South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-01
AROmdRG Of neutrality-suspicious.
TIE MARSHAL
B. Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
As14'"r The Perfect Tribute. ETC.

down the unseen ladder in the air
At last it was at the bottom il disap-
peared into the trap-door. Every one
began TO talk volubly at once: a wo-
man cried for JOY, then child spoke
in q high voice.
See" she said shiilly. 1.-The mother
Of Francois goes 20 meet him.
La Claire was far down the street,
gliding toward that church door
which was under the steepIe. As she
reached it the little led came out. his
face flushed, his eyes shining with
excitement and triumph. She took
his hand silently, hardly looking at
him. and turned So quietly without
a word Of either JOY or reproOf her
face impressive. She had got her boy
again from the dead. IT seemed TO
Claire. and those first moments were
beyond words or embraces. To touch
his warm hand was enough. The
man on the bay horse. trotting slow
~ along. saw the meeting.
1T is a woman out Of the com
mon. that one" he spoke aloud she
rules herself and the boy" And the
boy lOked up as he came and smiled
and tugged at his cap with the hand
which his mother did net hold.
Good morning. M'sieur." he said
Sacre bleaui" he flung back in his
strong sudden voice. 1T is my friend,
the Marshal. Was il you, then. glued
mp there? Yet another fashion to
play with death. Ell? Nom dun
CHEN! You have a star of good luck
you are saved Cor something great
it must be. Madame" he spoke to the
mother. you should guard this ad-
venturer. He tells me that his life
is OF Importance to his country. yet
! he risks it with damnable freedom.
l caught him kicking over a preci-
pice, and here he is running his neck
into danger again. France Will lack
marshal and you to blame-yet he
is hard to kill, 1 confess it."
He is hard to guard. my Seigneur."
La Claire answered seriously. Il new
er know the next danger. He is more
obedient than the others, vet il is he
who will make my hair gray. But he
| is good, my Francois" and her arm
slipped around the boy. She drew
! him close. as IL only now realizing
how nearly she had lost him. Il be-
| lieve it is simply that fear is left out
| Of him, as they say in the village. He
| does not know how to be afraid. lie
| petit
The stranger turned a glance like
| blow on the little fellow Fran
co.'s" he demanded, what made you
still so long at the top of the ladder
| just now? Were you afraid ?"
mo. Msier." the child answered.
II was not afraid. I was looking at
the chateau-the new chateau. There
is some one living in it now, M'sieur.
1 thought as I looked that when I
grew big and an officer. / might go
there and place my soldiers about
that chateau. I arranged how to at
tack it very well. I also arranged
how 10 defend it. There should be
infantry to take the little gates while
the cavalry kept the defenders busy
at the great gate"
The bay horse, FESTIVE. whirled and
plunged sidewise; the rider sat close
yet loose as he played the reins, and
in n moment had the beast facing
again toward the boy and the woman
His brows down, he stared at the lad
with his keen hard glance, but he
spoke TO the mother
Madame" he said. cit is a soldier
| you have there. | have not heard of
another boy who fingers at the top of
/ church steeples TO plan military ope-
rations. He has love for the bust
ness-if he have the genius also he
may go far. He should be instruct
/ co. The two waited attentive, lit
| tie astonished TO be noticed so long.
and then the heavy brOws lifted and
/ a smile came into the stern eyes.
making them astOnishingly kind. 1T
I is my poor house which you have non
/ ored with your reflections, Msier the
/ Marshal" he flung at Francois.
! Come and see me there In the
/ chateau. and I vii help you arrange
/ the attack against it. Good day"
There was a clatter of galloping
/ hoOfs; the bay mare and her rider
were far down the street.
Who is it, my mother-the fierce
| gentleman ?" Francois asked.
You are fortunate today, Fran
/ co.'s Claire answered him. "The
| good God has saved your life from a
| very great foOlishness, and also ]
/ think YOU have made a friend. II is
/ the new seigneur."
| (To be continued Alonday)