The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-21
CHAPTER !.
The Prophecy.

I1dlI QOACA n16Il, IllIA6 HI6lfCQ
Foices }ated shrilly out into the gar
Ren, "a a sunshiny morning of 1920
rom the great entry of an old farm
house in the valley under the Jura
nountains. The grandmother, sitting
Ehite-capped in the center of the hub
bub, heard one more willingly than the
pthers, for not only was Francois her
best loved, but also the story he asked
Or was the story she liked to tell.
Smiling, the grandmother began:
You must know, my children, that it
was on day in the month of May, in
he year 1913, that he came. You,
Lucie, and you, Pierre, and Marie
we're not born, only Francois and
Tomas. Francois was the older--not
butte three years old. The mother had
zone to care for your Aunt Lucie, who
was Ill, and kept the house for your
ather. 1t was the year of the great
transcription, when the emperor took
all the men to fight, not only the
strong ones, but the boys, and the old
md infrm, if they might but drag
themselves at the tail of regiment.
30 the few men who we're not under
Ehe flag were sorely needed by their
antilles, for it was necessary, If the
women and children were not to
starve, that some should stay to work
In the fields. Your father was of the
few who had escaped in our village of
Vicques.
'One- morning man appeared in
the village and said that Napoleon
would pass this way within a few
hours.
Outside heard the neighbors call
ing the same two words-'Napoleon
comes'-one called it to another. If
the trumpet of the angel sounded the
end of the world, they could not have
had more fear. Then your father
kissed me, and kneeled and held you,
Francois, and Tomas, in his arms, and
/ saw tears, but he was brave-but
yes. Courage, little mother he said,
for me and for the babies. Courage.
"And at that your father, who was
my little lad once, you know, my dears,
had gone, and I stood with an ache
where my heart should have been, and
for moment was stupid and could
not think.
AS i SIOOO 81, line d DIOW Iu6T0 WdS
rush of galloping horses in a shower
of noise down the street, and my
heart stopped, for the horses drew up
at this house. So that I was still in
the middle of the floor when the door
opened.
at opened, that door there, and
9 against the light saw men crowding
in the entry. They wore uniforms Of
bright colors, and swords hung at their
sides, and on their heads we're hats
with trimmings of gold. Then saw
Napoleon. With step toward me
81 spoke in kind voice, half smiling.
g Madame he said, will you let Us
NSsa this room and this table for an
hour? You shall not be disturbed In
your work
81 made my courtesy to these great
gentlemen as had been taught, and
found myself saying quite easily to his
majesty the emperor, as easily as If
talked to Monsieur lie Cure, to whom
/ was accustomed, that he was wei
come.y that l would serve him gladly
if he wished to command me. Ant
then I left them. I went into the
h4ISAOA SsAO OCScA ~ SOI Q1AAC1, OO
was so dazed that could not seen
to make the soup as usual. When
suddenly, heard child cry, and will
no thought then but of my babies,
flew to the door of the great room an(
stood looking, for could not pass the
sentinel.
Among the officers in their uni
forms there lay on the floor little Fran
co.'s in his night-dress, and all the OF
ficers looked at him and laughed. Thu
child, sleeping in the farther room
had walked at the voices and hat
climbed down from his crib and tod
died out to see. The glitter of the uni
forms must have pleased him, and a
they all bent over the papers on tn
table he had pulled at the sword o
one whom afterward knew to be tn
great Marshal Ney. He wore a darl
coat all heavy with gold lace, my Chi
dren, and white pantaloons and higl
shining black boots, and across hi
breast a scarlet ribbon He sat mex
the emperor The marshal, turnin
sharply at the tug, knocked the littl
one over. 1t was then Francois erie
out
Napoleon himself who spoke as
peered under thu sentinePs arm. II
shook his finger at his officer.
Marshal, Marshal he cried, ar
you not too quick to overthrow s
young a soldier, so full of love fo
arms?'
"The emperor seemed to joke, &c
he laughed little. yet there was
sound in his voice as if some part wa
serious He turned sharply to til
mayor. What Is the child's name?'
''The mayor was our friend an
II knew the babies. Francois Beaupr,
sire,' he answered trembiingly.
THE emperor gave short not
Make him kneel,' he said. Marsha
your sword
at was still for moment, and a
the officers stood up silent, and the
the emperor took the marshal's swor
and struck the baby's shoulder Hgf
blow with the fat of it.
Rise Chevalier Francois Beaupre
be said clearly, and In the pause
added, with a look in his eyes as
one gazed forward Some day, pc
haps, a marshal of France under
other Bonaparte.'"
CHAPTER u.
The Stranger.
IN on aftarnoon in July In the We