Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-10
AURORE.

rs Db WAS CHlfeu slIce HIS ItCtHb tnIDDic-
hent, raised his head, cast his eyes over
group of officers, who at some PAGES dis
tant awaited his commands, and not Sec
ing among them the one he called for re-
peated angrily, ..Well, is he not there
Captain Dupin?"
This took place in 1908, when Napo-
Icons envoy, having entered Madrid with
out difficulty, awaited the course of affairs,
with the secret hope Of being named king
of the conquered country and little
dreaming that in the maneuvers Of his
master he was but a pawn placed there
upon ono Of the squares Of the European
rhessboard to keep the place open for Jo-
kcph, the cmperor's brother. Very soon
the obliging call Of his comrades brought
the derelict officer into the presence of his
chief The captain was prepossessing
young man Of some 20 years, who was
very much of d fayorite with his brother
officers and an excellent soldier, but who
had for ncarlya week seemed troubled.
where were you, captain"' asked the
prince, with severity, seeing that he was,
agitatcd and ont Of breath
In the palace, narechal."
'"That Is not sufficient. You should be
here near me. Besides have observed
that for some days past you are altogether
changed. Your livelness Of manner has
left you. What is going on?'
Nothing, marcchal, / assure you"
eyes, there Is. You no longer have
your wits about you. "
Excuse me, TINT is true. have trou-
bles of family naturo'
"And these family troubles are under
the palace roof, it seems, for you have
been seen above, gliding stealthily along
the corridors. u don't Ike mysteries, cap
tain. DO you understand
The poor officer bushed and then turned
pale. AT last alarmed by the increasing
severity Of his chiefs tone and fearing to
arouse suspicious worse than the reality,
he decided to@confess.
II have mychild, little boy of years,
with me-" Ito stammercd, hanging his
head.
"A child Of that agel Why don't you
give him to d nurse at once? A puppet in
the army when Mt any moment an insur-
rection may break cat against the
Frenchp'
''If it MUS be, will send him away"
sadly murmurcd the officer.
mo, keep. him, since he is here. He
cannot be sent away through country
ready to risosin rebellion Let him remain,
but never let mo sec him. Do you hear?
And, above Ill, don't let his presence cause
the ll2ht,st infraction of your duties.
What would become Of discipline if each
OF Us dragged his progeny into the feld?"
In Jury Murat turned his back, leaving
thu captain sorely distressed. Maurice
Dupin had not told all, Not only had he
concealed the child up stairs, but its moth
or also-a poor woman from France, who
had riskod thousand dangers on the
months journey by wagon under burn
ing sky and through an encmy's country.
But She had determined ut any cost to see
and embrace her husband, for she was far
from well and had n premonition that she
was soon To- die. just suppose / should
die far away from you'' she had said
The young husband had not had the
strength of mind "a forbid her. He had
installed her In the third story of the pal
ace the rooms being unoccuped, and from
that time hi lived in constant alarm for
fear of Murat
A week pissed after the explanation.
Tho general had said no moro about it.
Meanwhile he continued curt and ungra-
cious In disorders, n sign that his manner
was not quite appcased. But one morning
in n good hlmorcd mood he called for his
hid -dc-camp.
"Well, what about tho little boy' Is he
not to be SEEM
Certainly, marcehal. 1 will go and
bring him if you wish"
A few minutes later the young father
brought in3alove of i little soldier in grand
parade uniform a diminutivo saber beat
against his little legs incased in red mo-
rocco boots, with golden spurs, and upon
his shoulders furred Hungarian cloak
completed the rich costume of the armies
of that day -
The capfaln, foresecing that, sooner or
later. by accident or otherwise, the prince
would see thechild had conceived the idea
of presenting him lin manner which
would he most tlattcring to his superior.
The gamin had in truth only to appear
brave and clustering and quick to reply
under that equipment to conquer tho re-
douhtable chief.
The malDchal took him upon ono of his
knees on horseback, called him mon
gaillard' and made glorious promises for
his futures
''Whcn you are Old enough, will at
tach you 70 my staff. You shall fight at
my side. -
Eyes, Prince Fanfarinct" replied the
future aidsde-camp gayly.
But Murat was displcased ut this reply,
prince Fanfarinet. Was that sobri-
quet which was repeated by that innocent
mouth?
why do you call mo that" he asked.
because in the fairy tales the Prince
Fanfarinet Is the handsomest of them all,
and you look like him.
, ''Ah! all Then am very proudl And
you, what is your namef'
"Aurorc.
princess Aurorc, another of the fairy
tale names. A little boy is not called by
such u nane.'' >s~
''But am not little boyl I am q lit
tie girl in#disguise. Ask mamma"
Then, IN spite Of the desperate paflto-
mimic admonition of the father and to the
great gleoof Murat, the little girl, with all
the artlessness Of her age, told how she
had come from Paris in great wagon.
They were now living up stairs in n beau
tiul room, with silk hangings on the walls
and gold everywhere but some very ugly
pictures. There was great glass in which
she could SEQ her whole length, and there
were some playthings, too-the playthings
no doubt left behind by the infantas in
their uigbt