South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-13
Continued from friday
CHAPTER XXVI.
Cantain nf the Troon.

Captain OF the Troop.
And now ne had left Roanoke. and
was living in the great old house on
Pietro's land. the old house which
had been lived in a hundred years be-
for PietrO's father had bought II, the
old house In which grandchildren or
Pfetro live today.
Something in his odd broken Eng
lish. something In his vivacity and
energy. something in the warmth OF
the heart which the poor souls felt
in him-nOne quicker than Negroes
20 feel a heart-fascinated the slaves
who fell TO his unaccustOmed man.
agement He had met Henry Clay
and the proud aristocrats Of Virginia
as men and women. and given them
the best OF himself; he met these
thick-lipped, dim-souiod, black peo-
pie no otherwise. and gave them the
same. BY the crystal truth in him
the first had been vanquished. and
IL happened not differently with these
other human beings. Pietro's mis-
handled property grew orderly month
by month; Francois, in the saddle
most Of the time. riding from end 10
end OF the plantation. found his
hands full and his work interesting.
and his health and strength coming
back--though that was a slower
progress.
The people who do most are like
~ TO be the people who can do a
thing more. Young Henry Hampton,
ruled out OF the larger part of his
natural pleasures by that stern by
law Of nature, which had made him
lame. appealed to Francois sympathy
every day more deeply. In his de-
votion to his discovery, his brand
from the Austrian burning, his own
peculiar friend-all this Harry con-
sidered Francois to bo-the boy was
Of Crur nd oil
man, hardly more than q bog him.
self came TO know rhe suffering ii
meant TO a strong and active young
animal, TO drag a ball and chain.
The sort of lad who would have led
others at fencing, wrestling. swim
ming-at every spOrt-he had to sit
outside, and with aching heart and
muscles tingling 10 be at work, to
watch his friends. He was gener-
Gus and cheered on the others: ne
was reserved and never spoke Of him
self: people, even his own people had
come to take his lameness for grant
ed. had forgotten that the trial was
always a fresh one TO him. But
Francois understood. There were no
words spoken between them. but
Francois. full Of warm friendliness
toward this boy who had helped him
back TO life. turned things over in
his mind and found a scheme which
seemed TO promise pleasure for young
.iampton-which seemed besides to
be good practise for the work to
which the gaze OF Francois looked
forward steadily. through and beyond
all this temporary living-the work
OF fighting for the Bonapartes.
The one thing which the lad could
do was riding. Henry" Francois
down shady lane of the plantation
on the way TO the far fields where
Negroes worked in the autumn sun
light. what would you think of or
ganizing mounted troop OF militia %
The boys face famed with excite
ment. What would he think of it?
He would think it glorious wonder
full, half a dozen big adjecaves.
There were many young men in
the neighborhOOd; all Of them rode:
none OF them had enough to do;
Francois had a hold on them--a man
may not spend five years in a dungeon
because or a dashing mad act OF
bravery without acquiring halo
which adheres afterward: il was
fairly certain that a military com
pany. originating with the Chevaliel
Beaupre, would succeed. And il
succeeded. Three days later il was
started with the cordial sanction OF
the fathers and the enthusiasm OF
the sons. Francois was, OF course
head, and Francois was hard at work
calling back the old lore of his school
days at Saint-Cyr and reading book.
on tactics and all military subjects.
Henry" said Colonel Hampton
one morning after breakfast a
Roanoke house. Il want to speak K
you a moment in my study"
Harry went calmly into the dim
pleasant. old room, with its paneleC
walls and portraits set into the pan
cling; he had no fear OF what hi
uncle might say. for he was not mere
~ the young nephew and ward liVinl
in his uncle's house-he was tn,
owner of most OF che acres which
made the plantation a great one
Colonel Hampton considered that II
his treatment Of Harry. and Harrl
knew il well enough. Moreover, i
was an unspoken secret that HARRY
or Lucy had the right OF strength
over weakness in dealing with tn,
head OF the house. Obstinacy com
bined sometimes with weakness, it il
true, but Vet the two youngsters un
derstood clearly that the colonel wa
the head only by a graceful fiction
SO young Henry Hampton felt nS
alarm at the quality OF his uncle
tone. The colonel sat down in tn,
biggest chair. a chair throne-like II
its dignity: he faced the lad an,
pulled Importantly at the end of hi
nustaChe.
This troop OF cavalry is about or
Eanized? p" he demanded
We'll. that's rather a big name 70
it, Uncle Henry, but il is going like
streak" answered Henry Junior
We meet again today and tomor
row ! think we shall begin business.
Il approve OF it," Colonel Hamp
ton stated.
Harry bowed his head gravely
The colonel went on.