The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-06
Chapter ".


st1nened with an expression which I have
since learned to know as the fear Of dig
nttar1es; experienced even by people who
profess to despise the dignitaries. Made
moiselle de Chau1nont shook frtzzes
around her face, and lifted the scant dress
the stairs. Without approaching us she
sat down on the top step Of the landing
with young Bonaparte. and beckoned to
me.
went at her bidding and stood by the
rail.
'tPrince Jerome Bonaparte wants to see
you. I have told him about the bear pen.
marks on you, and what she said about
your rank
must have frowned, for the young gen
tlenaan made a laughing sign to mo that
he did not take Annabel seriously. He had
an amiable face, and accepted mo as one
Of the oddities OF the country.
What fam" said Annabel. Ito introduce
a prince Of the empire 20 prince Of the
woods!''
What do you think Of your brother7"
I inquired.
He looked astonished and raised his eye
brows.
Il suppose you mean the EMPEROR
I told him did.
IT you want my candid opinion" his
around his white satin knees. II think my
brother rules his family with rod Of
iron.'
What will yot, do," continued, ''when
your family are turned out?"
my faithE' said ;Annabel.- this. In a
house favorable to the empire!'
"A very natural question:" said Jerome.
Il have often asked myself the same
thing"
The king of France" I argued, "and
all the Bourbons were turned out. Why
shouldn't the Bonapartes be?"
why shouldn't they, indeed!" respond
ed Jerome. my mother insists they will
be. But I wouldn't be the man who un-
dertakes to turn out tho emperor"
what Is he like7"
Impossible to describe him."
rs he no larger than your"
Annabel gurgled aloud.
HE Is not as large"
"Yet he Is a great so1dierf"
IA great soldier. And he Is adored by
the French"
1.-THE French" quoted, "are all fire
| and tow"
THANK you!" said Annabel, pulling out
her light frizzes.
You seem interested in the political
| situation" remarked Prince Jerome.
I did not know what he meant by
the political situation, but told him had
just heard about the Bonapartes.
''Where lave you Ived?" he laughed.
told him it didn't matter wher peo-
pie lived; it all depended on whether
| they understood or not.
What sage-1 think I'm one of the
people who will never be able to under
stand" said Jerome.
| said he did not look as If he had been
idiotic, and both he and Mademo1selle de
Chaunont laughed.
| "Monsieur-"
''Lazarre Williams" supplemented An
mabel.
| Monsieur Lazarre Williams. whatever
your lot In life. you will have ono ad-
vantage over me; you will be an American
citizen"
Haven't ! that doleful advantage my.
| self" mourned Annabel. "A Baltimore
| convent, an English governess-a father
that may never go back to France"
| ''Mademoiselle, all advantages of nation.
a1ity, of person, Of mind, Of heart, are
yours"
nent he rose up, and Annabel rose also
making him q deep courtesy. and giving
him her hand to be led back to the floor
He kissed her white forehnger, and bowed
to me.
/ "You have suggested some interesting
thoughts. monsieur prince Of the woods
/ Perhaps you may yet take your turn OF
the throne of France. What would 20,
do in that case?'' ...ss#
II would make the people behave them
selves If had to grind them to powder.
'Now there spoke old Louis XIV,
laughed young Jerome Bonaparte. w
both bowed and he passed down with An
mabel into the hall. ~ ~
I did not know what made Madame d
Ferrier watch rne from her distant plac
with widened eyes. e..
Miss Chantry spoke shrilly to he
brother behind me.
I 'You will never be able to do anything
with a lad who thrusts himself forwarv
like that He has no sense Of fitness
standing there and facing down a brothe
I OF q crowned head-bad as the head Is
OF course Madernoise11e Annabel set hin
on; she owes to make peope ridiculous
rome, threaded a way among gazing dan
GERS. and left the hall, stung In my pride
: We do strangely expand and contract 1
, vital force and reach OF vision. wante
to put the lake-the world itself-betwee
me and that glittering company Th
edge of ball-roon1 and the society Of me
In silks and satins, and Of bewitchin
women, were not intended for me.
Homesickness like physical pain cam
, over me for my old haunts. They wer
newly recognized as beloved I had rage
against them when comparing myself I
Croghan. But now thought Of the ever
} ing campfire, and hunting stories, of tn
Q very dogs that licked my hand; Of s
Regis, and my loft bed, of snowshoes, an
Y the blue northern river, longing for thel
Q as the young Mohawks said 1 should lonl
Torn betwixt two natures, the whit
mans and the Indians, flung a boat Of
o into the water and started to go hon
faster than had come away. The SLOW
- ness of a boats progress. pushed by ii