The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-02-12

OF three officers TO go with him to st.
Helena. The chateau and estate Of
Vlcques had been given to him by the
emperor after that brave and lucky
moment at Moscow when. the first
man to enter the Kremlin, he had
snatched the match from a mass Of
gunpowder which would a moment
later have blown up both officers and
emperor.
Ten years before no had married;
four years after that his wife had died.
and the daughter she left was now a
girl of seven, a fairy type of girl.
"icu are perfect in every way but
one. Alike" he said, as he swung her
high to kiss her. "You are"
81 know" the little girl interrupted.
c%omrade-like. Il know the fault / have.
| am not a boy. But l do not wish to
be a boy, father. would then grow
to be a great fierce person with a mus
~tache-like you. Imagine me, father.
with n mustache." and the two laughed
together.
.
Father, father!" Alike dashed into
the library.
There Is n queer, little, village boy
but a good boy. father. He has
brought you a bunch OF lettuce-such
white fat lettuce! VIII you see him?
He is n very good boy"
alike, you are %impayable," the gen.
eral groaned. II am your plaything!
Yes, send for all the village-that will
help me with my writing"
Alike, ignoring sarcasm, had flown.
In a minute she was back and led by
the hand Francois.
"Ah!" the general greeted him stern
ly. my friend. the marshal! You
have already begun the attack on my
chauteau, it seems?"
mo, my %seigneur." the boy an
swered gravely. Not yet. | bring you
some salade as n present It is from
my mothers garden. | chose the best"
81 thank you." said the general with
seriousness. II am not sure II your
mother will thank you equally. 1t is
a good present"
Francois was gratiled. lie Claire
had this morning sent him to the gar
dens with a wide margin OF time, and
the inspiration had come as he looked
down the cleaning row OF white let
tuce that he would take a tribute and
make the visit which the ~seigneur had
asked him to make.
General Gourgaud brought down his
fist on n table so that 1t ratified and
Francois started-but not Alike.
Sabre de bols!" he threw at the
two children. you have ruined my
morning between you. l meant to fin
lsh those cursed chapters this morn
ing. But let them wait. Having the
honor to receive a visit from an officer
of high rank, the least | can do is to
entertain him. What amusement do
you prefer, M'sleur the Marshal? II
am at your service"
1t was natural to Francois to believe
every one kindly; he accepted with
simplicity, II with slight surprise. the
generals speech.
THE seigneur has fought battles I'M
der the great emperor HIMSELF" the
boy asked in an awed tone.
YES" anne the abrupt answer.
Think" whispered the French boy.
ITO have fought under the emperor"
And the old soldiers heart thrilled
suddenly. The child went on. "lf the
seigneur would tell me a story Of n
flght-of just one!"
"Ratisbon, Ratisbon!" clamored
and she scrambled over tho arm
Of his chair to her fathers knee and
her hand went around his neck. "Tell
about Ratlsbon and the ditch and the
ladders, father"
Haiti" ordered the general. 81 have
not a week to talk. But / will tell
about Ratisbon II you wish"
The deep voice stopped. then went
again. "The Austrians held Rats