The Washington herald., 1911-02-28

navy
He was poor, and poverty among Ger
man officers, in either branch, is bad
thing. Our young friend did not pene-
trate the cause of this at first: for he had
no intention of utilizing his papers. save
TO dream over them. The blood of his
great forbear refused to let him bow
under this unjust stroke. He sought a
craft. an interesting one The net again
closed in on him. He began to grow
d daSperate, and desperation was what Ger
many desired. Desperation would make a
tool of the young fellow. But our young
Napoleon was not without wit. He plot
ted. but so cleverly and secretly that
never a hand could reach out ta stay
him. Germany finally offered him an i'm
mense bribe. He threw it back, for now
he hated Germany more than he hated
France. You wonder why he hated
France? If France had not discarded her
empire-I do not refer to the second
empire-he woIld have been a great per-
Sonage to-day. At least this must be one
of his IDEAS
And there you arc" abruptly. Here
we have a Napoleon. indeed with all the
patience of his great forbear. If Ger
many had left him alone he would to-day
have been a good citizen. who would
never have permitted futile dreams to
enter his head, and who would have con-
templated his greatness with the smile of
a philosopher. And who can say where
this will end? 1t is pitifuL"
"Pitiful?" repeated Breitmann. why
that?' calmly.
NJ. Ferraud repressed the admiration in
his eyes. 1t was a singular duel. when
We see a madman rushing blindly over
a precipice it is a human instinct to reach
out a hand to save lim."
But how do you know that he is rush.
ing bIfndly?" Breitmann smiled this ques-
ton.
Hildegarde sent him a terrified glance
But for the stiff back Of her chair she
must have fallen.
NJ. Ferraud demolished an olive before
he answered the question. He has allied
himself with some of the noblest houses
in France: that is to say, with the most
heartless spendthrifts in Europe. Napo-
leon ~? They are laughing behind his
back this very minute. They are making
cat's-paw of his really magnificent fight
for their own ignoble ends, the Orleanist
| party. To wreak petty vengeance or
France, for which none of them has any
love; to embroil the government and the
army that they may tell OF it in the bou-
| dotrs. This is the aim they have in view.
| What Is it to them that they break a
| strong mans heart? What is il TO them
II he be given over to perpetual imprison-
| ment? Did a Bourbon ever love France
as country? Has not France always rep
resented to them a purse into which
| they might thrust their dishonest hands to
pay for their base pleasures? Oh, beware
| OF the conspirator whose sole portion in
life is that of pleasure! 1 wish that !
could see this young man and tell him all
| l know. If l could only warn him.
Breitmann brushed his sleeve. Il am
really disappointed in your climax, Mr.
Ferraud.'
Il said nothing about climax" re-
| turned NJ. Ferraud. That has yet to be
enacted"
All
"A descendant Of Napoleon. direct
Poor devil,' The admiral was thunder
struck. Why. the very spirit of Napo-
leon is dead. Nothing could ever revive
it. 1t would not live even a hundred
days
Less than that many hours" said NJ
Ferraud. He will be arrested the mo-
ment he touches a French port"
Father" cried Laura, with a burst OF
generosity which not Only warmed her
heart but her cheeks. why not find this
poor. deluded young man and give him
the treasurer"
What. and ruin him morally as well as
politically? No, Laura; with money he
might become a menace"
"On the contrary put in NJ. Ferraud
with money he might be made to puS
away his mad dream. But I'm afraid
that my story has made you all gloomy
1t has made me sad Laura admitted.
Think of the struggle, the self-denial
and never soul to tell linn he is mad"
The scars faded little, but Breitmann's s
eyes never wavered.
THE man hasn't a ghost of a chance -
To Fitzgerald it was now no puzzle why
Breitmann's resemblance to some one
else had haunted him. He was rather
bewildered, for he had not expected so
large an order upon NJ. Feraud prom
Use. Fifty years ago"
'Ah, Fifty years ago." interrupted NJ
Ferraud eagerly, Il should have thrown
my little to the cause. Men and times
were different then; the world was less
cordid and more romantic
well, l shall always hold that we have
no right to that treasure
''Fiddlesticks, Laura. This is no time
for sentiment. The questions buzzing in
my head are: Does this man know of
the treasures existence? Might he not al
ready have put his hand upon it?''
Your own papers discredit that sup
position" replied Cathewe. "A stunning
yarn. and rather hard to believe in these
skeptical times What is it?'' he asked
softly, noting the dead white on Hide
garde's cheeks.
Perhaps it is the smoke" she answered
with a brave attempt at a smile.
The admiral in his excitement had
lighted a heavy cigar and was consuming
it with jerky puffs, a bit of thoughtless-
ness rather pardonable under the stress
of the moment For he was beginning to
entertain doubts. 1t was not impossible
for this Napoleonic chap to haye a chart,
to know of the treasures existence He
wished he had heard this story before
He would have left the women at home
Corsica was not wholly civilized. and who
could tell what might happen there?
Yes; the admiral had his doubts.
81 should like to know the end OF the
story" said Breitmann musingly
There is time" replied NJ. Ferraud:
and of them all, only Fitzgerald caught
the sinister undercurrent.
so, Miss Killigrew, you believe that
this treasure should be handed over to
its legal owner?'' Breitmann looked into
her eyes for the first time that evening.
Il have some doubt about the legal
ownership, but the sentimental and moral
ownership is his. A romance should al
ways have a pleasant ending"
You are thinking of books" was Cath
ewes comment. 'In life there is more
adventure than romance, and there is
seldom anything more incomplete In
everyday life than romance"
That would be my own exposition, Mr..
Cathewe." said Breitmann.
The two fenced briefly. They under
stood each other tolerably well; only
Cathewe as yet did not know the manner
of the man with whom he was matched.
The dinner came to an end, or, rather.