The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-09-06
Historical Romance. BIZ

should not have been afraid to do
that-but-Francdis did IT,"
| 1t II always So" said Alike In deep
disgust. Francois always does It. If
you would only prove once that you
have-courage.'
And at that the stranger broke in,
smiling his faint smile. 'Mademoiselle
Alike 10 severe" he said gently. No
one can doubt the courage Of q Mar
Quis Zappi." He faced with q quick
movement to Francois, and his look
changed. One would not have thought
that the controlled cold FEATURES could
90 show warmth. II have to thank
you for my life, Monsieur the peas
] ant" he said. and held out his hand.
, Moreover, ii IL seldom that a pro-
phecy 10 SO quickly fulfilled" They
gaxed at him. fascinated by a dignity
In him which seemed new.
he went on. You said q few min
utes ago that you should one day do
thing worth while for q Bonaparte.
You have done 1t. You have saved
my life."
bewildered, the children stared, re-
iuctant to comprehend something
which seemed out OF possibility:
Francois hand crept to his cap and
he pulled II OF and stood barehead-
ed.
Monsieur. who are your" he
brought out
The strange boys vanishing smile
Frightened his face second. | am
Louis Bonaparle," he said quietly.
The little court OF three stood about
the young Prince, silent And In a
moment. in few sentences. he had
told them how, the day before. he had
been seized with hunger for the air
Of France, which he had not breath.
ed since. as q boy OF seven. his
mother had escaped with him from
Paris during the Hundred Days. He
told them how the desire to stand OH
French soil had possessed him, till
at last he had run away from his
tutor and had found the path from his
exiled home. the castle OF Arenenberg
In the canton OF Thurgovie, in Switz-
erland, over the mountains into the
Jnra valley.
1t IL imprudent." he finished the
tale calmly. The government would
turn on all its big engines In an up
roar to catch one schoolboy. IL 1t was
known. But had to do it," He
threw back his head and filed his
lungs with greath breath. The.
air of-France." he whispered In an
ecstasy. The romantic spirit of this
boy always flashed out as surprise
from beneath his calm self-contained
exterior. Then, In his usual quiet
tones, Il am Fortunate" he said. IL
have fallen into the hands of friends.
hademoiselle Alixe-the pretty
name'-and he smiled his evapescent
smile--"is almost of my family be.
cause OF her father; Monsieur the
peasant has proved his loyalty with
his life. and"-he turned to the tail
Ptetro-"a Bonaparte is safe with
Monsieur the Marquis Zappi."
Il am Pietro." stated the boy shy.
y.
The Prince looked at him, narrow.
ing his eyes again. Then And l arm
Louis" he flashed back. 1T is q good
thought. Why not leave out the titles
for this afternoon? We are all young
1T ID summer-it IL q holiday We
have an ancient castle and an adven-
,ture to play with: what use have we
for titles? We shall never see one
another again.. II Is likely. So, shall
we not be Alike and Pietro and Fran
co.'s and Louis. four children together
for this one day of our friendship"
And the others laughed and agreed.
For two hours more they told stor-
les and played games through the soft
old ruins of the savage old strong
as II there we're no wars or intrigues
NJ 1NAA NH ~k ~
and we're to be close to the lives OF
all OF them. TILL. as the red round
sun went down behind the mountain
OF the Rose. Francois quick eye
caught sight Of q figure swinging rap
idly down the mountain road where
the Prince had. come.
But look. LOUIS he called from
behind the rock whore he was pre-
pairing, as q robber baron, to swoop
down on Prince Louis conveying
Alike as an escaped nun to Pietro's
monastery In another corner Look,
Louis! Some one IL coming whom
do not know. Is II q danger for
your"
And the boy Prince. suddenly grave,
shaded his eyes with his hand and
gaSed up the mountain. Then his
hand fell and he sighed. The ad.
venture IL over" he said. Il must
60 back to the Prince business. 1t
is Monsieur Lebas."
Monsieur teb9s, the tutor, arrived
shortly In anything but q playful hu.
NOR The boys mother. Queen Hor.
tense. was In Rome, and he was re-
sponsible; he had been frightened to
the verge Of madness by the Princes
escapade. II was, In fact. AZ serious
an escapade as one may think. or 1t
might have been. The movements
Of the Bonapartes we're watched at
that time by the authorities of France
and all other countries as we'll with
q closeness and jealousy out Of pro-
portion. Europe having been turned
upside down lately b. that name, that
name was hedged out by barriers az
IF the combination of letters In itself
was q peril to q government. Louis
Napoleon at sixteen was twice 70.
moved from the hesdship of his
house; the Duke OF Reichstadt, son
of Napoleon l., was still living In Aus
tria. and Louis own brother. the Old
or son of King Louis and Hortense,
was with his father In Rome; 30 that
this runaway lad was not the heir to
anything, even to the pretensions OF
q dethroned and exiled family. Yet