Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-16
swered Master Elves shortly.

is the eighth day out, and he hasn't
shown his nose out of his cabin. 'Tis
my opinion he's no more sick than
am"
mo more is he" said Master Elves.
"What then?"
Just this: want to see the marquis,
and l mean to see the marquis. Dye
hear that, you lumpfin? Twill be bet
ter for you. can tell you, if you fetch
me to him at oncew
The shippers moment had arrived.
"Fetch We to himw he roared, with
something between an oath and
chuckle. 1.-THE man ye're after died
two days ago and was sent to the fishes
last night! Fetch We to him! Haw,
haw!"
With this parting shot lie went off
splitting furiously.
'Dead" exclaimed Jarrat, with sag
ging jaw, staring after him. "Dead"
he said again, and then Stood vacant
eyed, Ills face the dead color of chagrin
in which calculation has had no time
to slip.
With the passengers the young secrc-
tary, NJ. Armand. had his way to make,
and this he accomplished with abun-
dant good nature Him they first snub-
bed, then tolerated, then liked.
The young Nirginian, Breckenridge
Cary, sought him openly and more than
once drew his arm through his own as
he walked the deck. The Virginian was
beyond question of the quality, and
certain footing had made for him So
cial squeamislness unnecessary. AS
for the secretary, he went his way
with impcrturbable good humor. Even
storm could not dampen his spirits.
For reasons that have been stated
the news of the demise of the marquis,
whom the passengers had not known TO
regret, made little sensation on the
Two Sisters. Next day a bark was
sighted out from Norfolk, and there was
a budget of new world news and a
bunch of Virginia Gazettes to furnish
matter for talk. A fortnight later the
incident, however full Of moment 1t
may have been to Paris, was well nigh
forgotten. They had not all of them
Jarrat's reasons for remembering.
But as days wore on and calm sue
ceeded storm Jarrat, who thought
much, studied NJ. Armand with lazy
interest that in time, as shall be seen,
gave birth to plan. He gave the sec
rotary no cause to remember their
first meeting at the little cabin door
and schooled his tone to an insinuating
friendliness. He even condescended to
game with him and to question him
amiably touching politics in France,
and more than one of these inquiries
turned cunningly, as on a pivot, upon
the young mans late master.
So month passed, pleasantly for
some, irksomely for most. Jarrat
watched the secretary boldly. The sec
rotary in his own way watched Jarrat
And SO it stood on the serene day when
NJ. Armand leaned upon the rail and
looked out across the shadowless waste
where the track ofsathe blazing sun
stretched in molten dazzle like a
quivering spear of Gods.
Presently he felt light touch on
his arm and, turning, saw the vir-
gilman.
"Dreaming?" asked Cary. "Of what?"
"Of your golden land, monsieur"
The other smiled, then sighed and
leaned beside him. "a golden land, in
sooth. would it had no storms but a
sweet sun dawning ever for it. Trou-
bled, indeed, it was when left it-more
troubled now as l return" He paused
awhile.
81 love the land" he said. 81 know
not if even France can be SO lovely. Is
it SO? And do you love it?"
| The young Frenchmans face grew
earnest.
when was born" he replied,
"France was good, monsieur think
it was the best land in the world, as to-
day it is the most beautiful. But Louis
XIV. was young, then. Since have come
Pompadour and Du Barry. So 1t is
that the good in France has been hid
den underneath many other things It
is true that the ministers of the crown
have sold titles of honor-places in the
courts. Justice, the thing for which
your colony is now crying to England
this has been impossible to the poor,
the low. The rich buy it. Paris laughs
and does not care! There the wits lam
poon the digntaries, the young bishops
sneer at God and the abbes are become
elegant to kiss the hands of painted
countesses. But the poor the oppressed,
the people, monsieur, what of them?"
He let his gaze wander. A dreamy
light was in his eyes.
"Ah, monsieur they have watched.
They have been waiting. They are
ignorant. They were never taught.
But all this time one man-the exiled,
the glorious he has been writing.
He has taught that the unnoble are
not field beasts, that they are men;
that the noble and the peasant are all
one; that the poor must not be trodden
on"
"Voltaire," Cary said in low voice.
France" Armand went on, "has
been reading this one. The smith and
the plowman talk of what he has said
in the rows and at the forge. 1t is not
only the poor, the low, monsieur. No
bles who wear coroneted swords also
tninh lnese tnlhss. Iney, loving liber-
ty, would give their lives for their
king. There is in Paris club
He paused abruptly. When he began
again it was in voice tinged with sad
ness.
Louis XIV. is dead. Louis XVI.
reigns."
Cary's glance flashed into his.
Louis XVI. is young and ambitious.
He hates England. An there were war
here 'twould advantage him to aid the
colonies"
Monsieur" declared the other, ut
might ruin him. Listen!. His own peo-
pie are worse foes to the king of France
than England, monsieur And aiding
the colonies here is putting two edged
sword into their hands! Even now
thpV hnVn thn tcI, To