The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-06

about his neck. Louis, don't let your /
self be excited, dearest. They shall
not take you. can save you
It was as If she put q spur to Ter
brain; there was Moments silence
and the two lads watched her crows
drawing together under the concentra-
ton of her brain.
"Of course she said suddenly, and I
laughed spontaneous laughter
which seemed to flood her with youth !
fitness. She turned her blue glance |
swiftly on the newcomer, the slender
boy with the luminous ayes. @You are |
in the employ of the Marquis Zappi, |
monsieur? 2"
"But yes, your majesty. / am the
secretary Of Monsieur le Marquis"
She paused a second. seemed to take
stock of the young man. of his looks,
his bearing, his accent.
You are French. Have you SYM
pathy with the family OF my son, with
the Bonapartes?"
II was as If door had been opened
into a furnace, so the eyes blazed.
Your majesty, would give my life
| =
| impassive face of the young prince
turned toward the speaker, and the
half-shut heavy glance, which had the
Napoleon1e gift of holding picture,
rested on him attentively. Louis Bona
/ parte seemed to remember something.
What is your name, monsieur" he
asked, and it might have been noticed
| that his head lifted a little from the
pillow as he waited for the answer.
francois Beaupre, sire. The young
man seemed to be out of breath
''Sire!" Louis Napoleon repeated. And
then, 81 have seen you before Where
was it? Not in Rome-not in Switzer-
land-ah!" His hand flew out, and
with that Francois was on his knee by
the bedside, and had kissed the out
stretched thin fingers, and the princes
other hand was on his shoulder fra
ternally.
"The old chateau Of Vicques-my
playfellow, Francois. told you then
1 was going to remember, didn't II"
Louis Napoleon demanded, laughing
boyishly Mother, he saved my life
from the falling wall. Do you remem-
Der the story Of my runaway trip"
And Hortense, smiling, delighted to
see her sad-faced boy so pleased and
exhilarated, did remember, and was
gracious and grateful to the young
F'renchman. at is good omen to
have you come to US today" she said
with all the dazzling charm which she
knew how to throw into sentence.
And then, eager with the headlong
zest of hunter for the game, she
caught the thread which wove into the
pattern of her scheming. you would
risk something to save him, would
you not? You will take the place of
the marquis and travel with US, tomor-
row, and help me carry away the
prince to safety?"
The dark young face was pale.
"Your majesty, it is a happiness 1 had
not dared to hope for yet"
"Yet?" the prince demanded laconic-
ally. He saved words always, this lad,
but he always said his thought
The other boys face turned to him,
and he answered very simply, But
yes, your highness. have known al
ways that should have part in your
highness' fate"
In the gray dawn of the next morn
ing there was a slight stir through the
palace. and out between the lines of
drowsy Austrian sentinels passed a
procession of whose true character
: they were far from aware, else history
had changed. The guard watched the
departure; the sick lady-Hortense-
late queen of Holland, as they all
knew more or less clearly, drove away
slowly in her travelling caleche, and on
the box was young man in the liv-
cry of groom whom no one of the
half-awake soldiers knew for Prince
Louis Napoleon; in the middle OF
the second carriage sat another youth
of two or three years younger who
was, the queens servants had beer
> told, the Marquis Zappi. Their pass
ports were examined and they went
through the gates of the city without
awakening the least suspicion.
Not once in all their dramatic series
!. of escapes and DISCUSSES were Hor
l tense and her sons betrayed, but they
had to fear the indiscretion of theil
q friends more than the malignity o.
e their enemies, and this part of Italy
I was full of friends high and low.
I At length it was time for Primes
}, Louis and the sham marquis to droI
S their liveries and travel as the son.
L of the English woman for whom thei
j. passport was made out. The clothe!
I which Beaupre was to wear had be
g longed to the young man dead at Forl
S Louis Bonaparte's brother-and az
he presented himself dressed in them
J. he saw the painful flush which crep
upon the prince; face.
L your highness, am sorry," h,
S stammered. at is grief to me- AM
s then he threw himself impulsively OIL
y his knees by the side of Louis chair
e my prince, wear them with rever
y ence," he said, and then, hesitating, b
added: Perhaps l would seem les
b unworthy if your highness knew that
n mere secretary as l am, am yet more
n l am noble. 1t is not simple Francois
4 Beaupre whom you honor, but mai
e created chevalier by the sword of tn,
1t emperor"
is The dull eyes of the prince shot
1t glance between dropping lids. 'Wha
y is it you mean, monsieur" he de
manded. But at the moment the queer
| entered the room, and the lads spran
to their feet. Her eyes caught tn
picture of the young Frenchman in hi
new dress at once; they opened wild
and then filed with tears.
Louis, Louis!" she cried, and lai
7 her hand on his arm. He looks Xix