The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-08-20
Francois stopped the bold

And the messieurs are my good friends
they will treat me with honor; they vii
be better to me than I deserve. / know
that we'll" There were SO few people
in the world who did not, to Francois
seem his good friends. But, my Henry
l will not be the captain. I have
thought of that. If you have not. Look
here"
He swung to the desk and slipped gu
a drawer, and had a long folded paper
fore Harry's eyes 1t was a formal
notice to Mr.. Henry Hampton, jr., that
the Jefferson troop of Virginia had
elected him as its captain.
Harry flushed violently and his
mouth quivered with pleasure, with
nervousness, with unhappiness. The
other watched him eagerly. Al this af-
lalr or the troop he had done to give
pleasure to Harry Hampton, his friend.
1t was the only way in which the lame
boy could be on equal terms with the
other boys, n Francois had determ-
ined from the first tina every JOY
which could be cleaned out Of 1t he
should have. To be the captain ought
to be a joy.
IT" Harry cried and her was silent
and then spoke sorrowfully. But
it can not bel"
Can not be?' demanded Francois.
why not?"
There was a moments silence and
with a painful effort the words came.
"My-misfortune. I am lame"
And Francois cried out. "Henry-all
that is n%onsense! What of it? 1t is
a thing you do as we'll as the best
riding. Who has such a seat, such
hands as you? Why not then, I de-
mand"' And went on. TT Is settled.
l have talked to them all-see the sig
natures. You are the captain, my
Henry-and / am your right hand and
your left hand-yes and your feet, too,
whenever o need me-"
But" said Harry, dazed, at is real
ly your place; don't you want to be
captain?" he shot at the other boyishly.
And with that Francois arm was
about his shoulder again as the w
stood together, and Francois was
should like it. That is a secret" His
face was brilliant with laughter. you
only may know, my Henry, that T am
Valn-ah, very vain," he repeated sad
". Never tell it. I love titles and
honors and Importance. I like to be
called observation-disclosures indeed that is
my right" he added with a quick touch
OF dignity. And I should like very
much to be captain Of this company Of
fine young men, the f1owers-does n
say?-of the south. But 1t Is not best"
He held up his forefinger and looked
enormously worldly wise. mo. You
would not mind; the young messieurs
would not mind, perhaps-but the
fathers-ah, the fathers!" He threw
with eyes Of horror. Then with a start
and q hand flung out, And the mo-
Tiers! Mon Dieu! But the mothers,
Henry! They would make-what Won
call it-a hell of a time, is it not?"
Harry roared with Joy at the terrified
whisper. But I have neither father
nor mother" he suggested.
deep satisfaction in his one, that
makes you so suitable"
~"suitable?' inquired Henry.
But yes, my friend. 1t kills 1eal-
ousy. ALI is grist. n says tina comes
at your mill. All is fathers, all is mo-
theirs to the poor orphan-and besides
that. there is monsieur the colonel. One
sees that the uncle Of the captain will
be contented. And whom should I wish
to content but my first host, my first
benefactor in this land? I believe, in
deed, he would be displeased if I should
take the place. I believe he Is not sat
isfied Of my birth. "
And beneath the nonsense of Fran
co.'s, Henry could but acknowledge the
clear sighted logic. So it happened that
Henry Hampton became captain of the
Jefferson Troop, to the entire salts
faction of all concerned.
Yet Colonel Hampton, who had
the uncomfortable cling Of a
possibility which had offended him. He
did not like to cross swords again with
Harry on the subject, having found
young PERSONS blade heavy; so
he went to his daughter. That tiny
executive person with a basket of big
which, to a southern housekeeper,
is more than a badge. came out on the
shady gallery where the colonel sat in
immaculate linen. for the day was like
august and slipped a mint julep made
the tender leaves Of a second growth
the mint bed. made Of sugar ground
with mint. of ice powdered fine in a
napkin, OF Bourbon whisky poured in
the top of all. The frost on the sill
yer u stood like Q snow drift; the
mint spears lifted in stiff ranks
above; it was a beautiful julep; one
would have thought the colonel could
not'be querulous with such a boquet in
his hand. But the colonel was allow
ing himself to be irritated.
Young Allen Fitzhugh has Just been
mere. he began. and his daughter knew
the tone that something was
Yes. / saw him. He and Harry have
ridden to Carnifax."
Those lads ak great nonsense
srowled the colonel.
Yes" Lucy agreed. II like to hear
Il don't" With that the colonel
brought his fist down on his chair arm,
md joggled the beautiful julep and
spilled some Of 1t on his white linen
trousers. Lucy laughed. The coloneps
temper was not improved.
"Perntcious nonsense they talk.
About this absurd young chevalier, as
call him-though where he got his
title 1 can not guess"
What about the chevalier?" Lucy's
blue eyes were serious.
on. about his virtues and his
charms" the colonel grumbled vaguely.
And about his ~undoubted right to have
been captain Of the troop, and his fine
spirit In refusing. A pest! AS If, he
Jared accept! AS IL we Virginians
would see a COMMON peasant set over
our children"
There was a complete silence on the
broad. shady gallery for a moment. The
breeze rustled in the liye-oak trees and
on beyond as If l~ight-footed ladies
N silk ~petticoats had slipped past. Out
at the cabins one heard W negro
singing in rich voices:
Nellie was a lady
Last night she died"
The women sam far away. Bees
hummed ! the garden. The colonel