Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-28
A Seven-FoId
Inheritance
By MAURICE MoNTEGUT


FRANCOIS Philippe de la Gaulee was a
scion OF a noble stock. The seven
baptismal names which he bore and
signed SO proudly were those of his
father, grandfather great-grandfather
and earlier ascendants for two centu-
ries. He knew by heart the histories
OF all these ancestors beyond, there
was a fog. break in the genealogical
line. The last Of the la Gaulees was
an orphan, without brother or sister,
and lived with an old aunt in the
crumbling castle in Potion where seven
generations of ancestors had lived and
died before him. Being of an inquir-
Ing turn of mind, he employed his
leisure In the minute study of the an
nails Of his race and after long re-
search among faded documents and
diligent inquiry of Oldest inhabitants
had succeeded in establishing by valid
evidence the precise character of each
OF the seven barons de la Gaulee
whose last incarnation he was and
whose diverse traits he found in some
sort reflected in his own complex
spirit
The memory of his father, Baron
Jean, was yet green and the old peas
ants, who had known him well, said:
All he was a rare one, the old
baron! he had not windows enough
in his chateau to fling the money out
OF. The better for US who picked it
up"
Young Philippe looked into his heart
and decided that he, too, was a born
spendthrift, like his father.
Then he passed to his grandfather,
Louis, and found few very old men
who still remembered him.
"As good a man as ever lived" they |
said, "and mighty hunter, but very |
testy and over-ready with his stick |
He had some sad affairs!"
So Philippe. having learned that his
grandfather had been a great hunter
and choleric. understood his own
fondness for game.
In the case of his great-grandfather.
he had to rely on written evidence.
Baron Charles had been a marshal of
the empire, beau sabreur, brave as
Roland, lover of battles and. by his
own confessions, a victim of ennui in
times of peace. On reading this little
Philippe's ears tingled to the sound of
imaginary 'boots-and-saddles and he
had confused vision of mad charges,
waving flags and golden eagles. He
kissed the marshal's portrait and
cried. "Vive pempereurfp
After this the next seemed tame.
Baron Ernest, who lived in the reign of
Louis XIV. had loved only the muses.
and graces-and their contemporary
embodiments.
Bewigged and perfumed. with a fine
leg and talent for pirouettes. he ap-
peared beneath contempt until Phi |
lippe discovered a packet of yellowed
but still scented notes signed Pompa-
dour, Dubarry. Parabere and other
names Of famous beauties of the court ,
Of Louis lie Bien-Aime And all these
notes began with the words: Mon ,
petit Ernest"
Now as Philippe made this discov-
cry on a glorious day in May. which
was also his sixteenth birthday he
decided that Baron Ernest was not SO
Tar wrong after an and that the claims
IF love and beauty are not to be aisre.
garded =
When he came to Baron Robert be S
experienced shock The inventory
IF his cellars was still extant for the d
aditlcation Of posterity SO at dinner d
hat evening, to the unspeakablc hcr- y
-ur Of his noble aunt he.ba6a The but y
eT fetch from the cellar three Of the
choicest exemplars Of Baron Roberts p
line taste in wines This exhibit he q
discussed so eXhaustiyely that nothing b
was left but the empty bottles. a
In the morning be granted Baron n
Robert pleuary absoution and. fired [
with a noble enthusiasm, declared y
hat he likewise would be as brilliant. e
y successful as a tippler as Ia any s.
)ther capacity. @
Baron Francois had been royal C.
and a eonsummate states s.
nan, and chance passage informed s.
lin that Baron Francois, by a tissue v
If forgeries, falsehoods and unscrufu. G.
Gus Vaccinations had once succeed S.
I'd in seriously embroiling Spain and ii
Austria to the great glory and advan- ri
age Of France !
Hold" cried Philippe II. too have III
enemies who are leagued against me y
the sexton and the gamekeeper. If q
he blood Of Baron Francois flows in o.
ny veins ! should be able to Set nv d
oes by the ears 70 my own profit.
sill make the attemptta
During the following week he IN.
ented more stratagems and told more q
alsehoods than had hitherto sullied il
be whole course Of his innocent life b
and on the eighth day his foes feu g
oul Of one another on the hirh r Y
nd the beauty of each was rlag s
lfe s.
There was some good in o'd Fran 6
ois after aIl' said Philippe
The iast-that Is 10 ia ta Fl
4 Tie seven ancestors Was
be First B
foans Philippe was deeply
y the story 81 his namesaEe. WE6 haa e