Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-12-01

know nothing whatever; and we have
had no communication with the shore
except openly and under flag Of
truce"
well. only tell you what have
heard How old are you?'
''Twenty-one."
"YOu are very young to be first
lieutenant and intrusted with an indie
pendent COMMAND"
youth is no more a bar to promo
ton in our navy than in yourarmy. Mel
son was a post-captain at twenty, Sir
Sidney Smith at nineteen, and the con-
queror of Italy is still under thirty"
Mile tonnerres! young man, you
are indeed audacious to compare your
self with Bonaparte and Nelson"
/ was about to protest that nothing
was further from my thoughts, when
the door opened second time, and
there entered the room gracious-look-
ing lady, with smiling face and
dressed in the height of the prevailing
fashions.
''M. Roy, I think" she said, Offering
me her hand. "You have already made
the acquaintance of my husband?''
'Gen. Bonaparte!" 1 exclaimed, in
feigned surprise.
s.You don't think look like the con-
queror of Italy, eh?'' said Bonaparte,
laughing.
Il beg your pardon, general; but that
uniform"
SIS the uniform Of the institute, and
I am prouder of it than of my uniform
of general Yes, we have made each
others acquaintance, Josephine, and NJ.
lie Lieutenant has been giving me a les
son in the art of war, and, my faith, not
a bad one, either"
And you are really the son of my old
friend, Gabrielle de Launay! She was
two or three years my senior, but 1 re-
member her well. Where is she now?'
asked Madame Bonaparte.
with my father, in the neighbor-
hood of London"
london! One forgets things in so
many years, but / was under the inn
married gentleman from Louisiana
or was it Virginia."
''A1y father, like myself, madame, is a
native of Virginia.
You are Americans, thcn?" inter.
posed BOnaparte.
''Of course, just as people born in
France are Europeans. But we always
call ourselves Virginians"
'!How comes it that you, a native Of
the United States, are an officer Of the
British navy?"
81 belong to an old royalist family,
general. Loyalty runs in our blood.
Ny fathers grandfather, who command
ed a regiment of horse at Marston Moor.
went to Virginia after the execution of
King Charles, and settled there. When
the revolutionary war broke out, my
father, though he disapproved of many
of the measures of the home govern
ment, remained true to his principles
and loyal to his king. But as he could
not bring himself to fight against his
friends and neighbors, and was more
over getting into years, he went to
England, and when l was old enough
put me into the navy"
$50 that is your story, NJ Roy" said
the future empress. ''How could any
one with such q name be other than
royaiist? We must call you Roy, the
Royalist,' think. And Tow you are
prisoner of war, which you doubtless re-
gard as q great misfortune"
Not so great as I deemed it a little
while ago, madame
How so?"
''If had not been taken prisoner
should not have had the pleasure of
seeing my mothers old friend, nor the
honor of an interview with the greatest
general of the age"
Bonaparte seemed pleased. Nine.
Bonaparte smiled, and said:
''And should not have had the pleas
ure Of seeing you. When You see your
mother, say how glad I am to have
news of her, and give her my antilles"
with pleasure. madame; and if you
would enable me to see her by using
your influence to obtain my exchange
you would confer a great favor on us
BOTH
$50! You are tired of France already?'
said Bonaparte, rather harshly, as Z
thought. =.
81 am tired of inactivity, and one
does not see much of France in the Alb
baye."
'sYou like active service?"
'sOf course"
s:But yours is the wrong service: It
is not for these English, who wronged
your country and would crush ours,
that man born of an American father
and q French mother should be fight
ing. Listen! I am not the government
of France, but l have influence, and
those whom / protect are sure to rise.
The French navy has need of men who
don't count odds, even though they are
two hundred against twenty. That
was a glorious exploit of yours at
Havre the other day. I can admire
great qualities even in an enemy. But
why be an enemy? Join our navy. You
shall be made full captain at once and
q p
\W:*:@ n haq Al,