The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-10-03

of the Tuileries, in Paris, two men were
sitting. One, young gentleman about
five and twenty years of age, occupied n
desk near the window that looked out
upon a broad, inclosed court, where a
sentinel, in blue coat and red pegtop
trousers, was pacing his beat. There
was quantity of papers on the desk,
and the young gentleman was writing
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 linger-
ing in the first months of eighteen hun
dred and seventy.
The other parsonage in the room was
a man of mature years. He was barely
of middle height, but his figure was co1r-
pact, and his shoulders broad and thick.
His face, somewhat feshy about the
jaws, and of dull complexion, had all
aquiline nose, carefully waxed mus
tache and pointed imperial. The eyes
were wide apart, and the heavy lids
dropping over them gave them SOM
nolent aspect; yet, examining them more
intentively, you would perceive that
they were eyes that nothing escaped
-watchful, penetrating, impenetrable
eyes. For the rest this countenance bore
the marks of anxiety and ill 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 tC
being unquestioningly obeyed. The man
wore black broadcloth coat, 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 4 brief colloquy
he turned and said in French: 'sSire,
there is person here who desires an au
dience. He says
"What name, Raoul?'' interrupted the
other.
'sSolange, 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.
hope to be able to trust this man, but
it will be necessary to take precaution." !"
The young man bowed, at the same
time throwing open the door to admit
the visitor, and himself passing out and
closing it 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 thick, mus.
cular neck. black hair cropped short,
heavy black eyebrows and fierce mus
tache. He was plainly clad, but though
his dress was that of civilian he had
the bearing of soldier.
"Captain Maurice Solange," said the
gentleman with the cigarette, ''you and
became acquainted some years since at
the battle of Solferino. You were then
a private in the Twenty third regiment.
1 had lost my aid-de-camp, and intrust-
ed you with dispatch to General Ton.
taine, on our left wing. On your way
to him you were wounded in the breast
with rifle ball. You delivered the dis
patch, however, and returned with his
answer. In handing it to me you fell
from loss of blood. had you taken tc
my tent and placed in charge of my best
surgeons. On your recovery you were
promoted to be corporal"
Captain Solange bowed low. sYou
remember it, sire?'
''Oh, very well. also remember that
on several subsequent occasions COM
mitted to you the execution of Or
ders involving danger and demanding
prudence, faithfulness and courage. For
your successful performance of these
duties you were promoted to be sergeant
have not lost sight of you. My uncle
and myself have found no better serv-
ants than among those who have sprung,
like you, from the ranks. 1 now desire
you to afford me reason for bestowing
upon you the Cross of the Legion OF
Honor. Would you care to possess it?'
my emperor, my one happiness is to
serve you. My one grief, that I cannot
serve you enough"
"Ah, pretty compliment! In return
have compliment for you. In France
are thirty million Frenchmen. OF these
thirty million I have chosen one man
whom, for a certain important duty, !
can trust most implicitly. Who is that
man, Captain Solange?'
The captain stood erect and expanded
his chest. ''Sire, that man is myself!'
The emperor twisted his mustache to
conceal 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 'sdanc-
ing on a volcano" De Morney, the as
tute statesman, to whom mission of
confidence might have been intrusted,
was dead; some say he was the half
brother of Napoleon. Prince Bonaparte
had just shot Victor Noir. The growing
prominence of Gambetta, the lampoons
of Rochefort, indicated the rise of Lib
eralism. Napoleon saw his danger; he
was ill in body, but his brain was busy
with intrigues. A plebiscite was in
contemplation to juggle Frenchmen and