enough. You must be
here, near to me. Nevertheless, l have
been taking notice of you for some days.
You are entirely changed. Your ANNA
ton is gone, you nave extraordinary dis
fractions. What, then, has happened?"
Nothing, marshal, l assure you"
Indeed You are no longer master of
yourself"
Excuse me. That is true. 1 have
some anxieties, for family reasons"
And these family reasons live under
the palace roof, it appears, because people
have met you up yonder, gliding furtively
along the corridors. l do not like mystic
ries, captain; do you understand"
The poor officer blushed and turned
pale. Then, alarmed at the increasing
severity of the chiefs tone, fearing some
suspicion more serious than the truth,
decided to makea confession.
Il have my child, a boy of four years,
with me-" he stammered, lowering his
head.
The prince flew into a passion.
"a child of that agel Why not have
a nurse at once? A brat of a boy in tn,
midst of war, Wien at any moment an iE-
surrection may burst out against thu
Frenchl"
If necessary, 1 will send him away"
murmured the young man, in a sad voice.
No; keep him, since he is here. He
could not be sent back through a country
ready for revolt. Let him remain, but, on
condition that 1 never see him, under
stand; and, above all, on condition that
his presence shall not be the cause of the
slightest breach of your duty. That
would be very prettyl Discipline would
go on finely if each one of us dragged
about his progeny through a campaignl'
Murat, in a state of fury, turned his
back, leaving the captain greatly excited,
because he, Maurice Dupin, had not told
all. Not only was he hiding the child in
the upper part of the house, but the
mother, too-poor woman come from
a "ANN - AShAAS " NiSAnbLAN NoiSSLSs
suffering a thousand deaths, during a
journey in q carriage under a burning
sky in an enemy's country; because she
had wished at any cost again to see and
embrace her husband. and had been I'M
able to resist the mad Drained desire for
this reunion. Think, now, if l were to
die far from theel" she had said, with
the unceasing cry of a poor creature on
the eve of a crisis, real or imaginary, in
| vvhinh che No NONCOMPLIANCE MI
young husband did not feel himself strong
enough to turn her away. He had set
tied her on the third floor of the palace,
the room was not missed, and she had
since lived in a constant fright, due to
Murat.
A week rolled by after the explanation.
The general spoke no more IN any subject.
He continued, however, to give his orders
in short, sharp style-a sign that his dis
satisfaction was not yet dispelled. But
one fine morning, under the influence of
an unknown good humor. he suddenly
took it into his head to ask his aide-de-
camp:
well; about this child: Cannot he be
SEEM
Yes. indeed. marshal. 1 viii 60 aud
find him If you wish it."
In a few minutes after the young father
brought a love of a little soldier in full
parade uniform. A tiny sword beat
against his legs, which wore enclosed in
red morocco boots, with gold spurs, and
on his shoulders the hussar's pelisse,
trimmed with fur in the Hungarian style,
completed the rich army costume of the
time. Tho captain. foresecing that.
sooner or later, by chance or voluntarily,
the prince might see the child, had con.
ceived the idea of presenting the little
fellow in the uniform most likely to fntter
his superior. The little rascal, in fact,