Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-04-09

country was ut that time bis ablest
ally. There was a pretty peasant GIRL"
A knife clattered to the door. Par.
donm whispered Hildegarde to Ca.
thewe. IL am clumsy" She was as
white al, the linen.
Breitmanu went on with bis crumbs.
81 believe" continued II. Ferraud,
that 1t was In the year 1918 that the
emperor received a peculiar letter. It
begged that a title be conferred upon
pretty little peasant boy. The en-
peror was Il grim humorist, | may say
in passing. and for this infant he ere
ated baronetcy. threw In q parcel Of
land and u purse That was the end
of 1t as far as 1t related to the en-
peror. Waterloo came and with 1t
vanished the empire. and 1t would be
q long time before baron Of the en-
pire returned to any degree Of popu-
larity. For years the matter was for
gotten. The documents In the case,
the letters of patent, the deeds and
titles to the land and single Ma
poleonic scrawl. these gathered dust
In the loft. When | heard this tale
the thing which appealed to me most
keenly was the thought that over In
Bavaria there exists the only real, d.
rect strain of Napoleonic blood-a Teu.
ton, one Of those who had brought
about the downfall Of the empire"
you say exists? interjected Ca.
thewe.
Exists" laconically.
"You have proofsT demanded Titz-
gerald.
1.-The very best in the world. have
not only seen those patents, but have
seen the man"
"very interesting" agreed Brett.
mann. brushing the crumbs into bis
hand and dropping them on bis plate
But go on"
"What a man." breathed Fitzgerald.
who began to see the drift Of things.
II proceed. then. Two generations
passed | doubt II the third genera
tion of this family has ever heard Of
the affair. One day the last Of his
race. In clearing up the salable things
In his house-for he had decided to
lease it-stumbled on the scant history
of his forebears. He was at school
then. promising youngster. brave.
cheerful. full Of adventure and curios
ity Contrary to the natural sequence
Of events he chose the navy. where he
did very well But 10 some way Ger
many found out what France already
knew
Here was q fine chance for stroke
of politics France had always watch
ed; without fear. however. but with
half formed wonder. Germany con-
sidered the case. Why not turn this
young fellow loose on France. to worry
and to harry herr So. quietly Ger
many bore on the youth In that cold
blooded. Teuionic way she mas. and
forced him out Of the navy.
-He was poor. and poverty among
German officers. In either branch. II
a bad thing Our young friend did not
penetrate the cause Of this at hrst.
for he had no intention of utilizing bis
papers. save 10 dream over them. The
blood Of his great forebear 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 desperate. and despers'
ton was what Germany desired lies
peration would make tool OF the
young fellow. But our young Sapo-
leon was not without wit He plotted.
but so cleveriy and secretly that never
hand could reach out to stay him
Germany finally offered him an i'm
mense bribe He threw II back. for
now he hated Germany more than be
hated Frnnce You wonder why be
hated France? II France had not dis.
carded her empire-l do not refer to
the second empire-he would have
been a great parsonage today. At least
this must be one Of bis Ideas.
"And there you are" abruptly.
Here we have Napoleon. indeed.
with all the patience of his great fore
bear. II Germany had left him alone
he would today have been a good cit
zen. who would never have permitted
futile dreams to enter bis head. and
who would have contemplated his
greatness with the smile Of philoso-
pher. And who can say where this
will end! 1t Is pitiful."
"titifulr' repeated Breitmann
Why that?"-calmly.
N. Ferraud repressed the admiration
In his eyes. 1t was singular duel.
When we see madman rushing
blindly over a precipice It Is human
instinct to reach out hand to save
him."
"But how do you know he is rush
Ing blindly7" Breitmann smiled this
question.
Hildegarde sent him terrified
glance. But for the stiff back OF her
chair she must have fallen.
N. Ferraud demolished an olive be-
fore he answered the question. He
has allied himself with some Of the
noblest houses In France-that Ii to
say, with the most heartless spend
thrifts In Europe. Napoleon w.?
They are laughing behind bis back
this very minute. They are making
catspaw Of his really magnificent
fight for their own ignoble ends, the
Orleanist party. To wreak petty
vengeance on France, for which none
Of them has any love; to embroil the
government and the army that they
may tell of 1t in the boudoirs. This Is
the aim they have in view. What Is
1t to them that they break a strong
mans hearth What Is It to them II
he be given over to perpetual impris'
onment? Did Bourbon ever love
France as a country7 has not France
always represented to them q purse.
into which they might thrust their
dishonest hands to pay for their base
pleasures7 Oh. beware OF the con
spirator, whose sole portion In life Is
that of pleasure! wish that could
see this young man and tell him all
know. II l could only warn himr
Breitmann brushed bis sleeve. n
am really disappointed In your climax.
NJ. Ferraud."
II said nothing about climax" 70
turned NJ. Ferraud. "That has yet to
be enacted"
"Ahr