The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-04-24
CHAPTER !.
The Prophecy.

Hall dozen nlgn, little french |
voices foated shrilly out into the gar
den, on sunshiny morning of 1920
from the great entry of an old farm
house in the valley under the Jura
mountains. The grandmother, sitting
white-capped in the center OF the hub
bub heard one more willingly than the
others, for not only was Francois her
best loved, but also the story he asked
for was the story she liked to tell.
Smiling. the grandmother began:
you must know, my children, that it
was on a day in the month of May, in
the year 1873, that he came. You,
Lucie, and you, Pierre, and Marie
were not born, only Francois and
Tomas. Francois was the older-not
quite three years old. The mother had
gone to care for your Aunt Lucie, who
was i'll, and kept the house for your
father. 1t was the year of the great
CONSUMPTION, when the emperor took
all the men to fight, not only the
strong ones, but the boys, and the old
and infirm, if they might but drag
themselves at the tail of a regiment
So the few men who were not under
the flag were sorely needed by their
families, for it was necessary, IL the
women and children were not to
starve, that some should stay to work
in the fields. Your father was of the
few who had escaped in our village of
Vicques.
"One morning man appeared In
the village and said that Napoleon
would pass this way within few
hours.
Outside heard the neighbors call
ing the came two words Napoleon
comes'-one called it to another. Ii
the trumpet of the angel sounded the
end Of the world, they could not have
had more fear. Then your father
kissed me, and kneeled and held you,
Francois, and Tomas, in his arms, and
saw tears, but he was brave-but
yes Courage, little mother, he said
for me and for the babies. Courage.
And at that your father, who was
my little lad once, you know, my dears,
had gone, and stood with an ache
where my heart should have been, and
for moment | was stupid and could
not think.
AS Istood so, like blow there was
a rush of galloping horses in a shower
of noise down the street, and my
heart stopped, for the horses drew up
at this house. So that | was still IN
the middle of the floor when the door
opened
1T opened, that door there. and
against the light saw men crowding
in the entry They wore uniforms OF
bright colors, and swords hung at theil
sides. and on their heads were hats
with trimmings of gold. Then saw
Napoleon. With a step toward me
he spoke in a kind voice. half smiling
'Matame,' he said, will you let u:
use this room and this table for al
hour? You shall not be disturbed IL
your work
Il made my courtesy to these grea
gentlemen as l had been taught, and
found myself saying quite easily to hi
majesty the emperor, as easily as If
talked to Monsieur lie Cure, to whom
was accustomed. that he was wei
come: that would serve him gladl!
if he wished to command me. Ant
then | left them. | went into tn
kitchen and began to get dinner, bu
was so dazed that could not seen
10 make the soup as usual Wnen
suddenly. heard child cry, and Will
no thought then but of my babies,
few to the door of the great room an
stood looking, for | could not pass IN
sentinel
Among the officers in their un
forms there lay on the floor little frai
co.'s in his night-dress, and all the
fcers looked at him and laughed. Tn
child, sleeping in the farther room
had walked at the voices and ma
climbed down from his crib and to-
died out to see. The glitter of the un
forms must have pleased him, ana
they all bent over the papers on u
table he had pulled at the sword
one whom | afterward knew to be Il
great Marshal Ney. He wore a dal
coat all heavy with gold lace, my oh
dren, and white pantaloons and hls
shining black boots, and across .
breast a scarlet ribbon. He sat ne
the emperor. The marshal, turnl
sharply at the tug. knocked the lit
one over. It was then Francois cri
out
Napoleon himself who spoke as
peered under the sentinefs arm.
shook his finger at his officer.
Marshal Marshal he cried a
you not too quick to overthrow
young soldier, so full of love
arms?
"The emperor seemed to joke
he laughed little, yet there was
sound in his voice as If some part v
serious. He turned sharply 70
mayor. What is the child's name
'The mayor was our friend q
knew the babies. Francois beaup
sire. he answered tremblingly.
The emperor gave a short n
Make him kneel he said. MARSH
VO.r opyprG