Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-08-20
but Francois stopped the bold

And the messieurs are my good friends;
they will treat me with honor; they will.
be better to me than / deserve. I know
that WELL" There We're so few people
seem his good friends. But, my Henry
I will not be the captain. I have
thought Of that, II you have not. Look
here"
He swung to the desk and slipped ou
a drawer, and had a long folded paper
In his hands. He tapped 1t open be-
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. ALL this af-
fair OF the troop he had done to give
pleasure to Harry Hampton, his friend.
II was the only way in which the lame
boy could be on equal terms with the
ined from the first that every JOY
which could be CLEANED out of it he
should have. To be the captain ought
to be a joy.
II" Harry cried and then was silent
and then spoke sorrowfulIy. But
1t 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 nonsense! What of it? 1t is
a thing you do as well as the best
riding. Who has such a seat, such
hands as you? Why not then, I de-
l have talked to them all-see the sig
natures. You are the captain, my
Henry-and I am your right hand and
your left hand-yes and your feet, too,
whenever you need me-"
But" said Harry. dazed, at is real
~ 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 two
laughing. But yes" he said. Il
should like it. That is a secret" His
face was brilliant with laughter. You
only may know. my Henry, that I am
vain-ah. very vain" he repeated sad
~. Never tell it. I love titles and
honors and Importance. I like to be
called Chevalier-though indeed hat is
of dignity. And 1 should like very
much to be captain of this company Of
fine young men, the flowers-does one
say?-of the south. But it is not hest"
He held up his forefinger and looked
enormously worldly wise. mo. You
would not mind; the young messieurs
m s}parsn not mind 1hn p%erhapsnbut the
back his head and gazed at the ceiling
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 YOU
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.
"Ah, Henry" argued Francois with
deep satisfaction in his tone, chat
makes o SO suitable"
"~Suitable?" inquired Henry.
But YES, my friend. 1t kills jeal-
ousy. All is grist, n says, that 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 c~ontented. And whom should I wish
to content but my first host, my first
benefactor in this land? I believe, in
deed, he would De 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 thai
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
could not resist barking back to the
possibility which had offended him. He
did not like to cross swords again with
Harry on the subject, having found
that young persons blade heavy; SO
Went to his daughter. That tiny
executive person with a basket Of big
keys. which. to a southern -housekeeper,
Is more tina 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
h 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 a sno drift; the
fresh 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
here" he began. and his daughter knew
the tone that something was
Yes. I saw him. He and Harry have
to Carnifax."
"Those lads talk great nonsense,
growled the colonel.
Yes" Lucy agreed. Il like to hear
81 don't. With that the colonel
brought his fist down on his chair arm,
and joggled the beautiful julep and
spilled some Of 1t on his white linen
trousers. Lucy laughed. The coloneIs
was not improved.
"Pernictous nonsense they talk.
About this absurd young chevalier, as
they call him-though where he got his
title l can not guess"
What about the chevalier?" Lucy's
I eye were serious.
oh, about his virtues and his
the colonel grumbled vaguely.
And about his %undoubted right to have
captain Of the troop. and his fine
spirit In refusing. A pest! As If he
dared 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 q moment. The
breeze rustled in the live-oak trees and
went on beyond as il light-footed ladies
In silk petticoats had slipped past. Out
at the cabins one heard. two negro
women singing in rich voices:
Nellie was a lady
Last night she died"
The women sang far away. Bees
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