The Detroit times., 1913-09-09

WOulO dare take the Ioute ucrSiiOo"
In it-through Paris to England-but
Hortense dared much always and
every thing for her children. She
had set out from Florence to md
them, to draw them from the doomed
army OF insurgents; to save them
| from the Austrians. When she found
them, Napoleon, the elder, was dead
and Louis was coming down with his
brothers. malady. But the boy kept
up for his mothers sake. and the
two. fresh from their loss. had pressed
not a moment to spare. So Ill her
self that she could not stand alone,
she made all the arrangements for
their escape; English liveries. a bed
In the csleche, all were arranged;
even the tragedy Of filling the place
OF the lost boy was accomplishments
It must be. for her passport read for
an English wta IN with two sons.
The young NJ; =. uis Zappi, bearer OF
dispatches from the revolutionists to
Paris. gladly agreed to travel with
] them. Suddenly Louis collapsed. He
had been dangerously III for days, but
had borne up pluckily, hiding every
sign SO that he might help his moth
err The collapse had been The day
before. and the doctor had promised
that twenty-four hours rest would
give him strength to risk the journey
so necessary TO him.
In such a critical state were the
affairs OF the black-gowned woman
who gazed from the palace windows
to the sea. The doctor was with her
son. The boys condition seemed to
her no better, but worse than the day
before; she waited an official verdict.
The door opened and she looked up
as tall man came In.
| Doctor" she stammered and
stopped-she feared to ask
| Your Majesty the old man said
| gravely, II grieve to be the bearer
of bad news"
| He Ia worse, Doctor" The words
came with gasp she felt that she
could not face more trouble.
Yes. your Majesty, the fever has
increased since yesterday. With his
youth and strength We may hope-if
he is carefully nursed-but to move
him would be madness.
Queen Horted9aet&artA aer ilAt n
J together. What CHI | do? What
| can | do!" she demanded. and the
doctor stood gravely regarding her,
| helpless. with all his devotion to the
house of Bonaparte, to suggest way
out IF he stays he will be taken
they will execute him. III he goes
he will die on the way" she cried in
an agony of indecision. Doctor, tell
me. think for mellow can | save
| him.
I and the doctor still stood silent,
ouffering with Tie impotent desire to
help her. Tiff only the Austrians
might think that the Prince were
gone,' he stammered, and hated him
self for the futility Of the words. But
the Queen stood with a hand halt
lifted. arrested. Her blue eyes were
alive with the crossing and weaving
OF swift ideas, and then with q catch
OF her breath she laughed at him like
a pleased child. Doctor, you are a
| very clever man." she said. TO.
gether we are going to save the
Prince"
The vivacity of the schoolgirl OF
Madame de Campan flashed for a mo-
ment into her manner. warmed to
sudden life by the JOY of hope. The
doctor waited, enchanted, bewildered,
to hear his cleverness explained, but
Hortense did always the unexpected
thing. She shook her finger at him.
I'm not going to tell you,' she
said. AT least not till I have to-
not till tomorrow, at all events But
oil ,loit 20
you may think that you are saving
the Prince from his enemies--and to-
morrow you may know how. GoOd-by,
Doctor" and, puzzled and pleased,
the physician was gone.
Send Fritz to me- the Queen or
dered, and a moment later the young
man who was for years the confiden-
tial servant Of Hortense. who knew
more of the history of her middle
years. perhaps. than any other. stood
before her. Fritz, when does a
packet sail for Corfu?" she demand
ed.
Fritz Rickenbach considered 1t his
business to know everything TO
night, your Majesty he answered un.
hesitatingly.
"You will see that the luggage OF
Prince Louis IL on board, and that u
carriage Is ready to take him there,
she ordered,
But yes, your Majesty" Fritz still
| stood regarding her seriously. 1t
10 great happiness to me- your Maj
esty. that his Highness IL well enough
to travel"
Fritz knew perfectly that there was
a complication somewhere, and he
wanted to know what 1t was. His
curiosity was patent, but his deep In.
terest In the affairs Of his people
could not be an impertinence, and
the Queen smiled at him.
You shall know about 1t, Fritz"
she said THE Austrians are com.
ing. The Prince can not be moved.
In they take him, II means death.
They must believe that he Is gone,
and 1t Is for you and me to make
them believe 1t, Fritz. You must get
q passport signed by all OF the author
lities-that is easy today; you must
engage his place In the packet for to-
night; you must tell the servants
tell every one-that the Prince goes
to Corfu. and you must see that the
proper luggage Is on board. II will
be known that I stay, but they will
not modest an III woman. Do you un-
lderstand the plan, Fritz"