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

voices noated shrilly out into the gar
den, on a sunshiny morning OF 1871
from the great entry OF an old farm
house in the valley under the Jura
mountains. The grandmother, sitting
white-capped in the center OF the hub
hub, heard one more willingly than the
others, for not only was Francois her
best loved, but also the story he asked
for was the story she liked to tell.
Smiling, the grandmother began:
You must know, my children. that II
was on a day in the month of May. In
the year 1918. that he came. You,
Lucie, and you, Pierre. and Marie
were not born. only Francois and
Tomas. Francois wac the older-not
quite three years old. The mother had
gone to care for your Aunt Lucie, who
vas Ill, and | kept the house for your
father. 1t was the year of the great
transcription. when the emperor took
all the men to fight, not only the
strong ones. but the boys, and the old
and infirm, II they might but drag
themselves at the tail OF q regiment.
So the few men who were not under
the flag we're sorely needed by their
families. for It was necessary, II the
women and children were not to
~starve. that some should stay to work
IN the fields. Your father was OF the
few who had escaped in our village Of
vicques.
One morning a man appeared in
the village and said that Napoleon
would pass this way within a few
hours.
Outside I heard the neighbors call
Ing the same two words-'Napoleon
comes'-one called It to another. II
the trumpet Of the angel sounded the
end Of the world, they could not have
had more fear. Then your father
kissed me, and kneeled and held you.
Francois. and Tomas, in his arms, and
saw tears, but he was brave-but
yes. Courage. little mother he said.
for me and for the babies. Courage
And at that your father, who wal
my little lad once, you know, my dears,
had gone, and | stood with an ache
where my heart should have been, and
for a moment | was stupid and could
not think.
"As stood so, like a blow there was
o rush of galloping horses in a shower
OF noise down the street, aud my
heart stopped. for the horses drew up
at this house. So that / was still in
Ve middle Of the floor when the door
opened.
ut opened, that door there. and
against the light | saw men crowding
In the entry. They wore uniforms OF
bright colors, and swords hung at their
sides. and on their heads we're hats
with trimmings of gold. Then | saw
Napoleon. With a step toward me
he spoke in a kind voice, half smiling.
Madame he said, will you let us
use this room and this table for an
hour? You shall not be disturbed in
your work
Il made my courtesy to these great
gentlemen as had been taught, and |
found myself saying quite easily to his
majesty the emperor, as easily as II !
talked to Monsieur lie Cure, to whom
= was accustomed, that he was vel.
come; that | would serve him gladly
if he wished to command me. And
then | left them. | went into the
Kitchen and began to get dinner, but
was SO dazed that | could not seem
70 make the soup as usual. When,
suddenly, heard a child cry, and with
no thought then but Of my babies,
flew to the door of the great room and
stood looking. for could not pass the
sentinel.
Among the officers in their uni
forms there lay on the floor little Fran
co.'s In his night-dress, and all the Of
ficers looked at him and laughed. The
child, sleeping in the farther room.
had walked at the voices and had
climbed down from his crib and tod.
died out to see. The glitter Of the uni.
Horns must have pleased him. and as
they all bent over the papers on the
table he had pulled at the sword of
one whom | afterward knew to be the
great Marshal Ney. He wore a dark
coat all heavy with gold lace, my chill.
dren, and white pantaloons and high
Shining black boots, and across his
breast'a scarlet ribbon. He sat next
the emperor. The marshal, turning
SHARPLY at the tug, knocked the little
one over. 1t was then Francois cried
out.
Napoleon himself who spoke as |
peered under the sentinel's arm. He
shook his finger at his officer.
Marshal, Marshall he cried, are
you not too quick to overthrow so
young a soldier. SO full of love for
arms?'
Inc emperor seemed to joke, for
ne laughed a little, yet there wac a
sound In his voice as If some part was
serious He turned sharply to the
mayor. What is the child's name?'
Inc mayor was our friend and
Knew the babies. Francois Beaupre,
sire, ne answered tremblingly.
ne emperor gave a short nod,
MAKE him kneel,' he said. Marshal,
your sword
II was still for a moment, and all
ue onlcers stood up silent, and then
ue emperor took the marshal's sword
%hu struck the baby's shoulder a light
oiow with the fiat of 1t.
hise Chevalier Francois Beaupre,'
SAD clearly, and in the pause he
auueo' with a look In his eyes as II
ny sazed forward: Some day, per-
p, a marshal of France under an
0ther B%onaparte."