The Yale expositor., 1914-03-05

lists or the mayOr-and pulleu hl INC
sword of Marshal Ney. And the mar
shall. turning quickly, knocked me
over. cried out. and my grand
mother ran 10 me. and | have often
heard her tell how she peeped from
the door under the shoulder OF the big
sentry who would not let her pass,
and how she saw q young general
pick me up and set me on my feet'
and how all the great officers laughed
when he said that the sword was In
contest between Marshal Ney and me.
And how, then, the young general suB' |
gested that, to settle the point annie
ably, the marshal should draw his |
sword and give me the accolade-the |
blow Of knighting. And so, Mademoi- |
selle. TO shorten the tale, 1t was not
the marshal. but the Emperor himself
who chose to do II. He made me
kneel before him, l. baby-and he
struck my shoulder the blow OF the
accolade, and said the words which
have told you"
Francois sprang to his feet and
stood az he repeated once more the
Emperor's words. His voice shook
Rise Chevalier Francois Beaupre,
one day Marshal Of France under
another Bonaparte.' he cried, thrilled
through with the words which he re-
peated.
The girl leaning forward. watched
him; with a gasp she spoke. Then
that is why you are really Chevalier
Beaupre? Did the Emperor have the
right to-to knight your"
But yes. Mademoiselle," Francois
answered with decision. Il have stud
led the question, and believe that the
accolade-the knighting-was always
right OF the monarchs OF France,
disused. perhaps at times, but yet held
in allegiance, a right"
The glance of the brilliant eyes met
hers with a frank calmness when
showed that he claimed nothing which
he did not feel; that this haphazard
nobility had lived in his soul and
grown with his growth, and come TO
be part OF him. With a gentle humil'
ity. very winning as 1t sprang from
= his gentle pride, he went on.
], II know, Mademoiselle, that / am
e peasant and that | must be content
= with a small place in life at the pres
q ent. I know this. And even ina
e position which / have is more thar
:. my brothers. For you must know
8 Mademoiselle, that the others grew VI
10 be farmers or tradesmen." He hes
:. itated. and then in a few words tol'
her OF General Gourgaud, the seigneu
@ Of Vicuues. and how he had given tn
e peasant boy all the opportunitie
Il which his own son could have hac
It And as he talked he remembered how
S. after his fathers ruin, be had stoo
IT inside the bare, little, new cottage an
watched through the window hi
10 mother standing at the gate and tall
30 ing TO the seigneur, who held Lisette
n. bride. 1t seemed TO him he coul
10 see the dark braided hah of La Clair
coiled around her head, and the dee
IL point OF her white Northumberland
d. as she stood with her back to hir
- and the big bow OF the apron tic
d. about her waist The picture can
ne vividly. And it opened his heart I
that he talked on, and toll this stran
m er in strange land many uhlnes III
had lain close and silent in his hear
ng He told her about the generals CRU
at ness, which could not bide his GOO
*. ness. and how he had come to be q
,st child OF the castle as well as OF &
ia cottage: something of Pietro also
to told her; but he did not mention Alb
Tot You spoke of three children. Nc
lie, sieur. who was the Jhird?' ask
al Lucy.
Francois went on as If he had
wn heard the question. 1T was hap
life. Mademoiselle," he said. And
loi- has been so ever since-even, for
most part. in prison. have wonder
on at times il the world is all filled W
its such kind people as | have met, or
lg; it is just my good luck"
ere Lucy Hampton had been read
hey aloud to her sick black nanny q
hey day. and some OF the words Of
,es. book she had read came to her, q
seemed To fit The kingdom OF {