The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-06-12

lists Of the mayor-and pulled at the
sword of Marshal Ney. And the mar
shall, turning quickly. knocked me
over. / cried out. and my grand
mother ran to me. and / have often
heard her tell how she peeped from
the door under the.sboulder OF the big
sentry who would not let her pass,
and how she cav a young general
pick me up and set me on my feet,
| and how all the great officers laughed
| when he said that the sword was In
contest between Marshal Ney and me.
And how, then. the young general sug-
gested that, to settle the point amic-
ably. the marshal should draw his
sword and give me the accolade-the
blow OF knighting And SO, Mademoi-
selle, to shorten the tale. 1t was not
the marshal, but the Emperor himself
who chose to do 1t. He made me
kneel before him, T. baby--and he
struck my shoulder the blow of the
accolade, and said the words which
have told you"
| Francois sprang to his feet and
stood as he repeated once more the
Emperor's words. His voice shook.
Rise Chevalier Francois Beaupre.
one day Marshal of France under
another Bonaparte," he cried. thrilled
through with the words which he re-
peated.
! The girl leaning forward, watched
him; with gasp she spoke. Then
that is why you are really Chevalier
Beaupre? Did the Emperor have the
right toto knight your"
But yes, Mademoiselle," Francois
answered with decision Il have stud
led the question, and believe that the
accoIade-the knighting- always
a right Of the monarchs of France,
disused. perhaps at times. but yet held
| in allegiance, a right"
/ The glance of the brilliant eyes met
hers with frank calmness which
showed that he claimed nothing which
he did not feel; that this haphazard
nobility had lived in his soul and
grown with his growth, and come to
be part of him. With gentle humil-
ity, very winning as 1t sprang from
his gentle pride, he went on.
Il know, Mademoiselle, that am
! peasant and that | must be content
with small place in life at the pres
emit l know this. And even that
position which | have is more than
my brothers. For you must know,
Mademoiselle, that the others grew up
to be farmers or tradesmen" He hes
itated, and then in few words told
her of General Gourgaud, the seigneur
of Vicques, and how he had given the
peasant boy all the opportunities
which his own son could have had
And as he talked he remembered how,
after his fathers ruin, he had stood
inside the bare, little, new cottage and
watched through the window his
mother standing at the gate and talk
ing to the seigneur, who held Lisettes
bride. 1t seemed to him he could
see the dark braided hair of La Claire,
coiled around her head, and the deep
point of her white neck-handkerchief
as she stood with her back to him,
and the big bow of the apron tied
about her waist. The picture came
'AFA0iys Anu II OPChCu LIS ACdIl 81
that he talked on, and told this strang-
er in a strange land many things that
had lain close and silent in his heart.
He told her about the generals gruff-
ness, which could not hide his good
ness and how he had come to be the
child of the castle as well as of the
cottage; something of Pietro also he
told her; but he did not mention Alike,
you spoke of three children, Mon
sieur; who was the third?" asked
Lucy.
Francois went on as if he had not
heard the question. 1T was a happy
life, Mademoiselle.' he said And it
has been so ever since-even, for the
most part. in prison. have wondered
at times If the world is all filled with
such kind people as have met. or if
1t is just my good luck"
Lucy Hampton had been reading
aloud to her sick black nanny that
day. and some Of the words of the
book she had read came to her, and
seemed to fit THE kingdom of God