The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-07-03


once more the plans which had been
discussed and settled by letter for
weeks already. The work was care
fully arranged; there was almost moth
ing to be changed, and the little COM
pany OF men who were trying 80 large
fate, scattered, with grave faces,
with quiet good nights to the Prince
who might tomorrow be their EN-
peror, to the Prince for whose sake
they might tomorrow night be any or
all ruined men or dead men.
He sat erect and listened. Thelin
was brushing clothes with energy in
the bedroom, and through another door
there came a light sound of paper
turned, of gay song sung softly. And
a glow suddenly warmed the Princes
heart; here was some one who had
known his mother, who had been, in
deed, for few days her son; here
was some one who cared for him, he
believed 1t, with a half-consuming
flame of devotion. Since the mans
arrival from Virginia six weeks before,
to have him near himself had been a
seemed to bring back the freshness
of his early days, Of the young conf
dence when his star shone for him.
distant perhaps, but undimmed by the
black clouds which drove now acrcr
it. He was bit superstitious about
Francois as well, with an idea, which
he spoke to no one, that pivotal in
ofh 10 oar Cd ix, fhn
est figure.
He rose, this night in Boulogne, as
the paper rustled and the little French
provincial chanson sounded from the
room where Francois Beaupre, now
his secretary, had been installed, and
stepped to the closed door.
DE tous cote's Pon que je suis
bette"
Francois sang softly. The Prince
smiled. AS he opened the door the
singing stopped; the young man
sprang respectfully to his feet, let
ter grasped in his hand, and stood
waiting.
"Sirei" he said.
Prince Louis flung out his hand with
his controlled manner, yet not out of
drawing to those who knew him well.
"Ah, Francois" he cried. Let the
titles go for tonight. Say, Louis, as
on that day when we first saw each
other; when the four children played
together in the old chateau ruins And
Francois smiled his radiant exquisite
smile and answered quietly. But yes,
my brother-Louis. And went on, 81
believe | shall not sleep tonight, Louis,
! believe am too happy to sleep"
AS one reads a novel for relaxation
in the strain of a critical business af.
fair, Prince Louis caught at the dis
traction of this side issue. The next
morning was planned to the last de-
tail; there was nothing to do till day
light, yet he could not sleep at pres
ent. Here was romance of some
sort. He sank back on the cushions
of the coach of Lieutenant AladeniZes
smoking room and put his feet up lux
uriously, and slowly lighted a cigar
of Havana.
Tell me-" he ordered, and the gen.
tleness of appeal was in the order.
"Sire"-the young man began-and
corrected himself. Louis" he said.
The Prince smiled dimly. "Since our
landing | have known that wonder
| full thing has happened to me. 1t is
he spoke lower-"it is the love OF the
woman who is to me the only one in
the world"
Il congratulate you. mon ami" Louis
said gently. rs it by any chance the
delightful little Mademoiselie Alike OF
the old chateau?"
Beaupre turned scarlet. He was a
marvellous man, this Prince Louis
How had he guessed? "She loves me
Il have here letter in which she
tells me that she loves me. Will his
| Highness read it?" With an impetu
Gus step forward he held the paper
| toward Louis Napoleon
4 Il thank you,'' the Prince said grave
| ly. He read:
Francois, what you have wished all
your life is true. The good fairies
have granted one of your wishes be-
fore the battle. That they will give
you the other two on the day of the
battle is the belief of your
| ALIKE"
And below was written hurrieily,
tPietro sends his love-"
The Prince gave back the letter with
respectful hand; then looked at
Francois inquiringly. What you
have wished all your life.' mon amir"
Francois laughed happily. "One must
explain, If 1t will not tire his High.
ness" And he told, in few words,
of that day when his self-restraint had
given way and how, when his guard
was down and he was on the point OF
telling his lifelong secret love, some
spirit of peryersity-but Francois did
not know it was an angel-had caught
Alike, and she had accused him OF
wishing always that she might love
Ptetro. And how. meshed in that same
net of hurt recklessness, he had an
swered in her own manner-"Yes." he
/ bod sal