The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-02-23

He looked at the races aFOuHu MN
and observed that Camilla was similar
~ occupied. His hearers showed by
their looks that they perfectly under
stood his meaning, but were either re-
served or unenthusiastic in the matter.
IN. Carnac." he continued, with
grave politeness, bowling to the elderly
gentleman who sat nearest to him, II
is from you that we have learned to eN-
pect a critical judgment. Are you nos
of opinion that the time has come for
renewed activity
1T has come again and again, re-
piled the person addressed, but al
ways without result"
mo doubt" said the colonel; but
that has been solely due to a want OF
forethought and energy, which must
not occur again.
Eyes, indeedr' exclaimed a short gen
tleman, with a beard, who was evil
IDENTIFY an Englishman; there have
been good enough plans laid, but no
one fit to be trusted with their execu-
| ton"
The third of the visitors turned upon
the speaker.
You will pardon me-" he said, with
some acrimony, IF 1 differ entirely; it
who are to blame, in devising impossi-
BILE methods of which they take the
credit and others the danger!'
Gentlemen" said the colonel, in
soothing tone, you are both right, but
you both speak only according to your
own experience. You, Mr.. Holmes de-
served success, but your subordinates
failed you. You, NJ lie Comte, followed
your instructions with courage and
loyalty which would have secured
triumph if your directors had not made
a cruel mistake in their calculations.
| These two fatal forms of error must be
avoided. We must think and act with
equal certainty, and all will be WE'LL
Mr.. Holmes shook his head in sulky
silence The Comte de Rabodanges ex-
claimed, fiercely, ''It is too much to eX-
| pect; the cat does not offer her paw
second timer
During this alteration Camilla had
sat silent, but with growing impotence;
her eyes flashed and her cheeks were
fiery-red. The colonel, always ready to
| turn the force of others to account Tor
his own purpose, FASTENED to give the
! final impulse to her pent-up indigna-
ton. He looked at her. and raised his
| shoulders and eyebrows in a gesture of
resignation.
your she cried; ''you too despair at
the eleventh hour? What do these
| doubts and recriminations mean? Do
! none of you any more remember the
| greatness of the cause you serve?
Have you begun to forget the emper-
orr"
AS the lightning of this word flashed
upon them her hearers started Violent
ly.
"Ahr' she went on, with quickening
| breath, 'there is magic in the name!
1t is perhaps because you whisper it
so seldom that it has ceased of late to
stir you; let us be holder in speech and
Drawer in action!'
Madame" replied M. Carnac, depre-
catingIy and with a bow Of genuine adj
miration, your enthusiasm is heroic,
but it is not prudent; the boldness that
you preach is likely to bring discomfi-
ture upon US all
"'Discomfituren' she cried with ringing
scorn. what, then, does the timidity
you practice bring upon the emperor?
Are we to preserve our own freedom at
the price Of his captivity, and amid the
luxury of a great capital to shut our
eyes to the misery of his exile on lone
ly rock unfit for human habitation?"
There was an awkward silence. After
moments pause she went on again in
more pleading tone.
LET us for an instant look back, :"
she said earnestly, upon the splendor
of his past career, and then consider to
what the rancor of his enemies has
brought him. The man of action, for
whose deeds Europe was not wide
enough, confined within circuit of n
dozen miles! The man of genius re-
fused even the companionship of his
| bestowed books The commander Of
| armies with but a pair OF lackeys at his
| call: the maker and dethroner of kingc
denied his royal title! DO you not
know" she cried, and her voice rang
deep again with anger, 'dO you not
know that his house is but a Tnoldering
jail, and his allowance a prisoners pit
| lance? Himself the most Tnagnificently
| generous of men, he has been driven by
! SOrdid necessity to melt his plate; he
suffers in health, he is in danger He
| Just heaven!-fron the inspiration of
whose life we drew the spirit that ami
mates our own"
''Well spokenn cried the colonel,
slziI1fully following up the advantage
she had gained for him; well spoken!
And all that we then had shall soon be
ours again; is it not worth one more
effort my friends?"
'It is, indeed murmured M. Carnac,
with sigh. The Comte de Eabodanges
grumbled, IF only it were the last"
Mr.. Holmes settled himself in his chair.
"Well," he said, bluntly, Tets hear
your plan, if you've got one"
The colonel united his bundle of
papers and spread them out upon the
| of h