The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-01-26


shilfui sailors and brave nehters. n
they captured e ship hying the Dag nf
q hostile country, the prize Was. ac-
cordlng TO circumstances, taken into
port Tor condemnation or destroyed at
once But. whatever might hs The
nationality OF a richly laden vosseS en-.
countetcd by the "Black Petrol" the
colors Il few had but little cffecl IN
deciding lts fate. or that OF IT. er,Nw.
IN all these various schemes Lahttd
was an interested party; and. In ear.
Tier years, he had been an actual par.
ticipant In prosecuting some OF them.
his ability and skill being such that
while stili under twenty, he became
t-aro's trusted lieutenant. upon whom
devolyed all duties to which the for
mer was unable or Inadequate to give
his personal attention.
The tall, handsome lad OF Langue.
doc. Paris and Toulon had developed
into a man possessing rare gifts OF per-
son and mind. together with a store
If energy and which would
have won success in n avenue Of
life. Himself a stranger to personal
fear, he was quick 10 recognize brav.
cry In another. and his chivalrous ma.
ture was never unresponsive TO ap
peals from his less fortunate fellows.
Such was Jean Lahtte at thirty. and
such, In brief. had been his life during
this period-one so filed with events
and adventures as TO make his earlier
years. and the actor In them. more
or less dim. according as they had
axed themselves upon the receptive
element OF his nature.
Even Laro. the blum and picturesque
sailor who had exerted so strong an
influence upon the lad when they met
at lie Chen Heureux. was hardly rec
equitable in the crafty and unscrupu.
lOus adventurer with whom later
years had made him so familiar, and
with whom he was now forced 10 be
in such close contact.
AS for Bonaparte. he had become
Napoleon. the monarch TO whom
crowns we're baubles. and thrones
were playthings; who had recast the
continent OF Europe, and opened a
new chapter In the history Of France.
Jean had received no word from him
after the letter delivered by the
hands OF Pere Huot: and grieyous
had been the boys disappointment as
the months passed without bringing
any sign Of remembrance from the
man who was the one greatest love
OF his life.
But his was a strong and healthful
nature-buoyant and vibrant; and. as
the time went by. the acute edge Of
his grief had been worn away. TO be
succeeded by a feeling akin to apathy.
He had been forsaken by him whom
he loved; and. accepting this as a.
fact. he had r~elinquuished every hore
Of a future reunion.
All this had its natural effect; and.
coupled as Il vas with a vague but
~unchanging determination & follow
the career Of adventure which had
been his boyish purpose In life. the
personality of Bonaparte became less
and less real. until all that remained
was a love which was in itself large.
~ an abstraction.
Margot was stu a reality 20 him be-
aus OF her representing so much OF
motherly care. and by reason OF her
ever manifested love. OF which he had
found much 10 remind him IN the I'm
obtrusive loyalty and devotion OF
Pierre.
The latter was now the only tangi-
bic tie connecting Iean LATTE with
his Observation-Disclosures brave Pierre
sluggish iE thought. but sound OF
judgment aud clear OF purpose; strong
Of arm and mighty IN action. who now.
as ever. stood az the side Of his foster
brother. He had, some two years be-
fore. abandoned his sea.faring life,
and. In partnership. with Jean. estab
lished a large smithy at New Orleans.
where the firm Of LATTE Brothers had
become well and favorably known
through the work turned out by their
skilled slaves.
ITO be continually