Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-03-26

very little," he said simply "A large
fire of logs makes me think OF that"
Tell me about it," she begged with
quick interest. "Will you? Was there
always fire at your house?"
But no, Mademoiselle-not, OF
course. in the summer. 1t was of the
winter time | thought, when the neigh.
bors came, in the evening, and we sat
about the hearth, sometimes twenty
people, each at his different duty, and
my brothers and sisters were there,
and the dear grandmere, was there
and" he stopped. Does Mademoi.
selle really wish to hear how it was
in that old farmhouse of ours, in the
shadow OF the Jura Mountains"
Indeed, Mademoiselle wishes it,
she assured him.s 1T win be a trip
to Europe, am sure | shall speak
better French for going to France for
ten minutes, and being among the
French people, your friends. Wait
now, till | am comfortable" She
turned deep chair so that 1t faced
him, and dropped into it. Put foot
stool for me-" she ordered, as south
ern women order the men they care
for--and the men they do not. And
she settled back with her little feet
on it and smiled at him. For mo-
ment the mans brilliant gaze rested
on her and the girl saw it, and thrilled
to 1t. Nov, Monsieur. racontez-moi
une historic" she spoke softly
Francois Beaupres look turned from
her to the FIRE. and the air of gazing
at something far away came again.
1T Is picture | see as | think OF
that time of my childhood" he began,
as IL speaking to himself, "A picture
many times painted in homelike col
ors on my brain. Many night in the
winter have sat, a little boy. by the
side of my grandmother, at that great
hearth, and have looked and have seen
all the faces, have heard all the voices
and the fire cracking. and the spin.
ning-wheel whirring, even as sec
them and hear them tonight.
And from time to time one of the
men, as he talked. rose up and strobe
across the room to the great oak table
where lay always on wooden plate
long loaf of black bread, with a
knife, and always glass and bottle
OF eau-de-vie--brandy. And ! remem.
Der how manly 1t looked to me. watch
ing, when l saw him take the loaf
under his arm and hold it, and slice
off boldly a great piece of the fresh
rye bread, and pour out glass OF
brandy and toss 1t off as he ate the
bread. The stories seemed to grow
better after the teller had done that.
And always waited, even through
the tale of the ghost and the fire.
breathing hound, till the talk should
swing round. as it did ever toward
the end, to the stories OF Napoleon
that were fresh in mems minds In
those days. 1t was as II ! sat on
needles before my bedtime came, yet
/ did not dare to be restless and move
about for fear that my mother might
send me suddenly to bed. But l always
gave a sigh of content and always the
grand-mere patted my head softly to
hear 1t, when, my father cleared his
throat and began"
There is 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
toward the hearth. The carved nymphs
and shepherds seemed to frown in
die a nproyol- Of thio irrao,,Io rs4x, 80
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 mantel.
piece. deep yet in his reverie, as the
flames caught the wood again and
sparkled and spluttered
did any of them ever see Napo-
leon--those men who talked about
him?" the girl asked.