The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-04-30
CHAPTER xXxIll.
The AccoIade at Last.

II Is common tragedy tnat nen
being human, cannot see all sides oi
question; that a decision right In
one light may bring disaster In an
other. II events had stayed where he
left them, Francois Beaupre and Col
onel Couard and his regiment would
have won honor and eternal graft
tude from Louis Bonaparte for the
quarter OF an hours work which made
the arsenal theirs. Events, instead ol
standing still, or going forward, TOOK
an unexpected sinister turn, not lone
after Francois going.
The happy Prince, smiling the shad
owy smile which made his face win
ming, stood in the center Of triumphant
turmoil; his new followers, the men
Of the forty-sixth, crowded about him
shouting, cheering, kissing his hands
and the loyal fourth artillerymen fra
ternized, embraced, congratulated the
men OF the line regiment. The narrow
courtyard was a htbbub OF rapturous
excitement, and the Princes officers
Montholon, Vaudrey, Voisin, Parquin
DHunin, Querelles-these and others
whose names Frenchmen knew, sur
rounded the small figure which YET
had so much of royalty, and laughed
and chatted light.heartedly. In a few
moments, when Colonel Laity's engi
neers and the third artillery should
have arrived the Prince would have
five thousand men under his com
mand. The great game was practical
ly won-Prince Louis was all but En-
peror.
Suddenly, above the sea Of sound,
commotion was heard at the farther
end OF the barrack yard. The colonel
of the forty-sixth, Colonel Talandier
had arrived. Very loyal to Louis Phil
lipe, very angry at the scene before
him, he would not believe the news
lie called excitedly, and the mems
voices died down as they saw him
gesticulating.
Soldiers" he cried. you are de
ceived! This man for whom you are
shouting is an adventurer, an i'm
postorl"
In the shock of silence which fol
lowed his words, another voice rang
out, clear and indignant, the voice OF
a staff-ofIicer whom they all knew.
'It is not the nephew Of the En-
peror! 1t is the nephew OF Colonel
Vaudrey! | recognize him" the Off
Ger cried in strong staccato, and O
gasp as If ice-water had been scat
tered went through the crowded
place.
There is nothing more absurd in his
tory than the instant effect Of this
ouick.witted lie Only with a mer
curlal French mob, perhaps, could II
have succeeded, but 1t succeeded here
with hopeless swiftness. 1t few from
mouth to mouth-they were cheated
tricked; the Emperor's nephew. theil
Prince, had not come; this young mar
was a make-believe, a substitute. the
nephew OF an officer; some of the
soldiers who had shown most enthus
iasm almost lost their minds now II
rage.
Colonel Talandler began to form hi:
men; the Prince, composed as ever
yet earnest. swift, tried to rally his
but 1t was impossible to start any
where. in this confusion, for line ant
artillery had become mixed In an un
manageable mob. A word from either
Prince or colonel and blood would
have flowed.
Yet the steadfast mind kept III
hope; he glanced every moment toward
the ramparts. The third must appear
there shortly; 1t could not be man!
minutes. They would turn the tide
One glimpse of that solid swinging
regiment and the day would be saveC
and salvation was certain. Tht
third was coming. would be here an!
second-Francols' faithfulness coult
be trusted
Slowly, with his officers crowdlnJ
about him, he was driven toward tn,
barracks wall, and, in q fash. from
somewhere, man was before him
thrusting a bit Of paper at him. witt
a swift movement he had 1t opene,
and read:
Destiny throws arsenal into ou
hands. Have taken third artillery L
hold It. wait TO bring the news
Jewel for your crown. Vive rEmpeI
eur! Beaupre."
Few men ever heard Louis Napc
leon sob, yet the officers stood abou
him at that moment caught n SCUM
that wrung them. 1t meant the enc
and they knew It, Passionately h
crushed the paper and threw 1t int
| tha caaihiuu fnnea