The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-10-07
The Marshall
Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
Author Of The Perfect Tribute
The Better Treasure. &C.
Illustrates. syELLswoRTH YOUNG


1
Itoo valuable to be taken up with de
tails. Uncle lack says they are need.
ed at once. 1t has been neglected
do not understand why things are 90
neglected" -,
81 have seen to It, father. They VIII
be ready in a week." Lucy answered
Then the colonel noticed Francois
Good day. chevaiier," he spoke con-
descendingIy. ABBY the way"-he
nut a hand into one pocket and then
another of his linen coat They gave
me a letter for you, chevalier. knowing
that you would be at Roanoke house
today. Here 1t is''-and Lucy saw
light leap into Francois eyes as they
fell on the English postmark-
And Lucy spoke quietly again
did ask you, father, but you did not
see to II. and they were necessary. SO
7 did IL" And then, "chevalier, read
your letter see 1t Is foreign one.
''Wfn mademoiselle pardonr
At that moment an uneven step
came down the slope and Francois
flashed a smile at Harry Hampton and
retreated to the other side Of the sum-
mer-house with his letter; while the
colonel. murmuring complaints about
harnesses. went strolling up the
shadowy, bird-haunted lawn
Harry Hampton stood by his sweet
heart with a boyish air Of proprietor
ship. radiant, as he had been through
these two years of his engagement i
have it." he announced. Don't you
want to see it?"
Wait, Harry" the girl glanced at
Francois. But the lad caught her
waist. Look" he said, and opened
his free hand and plain gold ring
Elittered from It With a quick move
ment he slipped it over the little third
anger. There" he said, that will be
on to stay pretty soon, and then Uncle
Henry shall not badger you about har-
nesses. He has made me wait two
years because he needed you, but /
won't wait much longer, will /, Lucy?
Next Wednesday-thati Is the wedding
day, Lucy"
with that Francois turned around.
His face shone with an excitement
which could not escape even preoccu-
pied lovers.
What is it, chevalier? You have
pevs-what is it?" the girl cried.
For a moment he could not speak.
Then: Eyes, mademoiselle, great
nSws." he said. "The prince has sent
for me. And l am we'll and fit to go.
have lived for this time; yet 1 am
grieved to leave you and Harry, my
two old friends"
But, Francois, you cannot go before
"wednesday" Harry Hampton cried
out. we cannot be married without
you"
! And Francois considered mo, not
before Wednesday" he agreed.
That last French lesson In the sum-
mer-house on the banks Of the smooth
flowing James river was on Satur-
day. On Monday the Chevalier Beau
pre- rode over from Carnifax and asked
to see Miss Hampton.
"Mademoiselle Lucy" he said. Il
have something to ask of you"
Il will do it." Lucy promised blithe-
~, not waiting for details.
Francois laughed. You trust one,
MademoiselIe Lucy-that Is plain.
Then his face became serious. DO you
remember a talk we once had together
when 1 told you Of my old playmate,
AlixeP'
The bride-to-be flushed furiously as
she recalled that talk. Then she nod
ded in a matter-offact manner. Il re-
member very WELL" she said at was
when threw myself at your head and
you said you didn't want me-"
Francois shoulders and hands and
eyes went upward together into an
eminently French gesture. What a
horrorI" he cried. What an unspeak-
able manner to recollect that talkl
How can you? How can you be 30
brutal to met"
Both OF them, at that, burst into
1ight-hearted laughter. Lucy was grave
suddenly.
But you have something to ask
me, Francois. You spoke OF your
playmate-beautiful Alike"
st is only you whom could ask to
do this, Mademoiselle Lucy. / have
never told anyone else about her. Only
you know of"-the words came slow
ly-"of my love for her. She does not
know It. Alike does not know. And
may be killed, one sees, In this fight
for the prince. Quite easily. And
Alike will not know. do not like
that. In fact cannot bear it So this
Is what / ask OF you. dear mademoi-
selle." He brought out a letter and
held It to her. ''If you hear that / am
killed, will you send 1t to Alixe7"
Lucy took the letter and turned 1t
over doubtfuIly 81 do not like this
sort of post-mortem commission, Fran
ale PeeI 90 - xuora holding vOur
death-warrant"
But it liz not by bit of writing