davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1895-06-15

The Emperor Was Standing before Me
of the guides, and the white breeches. His
hands were clasped behind his back, and
his chin sunk forward upon his breast in
the way that was usual with him.
WELL" said he, in his hardest and most
abrupt voice, what account do you give
of yourself?"
l believe that If he had stood in silence
for another minute my brain would have
given way. But those sharp, military ac-
cents were exactly what l needed to bring
me to myself. Living or dead, here was
the emperor standing before me, and ask
| ing me questions. 1 sprang to the salute.
"You have killed one. 1 see," said he,
jerking his head toward the beech.
Yes, sire"
"And the other esce ped?"
No, sire: Killed him, also
that you have killed them be th?' He ap-
preached me as he spoke, with a smile,
which set his eyes and teeth cleaning in
the moonlight.
Zone body lies there, sire," I answered;
1.-The other is in the tool house at the
quarry"
Then the brothers of Ajaccio are no
more" he cried, and, after a pause: 1.-The
shadow has passed me forever" Then he
bent forward and laid his hand upon my
shoulder.
You have done very WELL my young
FRIEND" said he: you have lived up to
your reputation"
He was flesh and blood, then, this en-
peror. 1 could feel the little plump palm
that rested upon me. And yet I could not
get over what I had seen with my own
eyes. and so 1 stared at him in such be-
wilderment that he broke once more into
one of his smiles.
mo, no, Monsieur Gerard" said he. 'I
am not ghost, and you have not seen ME
killed You will come here and all will be
clear to you"
He turned as he spoke and led the way
toward the great beech stump.
The bodies were still lying upon the
a,,1
them. AS we approached, I saw from the
turbans that they were Roustem and Mus
tafa, the two Mameluke body servants.
The emperor paused when he came to the
gray figure upon the ground and turning
back the hood which shrouded the features,
he showed a face which was very different
from his own.
Here lies a faithful servant, who has
given up his life for his master" said he
Monsieur de Gondin resembles me in
figure and In manner, as you must admit"
What delirium of joy came upon me
when these few words made everything
clear to me. He smiled again as he saw
the delight which urged me almost to
throw my. arms round him and to embrace
him, but he moved step away, as IL he
bad OWNED my impulse.
You are unhurt?' he asked.
Il am unhurt, sire But in another min
ute should in my despair"-
Tut, tut!' he interrupted. you did very
WELL He should himself have been more
on his guard. I saw everything which
passed"
You saw 1t, sire?'
You did not hear me follow you through
the wood, then? 1 hardly lost sight of you
from tho moment that you left your quar-
ters until poor de Gondin fell The coun-
terfeft emperor was in front of you, and
the real one behind. You will now escort
me back to the palace"
He whispered an order to his Mamelukes,
who saluted in silence and remained where
they were standing. For my part, follow
ed the emperor with my pelisse bursting
with pride. My word, have always car
ried myself as hussar should, but Lasalle
Evening star., 1895-06-15

moned to the emperor's presence?" he asked
IN his dry. creaking voice.
They were such a contrast, these two
men, that I could not help glancing from
sly politician and the big, sky-blue hussar,
with one fist on his hip and the other on
the hilt Of his saber. They both took their
seats as I looked, Talleyrand without a
sound and Lasalle with clash and jingle
like prancing charger.
It's this way, youngster," said he, in his
t1usque fashion. Il was with the en-
peror in his private cabinet this morning
when a note was brought in to him. He
opened 1t. and as he did so he gave such a
start that it fiuttered down onto the floor.
l handed 1t up to him again, but he was
staring at the wall In front of him, as If he
had seen ghost. .Fratelli DELI Ajaccio,'
he muttered, and then again, Fratelli deli
Ajaccio.' I don't pretend to know more
Italian than man can pick up in two
campaigns, but 1 could make nothing of
this. 1t seemed to me that he had gone
out of his mind, and you would have said
so also, Monsieur de Talleyrand. If you had
seen the look in his eyes. He read the
note, and then he sat for half an hour or
more without moving"
and you?" asked Talleyrand.
why, I stood there, not knowing what
I ought to do. Presently he seemed to come
back to his senses. I suppose, Lasalle,'
said he, that you have some gallant young
officers in the tenth? They are all that
sire 1 answered IF you had to pick one
VINO was 10 De depended upon Tor action,
but who would not think too much-you
understand me, Lasalle, which would you
select? he asked. I saw that he needed an
agent who would not penetrate too deeply
into his plans. I have one.' said 1, who is
all spurs and mustaches, with never a
thought beyond women and horses That
is the man 1 want, said Napoleon. Bring
him to my private cabinet at o'clock So,
youngster, l came straight away to you at
once, and mind that you do credit to the
tenth hussarS."
I was by no means fattered by the
reasons which had led to my coloneps
choice, and 1 must have shown as much in
my face. for he roared with laughter and
Talleyrand gave dry chuckle also
"Just one word Of advice before you go,
Monsieur Gerard" said he, you are now
coming into troubled waters, and you
might find worse pilot than myself. We
Evening star., 1895-06-15
Copyright, 1895, by irving Bacheller.)

