The Holly chieftain., 1905-04-07


doorway TO look back.
Lafitte, quartered in one of Madame
Teche's dimity-hung chambers, slept
little that night. He reviewed again
and again the meeting with Napoleon.
until his brain was in turmoil of
thought that banished sleep.
II the emperor would go to Amer
lea, might not he, LATTE, be the
means of getting him there in safety?
1t was late when Greloire went to
sleep, still half-conscious of the foot
steps in the room next to his own:
and he awoke to see Laftte standing
by his bedside.
1T is scarcely an hour after sun
rise, Greloire, and | regret to disturb
you. But messenger has just left a
package with me, together with a
written message from the emperor, re-
questing that you and leave the is
land now. as speedily as possible"
SOP said Greloire, rubbing. his
eyes. Then it is best that l leave
this comfortable bed. Did you say
the emperor sent you packet?"
"Yes. And when tore off the outer
wrapping, found upon the inner one
his request that should not exam
inc it until we had left the island
What do you suppose can be the
meaning of this?
Wait, mon ami wait until you
open the packet Then l must tell
you something that has escaped my
mind until now
Breakfast was soon despatched:
and, after thanking Madame Teche
for her hospitality, her guests took
their leave, pursued. until out of hear
ing, by voluble farewells and urgings
to come again.
Murier walked with them to the
beach, which they found deserted,
with the full tide rolling in over the
pebbled sand in hushed way, as II
its mood were depressed.
Lafitte, drawing a scarlet handker-
chief from his pocket, waved it above
his head; and the master of the fish
ing-smack replied with speedy hull
loa that came family across the
water.
The fisherman beached his boat
near Greloire, who now called to
them, and stood waiting as they
strolled along to join him.
The captain of the smack was
easily induced to land his passengers
on the French coast; and they were
scarcely under way before the former
asking Greloire to accompany him,
went below. to open the package.
1t was somewhat bulky, and as his
fingers broke the last wrapping, q
collection of papers, some of them
dis iscolored by years, others evidently
of more recent date, fell upon the
cabin table. And in their midst shone
the dull gold frame of an ivory.
painted miniature
For second LATTE stared at this;
then, picking it up, he looked intently
at the gypsy-like face of the portrait
"Ah, mon Dieu! How came the
emperor. by this?" he cried choking
ly, the sight of the beautiful face,
which Margot had taught him to love
as the mother whom he had never
known, making the past more real
than the present.
Greloire, who was lighting a cigar
said dryly, Examine the papers, and
If they do not tell you, perhaps l can
do So
LATTE glanced at them hurriedly.
They comprised his parents marriage
certificate, and all the other papers,
together with the jewels, that had
been in the small iron box so many
years ago. There were also more re-
cent papers, showing that the prop
erty in Languedoc had been released
from sequestration, and held In trust
by Napoleon, emperor of France, for
Jean, son and heir of the Baron -,
and sometimes known as Jean LATTE,
of Louisiana, in North America
All the documents were there, show.
ing in detail the legal proceedings, in
stituted and perfected under the Con-
sulate, and confirmed under the EN-
pire.
AS the last paper fell from his
hand, Lafitte buried his face in his
crossed arms amid the heap of pre-
cious things upon the table.
All the past was rolling in upon
him, sea of living reality, so distinct
and intense that the present appeared
dim and vaporous.
What had, but last night, seemed
to him legitimate in the light of his
everyday world, as he met its events,
now looked honor-stained when con-
fronted with the appealing sweetness
of the pictured face that had repre-
sented to his boyhood all that was
best and purest, and the present sight
Of which had brought so viyidly be-