The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-09-04

half amused, half prepared 10 resent
the insult to the empire and to disci.
i pline. half disposed to award that sub.
mission to her caprice which all Alge-
ria gave to Cigarette
fademuisel1e.' z he said, with a grave
smile. the honors of the empire are
not to be treated thus. But who is this
man for whom you claim so much p
no is he r echoed Cigarette, with
all her fiery disdain for authority ablaze
once more like brandy in a fame. oh
hel NanoIeon Premier would not have
/ left his marshals to ask that! He Is
the finest soldier in Africa, IL it be
possible for one to be finer than anoth-
! er where all are so great. They know
that. They pick him out for all the
dangerous missions But the Black
Hawk hates him, and so France never
/ hears the truth of all that he does. All
! j know is he calls himself here Louis
| Victor.
Ah, have heard much of him. As
| fine soldier, but
- fine soldier without a but, = In
terrupted Cigarette, with rebellious in
difference to the rank of the great man
she corrected, unless you add, but
never done justice by his chief. !"
As she spoke her eyes for the first
| time glanced over the various person
ages who We're mingled among the staff
of the marshal, his invited guests for
/ the review upon the plains. She saw
a face which, though seen but once be
| fore. she knew instantly again-the
face of 'snliladi.'' And she saw it
/ change color and lose its beautiful hue
! and grow grave and troubled as the
last words passed between herself and
/ the French marshal
s'Ah, can she feel?' wondered olga
| rette, who with common error of
| such vehement young democrats as
herself always thought that hearts new
er ached in the patrician order and
| thought SO still when she saw the list
| less, proud tranquility return. not
| again to be altered, over the perfect
/ features that she watched with so
much violent instructive hate.
| She scarcely heard the marshall S
| voice as it addressed her with a kindly
indulgence as to a valued soldier and
a spoiled pet in one.
| Have no fear, little one. Victor S
claims are not forgotten, though we
may await our own time to Investigate
and reward them. No one ever served
| the empire and remained unrewarded.
| For yourself, wear your cross proudly
It glitters above not only the bravest
/ but the most generous heart in the
/, service.
She saluted once again and paced
down the ranks of the assembled diyi-
| sions, while every lance was carried,
every sword lifted, every bayonet pre-
sented as she went, greeted as though
| she We're an empress for that cross
which glittered on her heart, for that
courage wherewith She had saved the
| tricolor.
The eyes Of Venetia Corona followed
her with something of ineffable pity.
| Poor little unse1ed child!'' she thought.
How pretty and how brave she is
and-hoW true to him.
The Seraph beside her in the group
around the Flagstaff smiled and turned
| to her.
i said that little amazon was n love
| with this fellow Victor. How loyalty
| she stood up for him! But if he ever
| forsake her she will be quite as likely
| to run her dirk through him.
"Forsake her! What is he to her?''
| There was a certain Impotence in
| the tone and something of contemptu-
| Gus disbelief that made her brother
look at her in wonder.
Nv hat on earth can the loves Of a
camp concern her?" he thought as he
/ answered. !" Nothing that know of.
But this charming little tigress is very
fond Of him. BY the way. can you
point the man out to me? am curious
| to see him.
impossible. There are 10000 faces.
and the cavalry squadrons are so far
| off.
She spoke with Indifference, but she
| grew a little pale as she did so. and
! the eyes that had always met his SO
frankly. so proudly, were turned from
1 him.
Cecil did not hear the gallant words
| spoken in his behalf by the loyal
lips that he had not cared to caress.
/ As Cigarette passed down the ranks,
| indeed, hessaW and smiled on his little
| champion, but the smile had only a
| weary kindness Of recognition in it.
| and it wounded Cigarette more than
| though he had struck her through the
breast with his lance.
Venetia gave a low. quick breath Of
mingled pain and relief as the last of
the chasseurs paced by. The Seraph
started and turned his head.
My darling, are you not Well?'
Perfectly !,
You do not look so, and you forgot
to point me out this special trooper.
forgot him too
HE goes there the tenth from
! here
Her brother looked. TWAS too late