Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-05-04
MARSHAL MASSEN.

sure moment was given up to gambling.
One night, when the army camped at
Luhl, small hamlet on river, Napo-
leon donned his greatcoat, and taking
his cane proceeded to tour the camp. He
passed tent wherein light was burning,
but from which no voices proceeded. 1t
was an officers tent. The emperor halted
and listened He heard the rattle of gold.
Without warning he entered.
"C'est l'empereur!"
Four players jumped to their feet, cast
off their hats and scrambled to hide their
stakes, which lay upon chest.
"Holdl Give mep'
The money, amounting to goodly sum,
was poured into the emperor's hand. He
glanced from face to face. One of the
players was his trusted aid, the nearest to
his imperial person.
'Massen, - he said, with great gravity,
II am astounded. None knows better than
you my hatred for this business, and yet
l find you engaged in It,"
The handsome young officer stood, hat
in hand, bowed in shame.
"Your sword, sir!" demanded the EN-,
peror.
Napoleon picked up the sword and re.
tired to his headquarters, where he sat be-
fore the fire a long time meditating. The
emperor loved Massen. For five years hd
had been attached to his body, retained
because of his unfailing devotion to thu
fortunes of his imperial master. His un.
selfish sacrifices were numerous, his cour.
age wonderful. Napoleon felt keenly any
shock to his confidence. True, the young
man had not been guilty of any treach-
ery, but he had done that which be knew
his sire disapproved of, and an example
must be made.
Within an hour the entire army knew
the emperor,s fayorite aid was in disgrace
and for gambling.
For several DAYS NAPOLEON expected Mas,
sen to seek pardon. but the brave fellow
woa IN tho ranLa arIno q oun roody "a
fight on foot for his beloved ruler and ap.
parently unmindful of his loss of rank.
The gambling ceased. That being abol-
ished, Napoleon was In a mood to be mag
unanimous. He sent for Massen,
"Sire," said the returning messenger,
"Massen is ill from exposure and unabls
to move. He is dying of fever"
"Conduct me to him I" exclaimed the
emperor.
The dark, olive face wore fixed look
of anxiety as the emperor walked between
lines of saluting troops until he reached
the tent wherein Massen Law diving. He
knelt by the bedside of his favorite and
taking his burning hand said:
"Massen, do you know me?"
But the delirious brain knew not. The
wandering ewes saw not. Napoleon laid
his hand gently on the fred brow. and
tears sprang into his eyes as the mum.
bling tongue repeated:
''It is the emperor Put them away,
Put them away"
''See, Massen, have brought you back
your sword"
ssMy sword It Is the emperorp'
And he fell back dead.
A little cottage on the outskirts of Paris
held a weeping woman. Her form was
bent: her hair was "a white as the Anime
SHOWS. She was mourning for her dead
boy-Massen.
The CAMPAIGN of the north had ended,
and DESPITE its absorbing events the EN-.
peror never forgot he had n duty to per.
form when Paris should he reached
Some neiohbors came in to console the
afflicted mother.
"He was forgiven. good Mother Massep:
he was FORGIVEN. Did not our sire sit by
his bedside and give him pardon and re.
store to him his sword? His offense was
not serious. or the emperor would nevef
have sought him. Remember. he did not
die in disgrace. good mother. He was re.
stored to favor"
"Nay. uayr' muttered the crushed
mother. "He disobeyed. He was not the
noble, true Massen / taught him to be-
He had been disgraced. and be died with.
out knowing he was pardoned."
Her grief was pitiable.
The sympathizinp friends departed.
There came knock at the door. The old
ladv onened II.
"C,est ,empereur she cried. falling
on her knees and catching at the old orav
coat. nressine It to her Inns.
"Rise, Mother Massen. - said Napoleou
in his kindest tone. II have come TO chez,
Won. We mourn together. Forget am
your sovereign. Believe me- YOUR friend.
Your brave noble how ia ponen
"Bless YOU. sire. for those words! Brave,
Noblel Oh. IL he could onlv have heard
Won saw thatp,
And she shook with sobs.
eyes. he was nv tried and trusted lad
him. Weeks 7 waited for him to seek me-
He would not come. I sought him. He
was dying. took his sword to his bed!
side that l might restore him to his rank
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