The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-02-21

to their feet. Her eyes caught the
picture of the young Frenchman in his
new dress at once; they opened wide
and then filled with tears.
Louis, Louis!" she cried, and laid
her hand on his arm. He looks like
him; he looks like Napoleoni"
A deferential knock sounded at the
door. Francois sprang to it, and the
landlord stood in the opening, bowling
elaborately-a soldiery old man with
thick grizzled hair.
"A thousand pardons for disturbing
miladi and the messieurs," and miladi
smiled forgiveness. might an old
soldier of the emperor dare to say that
one could not help knowing the EN-.
peror's kinsmen?" He bowed low
again to both boys alike, and again
Hortense smiled at him. II was com.
forting to know that the two seemed
brothers to the world in general, and
she was so used to recognition and
loyalty now that they appeared to be-
long together. Might an old soldier
of the emperor dare to show miladi-
her majesty--and the highnesses, the
sword which the emperor himself had
touched, the sword which he, Jean
Gredin, an old cuirassier of the guard,
had carried in four battles? There
was little story OF the sword, a story
also of the wonderful goodness of the
emperor. which miladi-her majesty
permitting, he would like to tell to her,
as also to the highnesses."
And, her majesty permitting, and
the boys pleased and interested. the
old cavalryman brought the sword and
drew it from its sheath and gave 1t to
each of them. to handle, and called on
them to remark how 1t was as keen
and bright as it had ever been at Ulm
or AusterlitZ. He cleared his throat,
strongly, for the tale.
"Miladi-her Neutrality-suspicious."
he began, ut was on day two days
after the great battle of Austerlitz
The country, as her majesty and the
highnesses will remember, was in a
most dangerous condition. Desperate
bands" Why was it the landlord
stopped?
The party, caught by the fervor of
his manner, stared at him, annoyed as
the tale of the emperor. promising so
we'll, halted at its beginning. The
man stood as If drawn to his tiptoes.
every muscle tense, his head turned
toward the doorway, listening.
And suddenly they were aware OF a
stir, a growing noise; there were gal
Looping horses; there was a Jingle of
harness, and voices coming nearer
With a step backward the landlord
flashed a glance from under bushy
brows down the corridor, through the
open door at the end. which gave. on
the court of the inn.
Mon dieu!" He faced the three,
standing startled He spoke fast and
low. Madame, it is a squad of Aus
trian soldiers; they are upon us. What
can we do?" He hesitated only a sec
ond. "Bleu-bleu-my horse-saddled
under the tree yonder-if one of the
prlnces-if the prince" He glanced
uncertainty from 7ne lad to the other,
But the game was out of his hands.
Quicker hands than his had caught the
play. Francois Beaupre, the saber of
the old cavalryman cleaning in his
grasp, sprang to the doorway.
1T is monsieur there who is the
prince" he explained rapidly to the
landlord. Hide him, take care of him
Il will draw them away. When they
are gone, see that the prince and the
queen escape. That is for you; you
are responsible"
There was the rush of a flying figure
down the hallway, and out Francois
flashed across a broken line of dozen
dlsmounted riders, straight toward the
landlords horse held by groom I'M
der the trees. There was shock OF
startled silence as the impetuous APP
paritiSp, saber cleaning at wrist. shot
acrossvthe court Then thN-A vas a
hubbub OF voices, ard nj uni
formed figures fell toward Ne'
\ N