Copyright, 1895, by irving Bacheller.)
When told you some little time ago how
It was that l won the special medal for
valor, / finished, as you will doubtless re-
member, by repeating the saying of the
emperor that / had the stoutest heart in
all his armies In making that remark,
Napoleon was showing the insight for
which he was so famous. He distigured
his sentence, however, by adding some
thing about the thickness of my head. We
will pass that over. 1t is ungenerous to
dwell upon the weaker moments of a great
man. 1 will only say this, that when the
emperor needed an agent he was always
very ready to do me the honor of recalling
the name of Etanne Gerard, though it oc-
casionally escaped him when rewards were
to be distributed. Still was a colonel at
twenty-eight, and the chief of brigade
at thirty-one, so that l have no reason to
be dissatisfied with my career. Had the
wars lasted another two or three years l
might have srasped my baton, and the
man who had his hand upon that was only
one stride from the throne Murat had
changed his hussar's cap for a crown, and
another light cavalry man might have done
as much. However, all those dreams were
driven away by Waterloo, ard, although
/ was not able to write my name upon his
tory, it is sufficiently well known by all
who served with me in the great wars of
the empire.
What 1 want to tell you tonight is about
the very singular affair which first started
me upon my rapid upward course. and
which had the effect of establishing a Sc
cret bond between the emperor and myself.
There is just one little word of warning
which l must give you before I begin.
When you hear me speak you must always
bear in mind that you are listening to one
who has seen history from the inside
/ am talking about what my ears have
heard and my eyes have seen so you must
not try to confute me by quoting the opin-
Ions of some student or man of the pen
Evening star., 1895-06-15
SECOND SUMMER
Most Critical Year in the
Baby's Existence.
At No Time So Liable toSud-
den Intestinal Disorders.
The Earliest Victims to
Cholera Infantum.
Extraordinary Care With Baby's
Food Essential

Weaning baby in summer is attended with peril
when heat and improper feeding conspire to derange
the sensitive stomach.
As warm weather comes children require the
post wholesome. nourishing and palatabe diet
lossible, and actated food should be in the hands
OF every mother. Sudden changes of the atmos-
phere are dangerous, above all things, to infants
whose digestive apparatus is out of order, and the
use of lactated food is especially to lie commended
liability of the stomach.
Then, too, the mother who has tried hard to
nurse her child but growing weak and losing her
own appetite, until she is nearly worn out and
nrcs now that she must wean her infant while the
days and nights are growing hotter and more and
more debilitating, can do thousands OF moth
cis have done before, upon lactated food.
Ihe infant Will like it and grow strong and happy
Upon IT. The composition of lactated food is simply
this: Its basis is sugar of milk; with IL is
'lned the digestive elements of wheat barley and
"ais, producing pure food, which meets every re-
qulrehient Of the growing child.
There is 10 secret about it. II is the food physi-
clans use in their families and most generally
prescribe.
thousands of mothers have testified to the fact
that iactlted food has done what nothing else
could do-sayad til" lives Of their little ones
NO potter eridence can be offered of its superior
ny than The many instances in which fretful
peefish and sleeIless babies, as soon as nut on
iactatTd 1000, sleep all night and wake up laugh
ihs. Inc happy change. physicians say, Is SOLELY
due to the superior nourishng and satisfying ouai-
tiles of this best OF foods.
II must he borne in mind that lactated food ia
SO inexpensive that it is within the reach of every
family. " ''
Evening star., 1895-06-15
Trees and Health.
From Halls Journal of Health.

