Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-03-31

while the lattcr's hands caught the
coatless shoulders and shook them
piayfully.
AHA. old comradc." Grcloirc cried
iaughingly, Il rejoice TO sec that the
Elba sun has made those cheeks of
thine less white than when | last saw
them. In the hospital. Thou are well?"
Quite we'll. my dear Felix. ! assure
YOU" was the more quiet reply. But
what happy fortune has brought thee
TO this part Of the world. to gladden.
my eyes,"
You shall know all about II later"
said GrelOlTc. But let me present
you. MuTier, to Captain Latte. of
Iouislann--in the United States. you
will understand. He is my friend"
Muricr extended his hand to I.hiittc.
wha. with few courteous words,
claspcd 1t warmly.
II had been agreed that LATTE
should be known to Muricr as Captain
l.aiittc. from America. who desired to
do himself the honor OF paying his re-
spcctS To the cxiicd emperor.
The only person now exercising sur.
veiliancc upon Eiba was the English
commissioner. who happened To be nh.
sent for day from Porto FcrraJo.
| This was Il fortunate circumstance for
Laiitto and GrclUirc. nE the commits
s!oncr was supposed To keep n watch
ml eye upon the emperor. and report
his observations to the English cab
met.
StIii--as GrcloIrc had Eaid-lt was
no UNCOMMON thing for travellers to
visit Elha with the object OF paying
their respects to Napoleon; and Muir.
Ter. after laying GrcloIro's request he
fore him. was to ascertain II he would
consent to receive his former soldier
and the American captain that same
| evening. ... ..
Thus had IL been settled when Muir.
Ter and Grrluirc came out Of the house
and Joined the two who were chatting
on the shaded vcranda.
When their hostess took her depart
urc. i.aAttc turned To Muricr and
asked abruptly. How does your ON.
pcror bear his exile? Seems he happy
at all. or even contcnt?'
Have you ever seen him? You
speak aF one who admircs-yos. loves
!
| Sunrchl5E eyes showed certain sur
prise at the caEcrncss manifcSicd In
the younger mans face.
Il surely admire and love him" was
the answer. hearty and yet cvasivc
oi Murior'S question. Cannot one do
this without having seen hIm?"
Indeed yes. m'sicur." replied Muir.
icr. In n tone OF strong emotion. Are
there many hearts In America. may !
ask. who hold him thuE?'
I.aattc hCsiiatcd n moment before
answering with an emphasis that left
nothing for Muricr to desire. III they
knew him as do |. every heart would
feel as does mine. As II is. nowhere
in France is his name held more
sacred than In Louisiana. Now.
M'sIcur Muricr. will you not answer
my question:
Certainly. M'sicur lc Capitainc: I
will answer you frankly. Whenever |
have seen the emperor. which OF late
has been frequently. II has been Ia sec
him tranquil. almost to Indifference"
Here Grcloirc. who had been listen.
ing with growing indignation. broke
into the conversation.
And think you. Murier, that such n
state OF affairs IL to continue? Can
you believe that his wonderful powers
are crushcd-lost In this Indifference
OF which you speak? No! | believe
that. sooner or later, he will rise
| and"
"Sh.h." warned Muricr, with n
1uick. imperative gesture. This Is
time and place. old comradc. when II
is wise to do no believing aloud. Let
us talk no more of such matters. but
learn from M'sicur lc Capitaine some.
thing OF that wonderful country OF his
Louisiana"
The talk was interrupted by the re.
appearance OF Madame Tcchc, who
summoned them to dinner; and Gre
loire and Laitte-thc former more
cspeciaIly-who had found little en-
joyment in the cuisine Of the fishing
smack. were not slow in accepting the
| invitation.
by the time full justice had been
done to the generous meal. the hour
had come for Aiuricr 10 report for
duty. and. promising to return with
| all possible speed. he left the guests
| TO be entertained by his sister.
The twilight was near. with the
glow of sunset ralcd in the valley. and
| the shadows climbing the hills out.
lined sharply against the liquid glory
of the cloudless sky. when he returned
| with the Information that the emperor
would. at O'Clock. receive Grclolrc
| and his friend. the American gentle.
man. and shortly afterward they.
| guided by Muricr. took their way
across the darkcnirE valley. and en-.
tered grassy rCnd that wound
through a gateway Cf the hills.
ITO be COntinucdD
No Trace.
IL aa.Eln.n.. iLnn.A u IN MI