The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-01-31

of three officers to go with him to St
Helena. The chateau and estate OF
Vicques had been given to him by the
emperor after that brave and lucky
moment at Moscow when, the first
man to enter the Kremlin. he had
snatched the match from a mass OF
gunpowder which would a moment
later have blown up both officers and
emperor.
Ten years before he had married
| four years after that his wife had died
and the daughter she left was now a
girl OF seven, a fairy type Of girl.
"You are perfect in every way but
one, Alike" he said, as he swung heT
| high to kiss her. You are"
Il know" the little girl interrupted
comradellke. 81 know the fault | have
! am not a boy. But | do not wish to
be a boy. father. | would then grow
to be a great fierce person with a mus
tache-like you. Imagine me, father
with mustache," and the two laughed
| together.
Father, father!" Alike dashed into
| the library.
There Is a queer, little, village boy
but a good boy, father. He has
brought you a bunch of lettuce-such
white fat lettuce! VIII you see him
He is a very good boy"
Alike, you are impayable," the gen
eral groaned. 81 am your plaything!
Yes. send for all the village-that will
help me with my writing"
Alike, ignoring sarcasm, had flown
In a minute she was back and led by
the hand Francois.
"Ah!" the general greeted him stern
". my friend, the marshal! You
have already begun the attack on my
chateau, it seems?"
no, my seigneur," the boy an
swered gravely. mot yet. bring you
some salade as a present. 1t is from
my mothers garden. chose the best.
81 thank YOU" said the general with
seriousness. Il am not sure II your
mother will thank you equally. It is
a good present"
Francois was gratified. lie Claire
had this morning sent him to the gar
dens with a wide margin OF time, anC
the inspiration had come as he looked
down the cleaning row Of white let
Ituce that he would take tribute anC
make the visit which the seigneur haC
asked him to make
General Gourgaud brought down his
fist on a table so that it ratified anC
Francois started-but not Alike.
Sabre de bois!" he threw at the
two children. You have ruined my
morning between you. | meant to fin
ish those cursed chapters this morn
ing. But let them wait Having the
honor to receive a visit from an Officer
of high rank, the least l can do is t.
entertain him. What amusement d.
you prefer. M'sieur the Marshal?
am at your service"
It was natural to Francois 70 believe
every one kindly; he accepted witt
simplicity, if with slight surprise. thu
generals speech.
THE seigneur has fought battles un
der the great emperor himself?" tho
boy asked in an awed tone.
Eyes" came the abrupt answer.
Think" whispered the French boy
ITO have fought under the emperor!
And the old soldiers heart thrilled
suddenly. The child vent on. IF thu
seigneur would tell me a story of ont
tght-of just one!"
"Ratisbon, Ratisbon!" clamore'
Alike. and she scrambled over the arm
of. his chair to her fathers knee AM
her hand went around his neck. Tel
about Ratisbon and the ditch and tn
ladders, father"
HALT" ordered the general. Il haV
not a week to talk. But | will tel
about Ratisbon II you wish"
The deep voice stopped, then wen
on again. The Austrians held Rats
bon aud the bridge across the Danub
river The emperor wished to TAX