The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-02-14

| or the others followed hers. A young
man, a boy. was coming lightly down
the slope, and something In his figure
and movement made it impossible
even at a distance that It should be
any one of the village. He saw them.
and came forward, and his cap was
off quickly as he glanced at Alike.
But with keen look at the three, 1t
was Francois to whom he spoke.
rs this France?" he asked.
But yes, Monsieur" Francois an
swered wondering-and in a moment
he wondered more. The strange boy,
his cap flung from him, dropped on
his knees and kissed the grass that
grew over the Roman governors foun-
dations. With that he was standing
again, looking at them unashamed
from his quiet gray eyes.
1T is the first time have touched
the soil OF France since / was seven
years old" he stated, not as If to
excuse his act, but as If explaining
something historical. And was silent
The strange boy talked very little;
they could not recollect that he asked
questions, after his first startling
question; yet here was Alike, the very
spirited and proud little Alike, anxious
to make him understand everything of
their own affairs.
81 am Alike" she began - and
stopped short, seized with shyness.
Was it courtesy to explain to the
young monsieur about her distin-
guished father? She found herself
suddenly in an agony of confusion.
Then the stranger made a low bow
and spoke in the gentlest friendly
tones.
1T is enough. 1t is a charming
name, Mademoiselle Alike. | believe
shall now think it the most charm
ing name in France"
"She has more of a name than that,
however, Monsieur" and Francois
stepped across the grass and stood by
the little girl her knight, unconscious
of the part he played. ut is a very
grand name the other one. For our
seigneur, the father of Alike, is Mon.
sieur the Baron Gaspard Gourgaud, a
general of Napoleon himself; was in
deed with the Emperor at ST. Helena"
Francois had no false modesty, no
self-consciousness; he felt that he had
placed AliXes standing now in the
best light possible. The strange, boy
felt it, too, it seemed, for he started
as Francois spoke of Napoleon; his
reserved face frightened and his cap
was off and sweeping low as he bowed
again to Alike more deeply. Francois
was delighted. 1t was in him to en-
Joy dramatic effect, as It is in most
Frenchmen. He faced about to Pietro.
This one, Monsieur" he went on,
much taken with himself as master of
ceremonies, lis Monsieur the Marquis
Zappi of Italy. His father also fought
for the great captain"
The quiet strange boy interrupted
swiftly. 81 know" he said. "Of the
Italian corps under Prince Eugene;
also on the staff of Lannes. know
the name WE'LL" and he had Pietro's
hand in a firm grasp and was looking
into the lads embarrassed face with
his dreamy keen eyes.
The children, surprised, were yet
too young to wonder that boy scarce.
ly older than themselves should have
the army of Napoleon at his fingers
ends; he gave them no time to think
about it,
"One sees, without names, that you
are Of the noblesse," he said simply,
embracing the three in his sleepy
glance. He turned to Francois. "And
you, Monsieur the spokesman? You
are also of great Bonapartist house?"
Francois stood straight and slim;
his well-knit young body in his mill.
tary dress was carried with all the
assurance of an aristocrat He smiled
his brilliant exquisite smile into the
older boys face.
mel am a peasant" he said cheer.
fully. 81 have no louse."
"He is peasant-yes. But he is
our brother, Pietro's and mine, and no