The Dolores star., 1914-09-11
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Voso0 uoekeo eartily out Into the gAr.
den. on . sunshiny morning Of 1880
from tAs great estry OF IN old farn-
house b the valley under the Jura
m0untaiNs. The grandmothsr, sitting
white,cabpsd In the center Of the hub
bsh. heard one more willingly than the
othess, for not only was Francois her
BEST loved, but also the story he asked
for vas the story she liked to tell.
smiling. the grandmother bagAn:
You must know. my children, that II
was on . day In tho month OF May. In
the year 1914 that he came. You.
Lucie, and you. Pierre. and Marie
were not born. only Francois and
Tomas. Francois IVES the oldsr-not
quite three ysArs old. The mother had
gone to care for yosr Aunt Lucie. who
was III, and kept the house TOR your
father. II was the year Of the great
conscription, when the emperor took
all the men to fight. not only the
strong ones. but the boys. and the old
and innrm. II they might but drag
themselves ct the tall of . regiment
30 the few men who were not under
the nag were sorely needed By their
families. for It was necessary. II the
women and children wers not to
stArve. that some should stay to work
n the fields. Your father was Of the
few who bad escaped in our village Of
vicQues.
Ono norning . man appeared In
he village snd said that Napoleon
would pass tAis way within . few
houn. r.......
-Outsids heard the nsighbors call.
ting IL sane two wosds-'Nap0leon
cooss'-ons called II to another. II
the trumpet Of the angel sounded he
ed Of tAs Void. they could not have
haA moro tear. Then your father
kissed Ne. AZ kaeeled and held voc.
Francois. and Tomas. IN his arms. and
] aav tsars. but he was bravs-but
yss- Courage. little mothsr.' he said.
for ne and for the babies. Courage
And 1t that your father. Who vas
ny little lad once, you know. my dsars.
hsd oons. and stood with IN ache
vAsrs ny heart should have bssn. and
for . moment vas stupid and could
not think.
As ! stood 20. like . blow there wss
Q rush Of sallopins horses in . shower
Of Doiss down the street. end ny
hse stopped. for the horses drew %
at house. So that I was sttll In
ID Made Of he door when the Aoor
eDsAs1.
1T opened, that door there. and
against the light saw men crowdins
n TIE entry. They wore uniforms Of
bright eolon. and swords hung at their
sidss. anA on their heads wsre haAs
with trimmings Of gold. Then I cav
--Napolsoa. With . step toward ne
he spoke In kind voice. half smiling.
Madame. he said. will you let %
You shall not b disturbed In
youf work ..
Il mads my courtesy to thsss great
sentlemea - had been taught, and
found myself saying quite easily to his
majesty tho emperor. - easily - II
talked to Monsieur 10 Cure. to whom
] vas accustomed. that he was vel.
come; that I would serve him gladly
II he wished 70 command, mo. And
then ! left them. vent into the
kiteAen and began to get dinner. bat
vas % dased that could mot seem
to mako the soup ~ usual. When,
suddenly. heard child cry, and with
no thought then but Of my babies. !
Aev 70 the door OF the great room and
stood looking. for could not pass the
sentinel.
"a vnnu~ tAa nA~>e, o. SA>l, ,,~t
forms thers lsy on the floor little Fran.
coils In his night-dress. and al the Of.
feers hooked q him and laughed. The
chile. slsseing In the farther room.
had walked at the voices and had
climbed down from his crib and tod
died cot 70 80. The glitter Of the uni
forms must have pleased him. and %
they all bsnt over the papers on the
tabls - had pulled q the sword Of
one whom ! aftsrvard knew 70 b The
great MassAal Ney. He wore Q DARK
cost Ill hsavy with gold lacs. my chill
drsa. and vAits pAntaloons and high
shining black boots. an1 across his
breast . scarlet ribbon. He sat next
the empsroe. The marshal. turning
sharply ct he tug. knocked the little
oss over. II vas then Francois cried
out
-Napolsoa hinssle Who spoke a !
pssfsd under the ssotiasl's aru. He
shook bis aassr u his oalcsr.
'1lsshai, AanAai.' be cried, are
700 - ~ suiek . overthrow .
yoaAg . soldier. - fuii Of love for
,srmsr