Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-26

the tals OF the ghost and the fire
hreathtns ho9nd cilt The ak should
SWING round. us II die ever toward the
end. ~ the stories OF NAPOLEON tina,
We're fresh in mems minds III those
Gays Ii Was as If / SAT on needles be-
fore my bedtime same. Yet did not
dare To be restless ana move about for
fear that my mother might send me
suddenly 10 bed Eut l always gave a
sigh OF content and always the srand-
mere patted my head softly 70 lear It.
when my father cleared his throat and
began
There is q small thing that hap
pened when the emperor was march
ing'--and then he was launched on his
tale"
A great hickory log fell. rolled out
frown in deep disapproval at this ir-
regularity. and the girl in the deep
chair smiled. but. the man sprang up
and put the log back in place with
quick efficiency. He stood silent by
the tall mantelpiece, deep yet in his
reverie. as the flames caught the wood
again and spanked and sputtered.
Did any of them ever see Napoleon
those men who talked about him 90
the girl asked.
The Frenehman turned a queer look
on her. and did not answer.
Did any of our family aver see
nm H. monsieur" she asked again.
sat down again on the.gilded chair ana
leaned forward consideringly. Fran
co.'s nodded as if to the fire. But yes,
mademoiselle." he said, in a whisper.
On tell me!' the girl cried, all in
terest Who was it? How was 1t?
1T couldn't be"-she hesitated-"your-
self! If you. whom / know so we'll.
should nave seen the emperor!" She
caught a deep breath of excitement.
Ihls was another Lucy Hampton from
the serious young mistress of Roam
oke House whom the country people
k is : Quickly Monsieur. tell me
Francois turned his eyes on her. Eyes.
Mademoiselle," he answered.
A log slipped and slid M the sparks
caught a new surface and flew aloft
IN a cracking uproar: the elfish light
5 howered brilliancy on the girls fail
hair as she bent Forward with her white
teeth cleaning. her blue eyes shining,
stirred with the dramatic air of the
frenchman. With a catch of her
breath
You have seen N%apoleon." she said,
and then, i~mpetuously. "Tell me about
~ But. though he smiled at her with
seemed. of all sentiments, oftenest to
inspire in him, he did not answer.
Monsieur! you will not refuse to
tell me when l want to know so much!"
she pleaded. n went on. "How old
We're you? Did he speak to you? What
did he say to your"
And the Frenchman laughed as If at
a dear child who was absurd. Mad
emoiselle asks many questions-which
shall I answer?" he demanded. and
the tone to her ear was the tone of
v and she trembled to hear 1t.
Answer'-she began. and stammer-
ed and flushed. mo stopped.
Francois went IN. little thinking what
damage he was doing with that un-
conscious charm of voice and look.
1T is as M~ademoiselle wishes, most
certainly. l will even answer Mad
emoiselle's two questions at once to
please her. 1t was when 1 was not
quite three years old. Mademoiselle. at
nome In the farm house in the valley
of the Jura."
and he spoke to you. to your own
self? Are you sure?"
But yes. he spoke to me, Mad
emoiselle."
What did he say?" The smile on
Francois face went out and into its
answered solemnly: There were but
few words. Mademoiselle. but they have
been much to my life. They shall lead
my life. II God pleases. those words
shall lead 1t to the fate which they
foretold."
What were the words?" whispered
the girl. impressed with awe.
Francois suddenly stood erect and
stretched Y his arm as IL to hold a
sword. Rise Chevalier Francois
one day a Marshal Of France
under another Napoleon" he REPEATED
dramatically. Those were the words