From Halls Journal OF Health.
It has been noted that the first settlers
in heavily wooded sections of the country
have generally been healthy, despite their
many privatIons. The reason for this is
the power of absorbing poisoned air from
emanations from evergreens and the smoke
from burning resinous woods are noted
for the relief they give to those suffering
from pulmonary diseases.
New heavily wooded countries, al
ready noted, are the most healthy for set
tiers and they continue SO for some years,
as only a small portion of the forest can
be cleared away each year. After the for
est is removed and sunlight is admitted,
the soil fills rapidly with vegetable mold,
which decomposes more rapidly than it
can be absorbed by the scant vegetation,
and as a result the atmosphere is render
ed impure and malaria becomes COM
mon complaint. In view of these facts,
people are beginning to understand the
value of trees as disease-absorbing and
health-giving agents. Naturally this leads
to the question as to what trees are best
for protection against disease.
On Long Island and in New Jersey there
are localities surrounded and hemmed in
with pitch pines which are famed for their
curative qualities in consumption, and the
pines are thus indicated as valuable sur
roundings in pulmonary complaints. 1t
would seem reasonable to suppose that
trees having the largest leaves and the
most of them would be the best for this
have the most absorbing power. We have
seen the eucalyptus tree, mentioned as Of
special value, as purifier Of the atmos-
phere.
Evening star., 1895-06-15

himself never strutted and swung Ills dol
man as 1 did that night! Who should
clink his spurs and clatter his saber if 1t
were not II, Etienne Gerard-the confidant
of the emperor, the chosen swordsman of
the light cavalry, the man who slew the
would-be assassins of Napoleon. But he
noticed my bearing, and turned upon me
like blight.
rs that the way to carry yourself on
secret mission" he hissed, with that cold
glare in his eyes; "is 1t thus that you will
make your comrades believe that nothing
remarkable has occurred Have done with
this nonsense, monsieur or you will find
yourself transferred to Tho sappers, where
you would have harder work and duller
plumage."
That was the way with the emperor. If
ever he thought that any one might have
a claim upon him. he took the first oppor-
tunity to show him the gulf that lay be-
tween. I saluted and was silent, but must
confess to you that 1t hurt me after all
that had passed between U.S. He led on to
the palace, where We passed through the
side door and up into his own cabinet
Evening star., 1895-06-15

have none of Us any idea as to what this
little affair means, and, between ourselves,
1t is very important for us, who have the
destinies of France upon our shoulders, to
keep ourselves in touch with all that goes
on. You understand me, Monsieur Gerard?"
had not the least idea what he was
driving at. but I bowed and tried to look
as if it were clear to me.
Act very guardedly, then, and say moth
ing to anybody" said Talleyrand. Col.
Lasalle and 1 will not show ourselves in
public with YOU, but we will await you
here, and we will give you our advice when
you have told US what has passed between
the emperor and yourself 1t is time that
you started now, for the emperor never
forgives unpunctuality."
Off 1 went on foot to the palace, which
was only hundred PAGES off. I made my
way to the antechamber. where Duroc.
with his grand, new scarlet-and-gold coat,
was fussiHg about among the crowd of
people who were waiting. I heard him
whisper to Monsieur de Caulaincourt that
half of them were German dukes who eX-
pected to be made kings and the other
half German dukes who expected to be
made paupers. Duroc, when he heard my
name, showed me straight in, and 1 found
myself in the emperor's presence. I had,
of course, seen him in camp a hundred
times, but I had never been face to face
with him before. l have no doubt that If
you had met him without knowing in the
least who he was YOU would simply have
said that he was sallow little fellow
with a good forehead and fairly well-turn-
ed calves. His tight white cashmere
breeches and white stockings showed off
his legs to advantage. But even a stranger
must have been struck by the singular
look of his eyes, which could melt into ten
derest sympathy or harden into an express
sion which would frghten a grenadier.
1t Is said that even Auguereau, who was
man who had never known what fear
was, quailed before Napoleon's gaze, at a
time, too, when the emperor was but an
unknown soldier. He looked mildly enough
at me, however, and motioned me to re-
main by the door. De NIeneval was writ
ing to his dictation, looking up at him
between each sentence with his spaniel
eyes.
That will do; you can CO." said the
emperor abruptly. Then, when the sec
retary had left the room, he strode across
with his hands behind his back, and he
looked me up and down without word.
Though he was a small man himself. he
was very fond of having fine-looking fell
lows about him. and SO, I think, that my
appearance gave him pleasure. For my
own part I raised one hand to the salute
and held the other upon the hlt of my sa-
Der, looking straight ahead of me, as a
soldier should
We'll, Monsieur Gerard" said he at
last tapping his forefinger upon one of
the brandebourgs of gold braid upon the
front of my pelisse. 'I am informed that
you are very deserving young officer.
Evening star., 1895-06-15

