Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-03-31
COLONEL BELTEO,

When a French army Olllcer grows ola
and is retired. he does one of two things.
He either cultivates a small garden near
Paris and is devoted to his flowers, or he
turns bouleUdrdier, and exhibits himself in
the streets with a swagger that plainly says
"Behold me! l am soldier of the empire,
or of the republic" as the case may be.
Colonel Belize was no exception to the
rule He was the bOuleUdrdier to the tips |
of his lavender kid gloves and the curve of |
the inevitable iaponica, worn on the right |
side, because of the ribbon OF the Legion |
which was tied in the upper button-hole of |
the left lapel
His coats were very broad at the shout |
ders and full over the chest. They shrank |
in at the waist and sorely pinched that por-
ton of his anatomy, which was fast losing
its slender lines under the continued as
saults of old age, now coming on with
giant strides. The cut of these particular
garments was always the same-en .frOc-
and they had short tlaring skirts like those
on the surtouts of the z0us-zOuS. The col
or was always blue, the material Invariably
West Riding broadcloth. The waistcoats
affected by Colonel Belize were so marvel
ously gotten up in all respects that it is
not possible to give even meagre descrip-
tion of them within the confines of this
tale, so let them pass. The trousers were
always light in color, of the finest kersey
or lightweight Melton, and were very
tight at the ankle, large at the knee, and
voluptuously full at the hips. On his feet
were always white gaiter-tops; on his head
was very straight brimmed, tall, and we'll
brushed silk hat, with great bell crown.
Take the colonel thus arrayed, with the
addition of lilac or lavender silk for neck
cloth and IA light rattan walkng-switch,
and you can see how he would fill your eye
should you meet him hummng a lovedlt-
ty along the Bots or at the Fountain. He
liked TO believe-and he was so earnest in
the desire that he came to look on it as
fact-that his military air and cavalry walk
made those who saw him turn and say,
noddingly, "Ab, c'cSt IN brdre: ce carr
"And why not?' he would think
"Surely they must know tAat | am Betec
late colonel of the DIST. Though this is
Paris and that was Algiers, they must
know that Beltec's DIST never lost a fight
Ah they were soldiers, those outcast ktpis,
and well, | was colonel of the bravest
set of devils in all Algeria" And then
the back would curve and stiffen yet more
and a deep "huhun' come from the griz-
zled breast.
He had the bcak of a Napoleonic eagle
and the same birds fearless gray eye flash
ed beneath shaggy brows, matched with
descending crests of fierce and warlke
hair. His heavy mustache and the chin
tuft, known as an imperial were dressed
in verismilitude to those of his former
chieftain and dearly worshipped Emperor
His full iron-gray hair was brushed pre-
cisely as were the locks of Louis Napoleon
One thing he could not do, try as he
would He could never so command his
eyes that they would take on the vacant,
fishy look always found in the visual APP
paratus of "the man of Ham" This was
source of great grief to him, for he only
desired to be the exact counterpart of his
idol in all things He even affected Louis's
somewhat thckened tones and slight Eng
lish accent.
Such, then, in the year 1888, was this
Colonel Belize.
Years before, young Ambrose Belize
had entered the army with small hope of
speedy preferment, but disposition to en-
ter into any expedition that promised an
epaulet. The result was o warm interest
in the fortunes of Louis Napoleon tn
eventually led to promotion and a place
near the body, when that plotter became
President, and later on, Emperor.
Before he reached any great heights,
however, he met and loved a certain Mad
emoiselle Justine d'Auxelles, whose papa
anu IudIDIud were TdDlu TONdllSJS, anu WHO
determined that their daughter should new
er be the wife of the too eager captain.
He laid his cause before the Prince-Presi-
dent. who at once aided him by giving the
old Sieur d AuXelles place at the Elysee.
This enabled the young people to meet and
enjoy little interviews without the interfer-
ence of third parties.
At one such time Beltec had pleaded his
cause with such good effect that the mad
emoiselle was won completely He made a
manly and dignified declaration that ended
with these words:
observation-disclosures hardly know
what more to say That you must know
that | love you seems only probable. 1t is
not possible that have hidden from you
all my affectionate hopes. The Prince
President is my firm friend, and that
means much for meas il may for you
have adOred you for a long time in silence
and yet you must have known. l realize
the feelings of your father, and foresee OBJ
jections to our marriage, yet why does the
Sieur d Auxelles serve Prince Napoleon il
he be so great lover of the BOurbons:
Surely you will not let political whin
stand in the way of my whole life's happi
ness? Let us make no marriage of con
venience, Justine; let it be the union o
hearts viii you not say yes and trus
Inc 10 VIII COlStHb lIOl Jn6 OltlT u AUX
elles?"
Justine stood trembling and agitated
but finally looked up with happy eyes, ant
whispered softly, 81 wills" after which sh
fled down the corridor to her father
apartments-frst giving her mouth to b.
kissed which filled her with joyous trep
idaton she had never known before
"What, sir You! You marry M
daughter? You marry a dAuxelles?'
And the old gentleman spluttered an,
breathed very hard at the young gentleman
who had asked him for the hand of Mad
emoiselle d Auxelles.
Monsieur" proceeded Belize, unmind
full of the old mans wrath, 81 have aske
for your daughters hand, and am honor
ed in the asking, l know she is bette
woman than deserve to have, but l Low
her, and she loves me, and"
WHAT fairly howled the old gentle
man. "YOu have spoken TO her befor
you have said a word to her parents? 70
have done this? What are we coming t