The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-16
CHAPTER xn-tcOntinued) .

II like people TO admire Francois"
PIetro answered sturdily. IT admire
him, too" Then, his shyness lost in
Alike. he went on. Francois always
has thing done before think OF II.
That Is not my fault believe
should not have been afraid TO do that
-but-Francois did t."
1T Is always So" said Alike In deep
disgust. Francois always does It. II
you would only prove once that you
have-courage."
And at that the stranger broke in,
Kmlling his faint smile "Mademoiselle
Alike Is severe" he said gently. mo
one can doubt the courage Of Marquis
zappL" He faced with quick move
ment to Francois, and bis look
changed. One would not have thought
That the controlled cold features could
10 show warmth. 1T have to thank you
for my life. Monsieur the peasant" ne
said, and held out his hand. Moreover
II is seldom that prophecy is so
quickly fulfilled" They gazed at him,
fascinated by a dignity in him which
seemed new.
He went on. You said a few min
utes ago that you should one day do a
thing worth while for a Bonaparte.
You have done IT. You have saved my
life"
DeWlueTeu, the cnliuren stared, re-
luctant to comprehend something which
seemed out OF possibility; Francois
hand crept to his cap and he pulled 1t
off and stood bareheaded.
Monsieur, who are your" he brought
The strange boys vanishing smile
Frightened his face q second. II am
Louis Bonaparte," he said quietly.
The little court OF three stood about
the young prince, silent. And in mo-
ment, in few sentences, he had told
them how, the day before he had been
seized with a hunger for the air Of
France, which he had not breathed
since, as a boy OF 2, his mother had
escaped with him from Paris during
the Hundred Days. He told them how
the desire to stand on 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 Thur
Yovie, in Switzerland, over the noun
tains into the Jura valley.
1T Is imprudent," he finished the tale
calmly. THE government would turn
On all its big engines in an uproar to
catch one schoolboy, IL Ii was known.
But had to do it." He threw back
his head and filled his lungs with a
great breath. The air of France" he
whispered in an ecstasy. The romantic
spirit OF this boy always flashed out as
a surprise from beneath his calm self
contained exterior Then, in his usual
quiet tones IT am fortunate" he said. II
have fallen into the hands OF friends.
Mademoiselle Alixe--the pretty name"
land he smiled his evanescent smile
els almost OF my family because of her
father; Monsieur the peasant has
proved his loyalty with his life, and''--
he turned to the tall Pietro-"a Bona
parte Is safe with Monsieur the Mar
quis Zappi"
Il am Pietro," stated the boy shyly.
The prince looked at him, narrowing
his eyes again. Then "And am
thought Why not leave out the titles
for this afternoon7 We are all young
lit Is summer--it is a 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. it Is likely. SO. shall we. not be
Alike and Pietro and Francois and
Louis, four children together for this
one day OF our friendshipY' And the
others laughed and agreed.
For two hours more they told stories
and played games through the soft old
ruins Of the savage old stronghold. as
light heartedly, as carelessly as IL there
were no wars or intrigues or politics or
plots which had been and were to be
close to the lives OF all OF them. Till,
as the red round sun went down be-
hind the mountain OF the Rose Fran
co.'s quick eye caught sight OF a figure
swinging rapidly down the mountain
road where the prince had come.
But look, Louis" he called from be-
hind the rock where he was preparing,
as robber baron, to swoop down on
Prince Louis conveying Alike as an
escaped nun TO Pietro's monastery In
another corner. Look, Louisl Some
one is coming whom do not know. is
1t q danger for your
And the boy prince, suddenly grave,
shaded his eyes with his hand and
gazed up the mountain. Then his hand
fell and he sighed THE adventure is
over" he said. II must go back TO the
prince business. 1t Is Monsieur Lebas."
Monsieur Lebas, the tutor, arrived
shortly In anything but a playful
humor. The boys mother, Queen Hor-
tense, was In Rome, and ne was re-
sponsible: he had been frightened to
the verge OF madness by the princes
escapade. It was, in fact, as serious an
escapade as one my think, or It might
have been. The movements OF the
Bonapartes were watched at that time
by the authorities or France and all
other countries as well with closeness
and a jealousy out OF proportion.
Europe having been turned upside
down lately by that name, that name
was hedged out by barriers as IL the
combination OF letters in itself was a
peril to government. Louis Napoleon
at is was twice removed from the
headship OF his house; the Duke OF
Reichstadt. son of Napoleon l. was stiil
living in Austria, and Louis own
brother, the older SON OF King Louis
and Hortense, was with his father in
Rome; so that this runaway lad was
not the heir to anything. even to the
pretensions of a dethroned and exiled
family. Yet he. was a prince OF the
Bonapartes, and the magic Of the name
and OF the legend was about him. 1t
was q danger to France to have his
footsteps on her soil, so the laws de-
creed: It would mean for him prison
and perhaps death IL he were captured
IN France. No wonder poor Monsieur
Lebas was frightened almost to ex-
tinction.
The pIaymates were separated swift
w. Monsieur Lebas refused with some
thing like horror the eager suggestion
OF the children that he and his charge
should spend the night at the chateau.
The prince must be gotten off French
ground without q moments delay;
Fritz Rickenbach, the steward OF
Arenenberg, was waiting for them with
carriage. over the mountain, to race
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