was on the platform, with another 1 was
through the doorway and then hearing
him in the corner, 1 hurled myself down
upon the top of him.
He fought like wildcat, but he never
had chance with his shorter weapon. /
think must have transfxed him with that
first mad lunge, for though he struck and
struck his blows had no power in them
and presently his dagger tinkled down upon
the floor. When 1 was sure that he was
dead l rose up, and passed out into the
moonlight I climbed up onto the heath
again, and wandered across it as nearly
out of my mind a man could be. With
the blood singing in my ears and my naked
sword still clutched in my hand 1 walked
aimlessly on, until, looking round me. l
found that had come as far as the glade
of the Abbot's Beech, and saw in the dis
tance that gnarled stump which must ever
be associated with the most terrible mo-
ment CT my life 1 sat down upon fallen
trunk with my sword across my knees, and
my head bet my hands, and 1 tried to
think about what had happened, and what
would happen in the future.
CHAPTER V.
The emperor had committed himself to
my care. The emperor was dead. Those
were the two thoughts which changed in
my head until had no room for any other
ores. He had come with me- and he was
dead. I had done what he had ordered
when living. I had revenged him when
dead. But what of all that? The world
would look upon me as responsible. They
might even look upon me as the assassin.
What could l prove? What witnesses had
1? Might 1 not have been the accomplice
OF these wretches? Yes, yes, l was eter-
nally dishonored-the lowest, most despic-
able creature in all France. This, then,
was the end of my fine military ambitions,
Of the hopes cf my mother. l laughed Bit
teriy at the thought. And what was 1 to
do now? Was l to go to Fontairebleau, to
wake up the palace, and to inform them
that the great emperor had been murdered
within pace of me. l could not do it-no
/ could not do it! There was but one
course for an honorable gentleman whom
fate had placed in so cruel position. 1
would fall upon my dshonored sword and
so share, since 1 could not avert, the en-
perors fate. 1 rose with my nerves
strung to this last piteous deed, and as 1
did SO my eyes fell upon something which
struck the breath from my lips. The en-
peror was standing before me.
He was Ut more than ten yards off, with
the moon shining straight upon his cold
pale face. He wore his gray overcoat, but
the hood was turned back and the front
open, SO that 1 could see the green coat
Evening star., 1895-06-15

the ferrules of our scabbards wear out by
trailing them along the pavement in the
hope that we should all become Lasalles.
When he came clanking into my quarters
both Regnier and 1 sprang to our feet.
MY boy" said he, clapping me on the
shoulder, "the emperor wants to see you at
4 o'clock"
The room whirled around me at the words
and had to lean my hands upon the edge
of the card table.
"Whatr' cried !; "the EMPEROR
tonishment.
But the emperor does not know of my
existence, colonel" 1 repeated. why
should he send for me?'
well, that's just what puzzles me-"
cried Laselle, twirling his mustache IF
he wanted the help of a brave man why
should he descend to one of my lieutenants,
when he might have found all that he
needed at the head of the regiment. How
ever" he added, clapping me upon the
shoulder again in his hearty fashion,
"every man has his chance. l have had
mine. otherwise 1 should not be colonel
of the tenth. l must not grudge you yours.
Forward, my boy, and may 1t be the first
step toward changing your busby for
cooked hat"
1t was but o'clock, so he left me, prom
Using to come back and to accompany me
to the palace. My faith, what time
passed, and how many conjectures did l
make as to what it was which the en-
peror could want of me! I paced up and
down my little room, in fever of antici-
patton. Sometimes I thought that per-
haps he had heard of the guns which we
had taken at Austerlitz, but then there
were so many who had taken guns at Aus
terlitz, and two years had passed since
the battle. Or it might be that he wished
to reward me for my affair with the aid
de-camp of the Russian Emperor. But
then. again, a cold fit would seize me, and
1 would fancy that he had sent for me to
reprimand me. There were a few duels
which he might have taken in ill part,
and there were one or two little jokes in
Paris since the peace. But no! considered
the words of Lasalle. "If he had need of a
brave man, said Lasalle. 1t was obvious
that my colonel had some idea of what was
in the wind. If he had not known that it
was to my advantage he would not have
been so cruel as to congratulate me. My
heart glowed with joy as this conviction
grew upon me, and sat down to write
to my mother and to tell her that the en-
have my opinion upon a matter of import
ance. 1t made me smile as l wrote it to
think that, wonderful as 1t appeared to
me, 1t would probably only confirm my
mother in her opinion of the emperor's
good sense.
At 8:3O I heard a saber come clanking
against every step of my wooden stair. 1t
was Lasalle, and with him was a little
gentleman very neatly dressed in black,
with dapper ruffles and cuffs. We did not
know many civilians, We of the army, but
afford to ignored 1 had only to glance al
those twiukling eyes, the comical upturned
nose, and the straight precise mouth to
know that was in the presence of the one
man in France whom even the emperor had
to consider.
Evening star., 1895-06-15

