The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-09-18


fellows and tremendous fighters, and
Just the men needed now TO help save
New Orleans"
Then, while folding his nakpin, the
general said animatedly, How could
| have forgotten to tell you a most
surprising piece of news about Capt,
Jean? That young man is puzzle to
me-"
What now" asked Lazalie with
marked interest as La Roche pushed
hack his chair and looked at his
watch.
Just this" answered La Roche,
smiling at her, and then gtancing at
the others in a way to show that he
was about to startle them: ut appears
that Capt. Jean has the honor Of per
sonal acquaintance with Napoleon"
What" chorused the thee amazed
hearers and Madame Riefet murmur-
ed, in an awe-stricken tone, Capt.
Jean knows the French emperor"
La Roche nodded,
dear, nor was he such when LATTE
knew him."
But how can such thing be posi-.
e?" Lazalie began when Madame
Reifet, having recovered herself, in
terrupted with. Tell us all about it,
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
ton at his ability to give his sister
who had frequently expressed her dis
ike of his intimacy with Lafitte-a
Aece 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 &C.
duaintance he could claim.
Il cannot credit such thing" she
declared
You could, and you would, had you
| been where | was, to hear what he
| said to Gen. Jackson. 1t came about
| in this way: A week or ten days ago,
| LATTE rendered an important service,
| of private nature, to Claiborne, and
| the governor urged him to name some
thing as reward for his services.
| What LATTE asked was a picture of
| Napoleon, which it seems was his own
property, although he was not aware
| OF it at the time. 1t had been looted
| by one of our men during that Sep
| TENDER attack on Barataria, and Clai.
| borne had rescued it, being about as
mad over Napoleon as you, yourself,
| sister mine; and LATTE had seen it
hanging on the wall of the governor S
study.
The other day, at headquarters.
was present when Jackson and LATTE
were having a conference, during
which the general spoke Of the mat
| ter, and rallied LATTE 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.'
Il wish you could have seen Laftte's
face when he answered. I revere him
as the man | have known and loved
since | was young boy, and who has
been as truly my guardian angel as
ever a good Catholic could pray the
Holy Mother to be-. And | wish you
could have seen Jackson's face as he
Heard it."
Madame Reifet gasped, and the two
girls exclaimed in amaZement.
1T was in France, then, that Capt.
Jean knew him." Madame said won
Geringly.
Naturally, Louise, as Napoleon has
never been in this country" The gen.
eral now consulted his watch, and
added, 81 must be off and, by the
| way, let none of you mention the sur
| prising fact that | have just related.
as it might not be pleasing to Capt
Jean. He said no more than have re-
peated, and was Enthusiastically averse
to charging upon the subject"
"He always seems averse to talking
of himself or of his past life" Lazalie
said, as if thinking aloud, while they
rose from the table; and Madame
Riefet remarked rather severely that
it was perhaps because there was
some disgrace connected with his past,
and that this it might be which has
made him leave France.
The look of resentful indignation
which this uncbaritable comment
brought to Mademoiselle de Gaze
reaus face was softened somewhat
when the general, laying hand on
either of his sisters plump shout
ders, said, as he kissed her cheek,
For one so naturally kind Of heart as
l. .VI.nk