The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1905-06-17


t;e?" Lazalie began when Madame
Reifet, having recovered herself, in
terrupted with: Tell us all about 1t,
Philip. How could he know Napoleon.
and where did you hear such an i'm
probable story?''
From himself" was the laconic re-
ply. accompanied by look of great
satisfaction.
The general was filled with exulta-
tion at his ability to give his sister
who had frequently expressed her dis
like of his intimacy with Lafitte-a
piece of information which he was
quite aware would. with her-a wor-
shipper Of the illustrious Corsican-
place the Barbarian leader in a po-
sition second only to him whose ac-
ouaintance he could claim.
Il cannot credit such thing" she
declared.
You could. and you would. had you
been where l was, to hear what he
said to Gen. Jackson. 1t came about
In this way: A week or ten days ago.
Lafitte rendered an important service,
of private nature, to Claiborne, and
the governor urged him to name some
thing as a reward for his services.
What Lafltte asked was a picture of
Napoleon, which II seems was his own
property, although he was not aware
oil 1t at the time. 1t had been looted
by one of our men during that Sep
tember attack on Barataria. and Clai-
borne had rescued 1t, being about as
mad over Napoleon as you, yourself.
ct nd IA had
| hanging on the wall of the governors
| study.
The other day. at headquarters.
| was present when Jackson and Lafitte
we're having conference. during
| which the general spoke of the mat
| ter. and rallied Lafitte upon the senti-
| mental price he had named for SO val
| us Bile a service: he added that prob
| ably. like all Frenchmen, he made "A
sort of male Madonna out of Ma
| poleon.
II wish you could have seen Lafitte's
| face when he answered. 4 revere him
| as the man | have known and loved
since was a young boy, and who has
been as truly my guardian angel as
| ever good Catholic could pray the
Holy Mother to be- And | wish you
| could have seen Jackson's face as he
| teard it,
Madame Reifet gasped. and the two
| girls exclaimed in amazement.
| 1T was in France. then. that Capt.
Jean knew him?" Madame said won
| ceringly.
| Naturally, Louise, as Napoleon has
| rever been in this country" The gem
| eral now consulted his watch, and
added. II must be of: and. by tho
way. let none OF you mention the sur
| prising fact that | have just related.
as il might not be pleasing to Capt.
Jean. He said no more than have re-
| peated. and was unmistakably averse
to enlarging upon the subject"
| He always seems ayerse 10 talking
| Of himself. or OF his past life" LazaIie
said. as If thinking aloud. while they
| rose from the table: and Madame
| Riefet remarked rather severely that
II was perhaps because there was
| some disgrace connected with his past.
| and that this IL might be which had
made him leave France
| The look of resentful Indignation
| which this uncharitahlc comment
Il
| brought to Mademoiselle de Gaze
rcau's face was uoftened somewhat
| Wien the general. laying a hand on
| either of his sisters plump shoul
1crs. said. as he kissed her cheek.
For one so naturally kind Of heart as
| ron arc. Lonisc. IT is curidus what
wrongful things you occasionally thipk
| N regard to other people"
| After be vas In the saddle. and tho
| ladies' were standirg en- the veranda
| % see him depart, he warned LazaIie
ti,at. for the present at least she
| slouid confine her aquatic excursions
to the Immediate vicinity Of the pian-
tation. Then. observing the perturbed
| expression his words had brought to
Madame Rejects face. he added that
| they were not TO worry about the Eng
lish. as the latter were not at all likely
TO appear In the neighborhood of Lake
| Porgne.
l