Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-09-03

five and twenty years OF age, occupied a
desk near the window that looked out
upon a broad, inclosed court, where a
sentinel, in blue coat and red pegt0p
trousers, was pacing his beat. There
was a quantity of papers on the desk,
and the young gentleman was writing a
summary of the contents of these on the
backs of them and filing them away. a
light Snow was falling outside and melt
ing as it fell, for the winter of eighteen
hundred and sixty-nine was still hnger-
ing in the first months of eighteen hum
bred and seventy.
The other parsonage in the room was
q man of mature years. He was barely
Of middle height, but his figure was COM
pact, and his shoulders broad and thick.
His face, somewhat feshy about the
Jaws, and of a dull complexion, had al
aquiline nose, a carefully waxed MUS
tache and a pointed imperial. The eyes
were wide apart, and the heavy lids
dropping over them gave them a SOM
nolent aspect; yet, examining them more
intentively, you would perceive that
they were eyes that nothing escaped
-watchful, penetrating, impenetrable
eyer. For the rest this countenance bore
the marks of anxiety and i'll health;
there were heavy lines beneath the eyes,
the forehead was furrowed and the hair
was thin on its conical summit. Withal
both face and figure had a certain dig
nifty and power as to one accustomed to
being unquestioningly obeyed- The man
wore a black broadcloth coat, a white
waistcoat and gray trousers. Diagonally
across his breast lay a broad, blue sash.
He was leaning back in his chair smok-
ing a cigarette, and seemingly plunged
In meditation.
A knock came at the door. The
younger man rose, walked to the door
and opened it. After a brief colloquy
he turned and said in French: ''Sire,
there is a person here who desires an au-
dience. He says
What name, Raoul:' interrupted the
other.
''Solange, SIRE"
Every good. He comes by appoint
ment. Let him enter. And you, my
dear Raoul, will take your place behind
the thin partition during the interview.
I hope to be able to trust this man, but
it will be necessary to take precaution."
The young man bowed, at the am
time throwing open the door to admit
the visitor, and himself passing out and
closing 1t behind him. The newcomer
on entering made a military salute, and
then stood, cap in hand, with his eyes
fixed on the inscrutable visage before
him. He was near fifty years of age, of
vigorous physique, with a thick, mus
cular neck. black hair cropped short,
heavy black eyebrows and a fierce mus
tache. He was plainly clad, but though
his dress was that of q civilian he had
the bearing of a soldier.
captain Maurice Solange," said the
gentleman with the cigarette, "you and
I became acquainted some years since at
the battle of Solferino. You were then
o private in the Twenty-third regiment.
I had lost my ~aid-decamp. and intrust-
ed you with a dispatch to General Ton
tame, on u left wing. On your way
to him You were wounded in the breast
with arife ball. You delivered the dis
patch, however, and returned with his
answer. In handing it to me You fell
from bss of blood. I had you taken to
my tent and placed in charge of my best
surgeons. On your recovery you were
promoted to be corporal"
Captain Solange bowed low. "You
remember it, sireY'
"Oh, very well. I also remember that
ON several subsequent occasions I COM
mitted to you the execution of or
ders involving danger and demanding
prudence, faithfulness and courage. For
your successful performance of these
dzfies you Were promoted to be sergeant
and finally captain. From year to year
] have not lost sight of you. My uncle
AND myself have found no better serv-
ants than among those who have sprung,
hke You, from the ranks. l now desire
You to afford me a reason for bestowing
upon you the Cross of the Legion of
Honor. Would You care to possess it9'
my emperor, my one happiness is to
serve you. My n grief, that I cannot
serve yon enough"
"Ah, q pretty compliment, In return
l have q compliment for you. In France
are thirty million ~Frenchmen. Of these
thirty million ! have chosen one man
whom, for q certain important duty, /
trust most implicitly. Who is that
man, Captain Solange?"
The captain stood erect and expanded
his chest. .sSire, that man is myselfr'
n emperor twisted his mustache to
conceal a faint smile. The bluff soldier.
In his artless vanity. had no notion of
criticising the parvenu character Of an
empire which was compelled to intrust
some OF its most vital secrets to its hum
blest subjects. But as the world now
Knows France early in 1870 was ''dauc-
ing on q volcano" De Morney, the as
tute statesman, to whom a mission of
confidence might have been intrnsted
was dead; some say he was the half
brother OF Napoleon. Prince Bonaparte
. just shot Vietos Noir. The growing
prominence Of Ga,nbetta, the lampoous
OF Rochefort, t1s1ieated the rise of Lib.
eraaism. Napoleon saw his Danger: he
was i'll In body, bat his brain was busy
with intrigues. A piebiscite ws in
contemplation to juggle Frenchmen and
foreign nations into the belief that the
empire was secure. He perceived that
waf was inevitable and he was feeling
his way 10 an alliance with Austria A
successful ri might retrieve every
thing; but meanwhile the editice that
Re talked Of Growing ssas crumbIinp
BE feared the mob of Paris. and the
gamblers instincts IN him led him ON.
"You ara, perhaps. aware" said the
emperor, shat IN q few months France
may be drawn into a great war-one Of
q most important in its issues of our
g~ensrationfs
With Prussia, sire2 All. ahl 1 have
prayed for 1T And you permit me
to-
sMy brave Solange,s interrupted the
other. shaking his head, with q smile. a
know that q man like you likes nothing
% well as 70 risk his life IN the battle.
1ald. But it Is not this that I now ask
Of yuu. When war breaks out you win
be on the other side Of the ocean-three
fhpusand miles AWAY
Ihe soldiers enthusiastic look faded.
Hs shruezed his shoulders dsprecat.
fn9iy.
ssIhere aze ether paths te glory, con
4nnsd Nspoleon kindly. acome rearer.
xmvG1Ana1tsxaadxmk know thst the