The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-30
The Marsh a |
Historical Romance By
NARY RAYMOND SEzPN1AN ANDREWS

boy held. as II fastened there, TO the
face of the story-teller. Into the sill
ence came a choking sigh.
1.-The Emperor" Francois breathed
the Emperor was there"
Probably nothing. which had not
to do with his daughter, could have
tribute. That II was tribute to his
story meant much. but the worship OF
Napoleon which burst out In the gasp
went deeper. The followers of the
Corsican never asked for reason
why they adored him; II was a feel
ing binder and stronger than love
which he inspired. and II lasted In the
hearts Of his soldiers to the latest
moment OF the longest life. The vet
eran officer who felt this possession
OF his own being saw 1t mirrored in
the slim lad who quivered before him,
and he loved the lad for 1t.
"Sapristi!" he grOwled THE arm
of the Little Corporal reaches a long
way. The child has not even seen
him, and VOLTA, he loves him."
The child's face flushed. But yes,
my signeur." Francois spoke quickly.
But yes. I have seen the Emperor"
You have seen Napoleon" The
general was surprised. How is that?"
In a boyish fashion, in homely Ian
guage of his class, yet with that DRAM
attic instinct which is characteristical-
ly French, Francois told his tale as
his grandmother had told 1t to him
and to his brothers and sisters-the
tale which the children called Ma
poleon Comes" The general listened
with sincere interest. As simple in
many ways as the child, every least
word of his demigod Napoleon was
charged for him with authority. He
nsidered deeply when the story was
finished.
MY boy" he addressed the lad. II
do not know the law-I am a soldier.
Yet by my idea you are Chevalier,
created SO by the act of the most pow
erful monarch who ever ruled France
by our Emperor Napoleon. Anoth-
er monarch sits now on his throne.
yet he was in truth Frances ruler
when he gave that blow on the shout
der which made you knight; he had
the right OF an emperOr-therefore
you are that which he made you-the
Chevalier Francois Beaupre. AS for
the rest"-his brows drew into a
bushy line and his eyes cleaned like
swords-"do not forget that he him.
self charged you with duty to his
house; your fate and his name are
linked. The time may come when, as
the Emperor said, you may be Mar
shall Of France under another Bona
parte. But that is a small thing II
the time comes when you may help
another BOnaparte to come to his
right, to rule over France. 1t is that
of which you must think till the hour
strikes, and then it Is that which you
must. give your life for"
Little Francois, the visionary, the
hero worshiper, trembled. He had no
words to answer the orders leveled at
him in those rolling tones. II will do
1t. my Seigneur," he said, frightened
yet inspired, lifted into tremendous
dizzying atmosphere. And with that
"a secret which he had told no one,
not even his mother, broke forth. my
Seigneur, strange thing happens
sometimes-I have dreams--yet they
are not dreams--in broad daylight. I
see things hear voices-which are
not of our village. Three times I saw
long road up mountain, and over
the mountain was q large star. | saw
II three times, and once a voice said
1T is the star of the BOnapartes, but
also your star, Francois. Follow it, y
The general was hard-headed per-
son for all his cult Of Napoleon, and
vision-seeing appeared to him non
sense. He pooh-poohed at once the
idea of star divided between the
house Of Bonaparte and a small peas
ant, Your mother had better put a
vet cloth In your cap" he advised.
"Parbleu-seeing stars in midday.
Some one-legged old fighter has been
cabling before you about the star of
the Bonapartes, and that and a touch
OF sunstroke In this heat, 1t may be.
have turned you silly. Let me hear
no more OF stars, but keep at your les
son and learn to be-"
With that he was aware that the
boy did not hear him. The light fig-
ure was on tiptoes-the large eyes
stared at the wall, and the child
spoke In an unaffected voice as if
something muffled spoke through him.
(ContInued)