before my eyes. and felt the cold wind of
1t pass my neck and the Villains wrist jar
upon my shoulder. l shortened my sword,
but he WINGED away from me, and an in
slant afterward was in full flight, bounding
like deer across the glade in the moon
light.
knew that the murderers poinard had done
its work. Young as 1 was 1 had seen
enough of war to know a mortal blow.
paused but for an instant to touch the cold
hand. 'Sire! Sire. 1 cried in an agony
and then, as no sound came back. and
nothing moved save an overwhelming dark
circle in the moonlight, knew that all
was, indeed, over. I sprang madly to my
the top of my speed after the remaining
assassin.
oh, how I blessed the wisdom which had
caused me to come in shoes and CATERS.
And the happy thought which had thrown
off my coat. He could not get rid of his
mantle this wretch, or else he was too
frightened to think of it. So 1t was that
1 gained upon him from the beginning
He must have been out of his wits, for he
never tried to bury himself in the darker
parts of the woods. but he flew from
glade to glade until he came to the heath
land which leads up to the great Fontaine-
bleau quarry Thus 1 had him in full sight
and knew that he could not escape me-
He ran well, 1t is true-ran as a coward
runs when his life is the stake. But ran
as destiny runs when it gets behind
mans heels. Yard by yard drew in upon
him. He was rolling and staggering.
could hear the rasping and cracking of his
breath. The great gulf of the quarry sud
denly yawned in front of his path, and
glancing at me over his shoulders, he gave
a shrek of despair The next instant he
had vanished from my sight.
Vanished. utterly, you understand.
rushed to the spot and gaZed down into the
black abyss. Had he hurled himself over.
1 had about made up my mind that he had
done so, when a gentle sound rising and
falling came out of the darkness beneath
me- 1t was his breathing once more, and
it showed me where he must be. He was
hiding in the tool house.
At the edge of the quarry and beneath
the summit there is small platform, up
on which stands a wooden hut for the use
of the laborers. It was into this, then,
that he had darted. Perhaps he had
thought, the fool, that in the darkness I
would not venture to follow him. He lit
tie knew Etienne Gerard. With spring I
Evening star., 1895-06-15

was afraid that he would be angry
with me for having kept him waiting, but
as I approached him we heard the big
church clock of Fontainebleau clang out
the hour of 10. 1t was evident, therefore,
that 1t was he who was too soon, and not
l too late. I remembered his Injunction
that I should make no remark, so 1 con-
tented myself with halting within four
PAGES of him, clicking my spurs together.
grounding my saber and salutfng. He
glanced at me, and then without a word
he turned and walked slowly through the
forest, 1 keeping always about the same
distance behind him. Once or twice he
Evening star., 1895-06-15
CHAPTER II.

This is Monsieur Etienne Gerard Mon
sieur de Talleyrand," said Lasalle.
I saluted. and the statesman took me in
from the top of my panache to the rowel
of my spur with glance that played over
me like rapier point.
Have you explained to the lieutenant
the circumstances. under which he is sum-
Evening star., 1895-06-15

armed with sword, but not with pistols.
You must address no remark to me, and I
shall say nothing to you. We will advance
in silence. You understand?".
II understand. sire"
After time we shall see a man, or
more probably two men, under a certain
tree. We shall approach them together. If
I signal to you to defend me, you will have
your sword ready. If, on the other hand,