Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-05-20
AROman@ Observation-Disclosures
THE MARSHAL
ByMary Raymond Shipman Andrews
Aa1hor The Perfect TZbuze. etc.
Copyright The BobhsMerrfn Company.
Copyright. The Bobb.Merrm Company.

Courage, little mother he said, for
me and Tor the babies. Courage
And at that your father, who was
my little lad once. you know. my dears,
had gone. and l stood with an ache
where my heart should have been. and
not think. Francois held to my apron.
and l lifted Tomas. What are you
crying about. naughty grand-mere?''
asked Tomas. So / dried the tears and
Francois began to say that he vas
sleepy. 1 undressed him and the baby
and put them to bed for their nap in
the little chamber, which opens into the
great one and as l left them asleep and
came again into the large there,
| with it's great oak table. / stood a mo-
ment and thought Of your dear father
flying through the woods. n Of how
l was left to take care of his home and
his children. And the thought of a duty
to be done brought calmness.
AS / stood so. like a blow there was
a rush Of galloping horses in a a show
er Of noise down the street. and my
heart stopped. for the horses drew up
at this house. So that 1 was still in
the middle of the floor when the door
opened
Francois hand was laid against her
cheek. The door into the great entry
that door there?" he demanded in a
whisper.
But yes. mon p'tit-that door"
-Four pairs of round eyes followed
Francois gaze that turned to the panels
of heavy oak.
TT opened. that door there. and
against the light l saw men crowding in
the entry. They Wore uniforms of bright
colors. and swords hung at their sides,
and On their heads were hats with
trimming sof gold. Then l saw-Na-
poleon. I knew him at once, though 1
figure was perhaps the smallest. /
stood quietly. remembering only that
1 must guard my sons children. and
he spoke. With a step toward me he
spoke in a kind voice. half smiling.
Madame he said. will you let us
use this and this table for an
hour? You shall not be disturbed in
you work."
The grandmother stopped and lifted
her hand. and her head was up as If
listening. ITEMS! I near his voice
now!" she whispered. and the children
started. as If expecting to catch a note
of the tones that hand sounded there
the tones that had carried across the
world. The story went on.
Il made my courtesy to these great
gentlemen as I had bee taught. and
I found myself saying quite easily to
his majesty the emperar, as easily as II
l talked to Monsieur le Cure. to whom
/ vas accustomed. that he was well
come; that l would serve him gladly
il he wished to command me. And
then I left them. There was that about
the great emperor which made one hap
py to be of use to him. l did not un-
derstand it. but I felt 1t. as I had heard
the men talk about it who had seen
him. My son was flying from him. he
vyoo lro{Vofpr Tho nv1 ~ ~ MON 0H
our comfort and happiness, and yet
here I was. willing and glad to do the
least or the greatest thing for him. He
was more than a a Napoleon. As
I left the room. at The doc I saw a
big soldier with an enormous u shake
who mounted guard, and there were at
each door and each window soldiers on
guard-think of that. my children-our
peaceful house surrounded with grand
soldiers. I could not help being a lit
tie proud as I saw it. And before the
entry here q crowd Of huge horses
stamped n snorted. SO full of spirit
that the grooms could scarcely hold
them. 1 went quietly into the kitchen
and began. as in the ordinary way, to
get dinner. but I was so dazed with
what was happening h a I was not
entirely capable. I could not seem to
make the soup as usual. When. sud
L . = wv " SAAAA IVAN = 49,
no thought then but Of my babies, /
flew to the door Of the great room and
stood looking. for I could not pass the
sentinel.
Among the officers In their uniforms
there lay on the floor little Francois
In his night dress. and all h officers
looked at him and laughed great
shout of laughing which drowned the
sound Of my coming. I knew later what
had happened. for the mayor Of the
village vas there with his lists and he
told me. The child. sleeping In the
and had climbed down from his crib
and toddled out to see. The glitter OF
the uniforms must nave pleased him
and as they all bent over h papers
Or the table he had pulled at the sword
of n whom I afterward knew to be
dark coat. all heavy with gold lace. my
children, and white p~antaloons and
high shining black boots, and across
his breast a scarlet ribbon. He sa,
next the emperor. The marshal. turn.
ing sharply at the tug. knocked the
little one over. It was then Francois
cried out. and I ran to him. But wher
I reached the door q young general
whose name I W knew. had set tn.
child on his feet. and the others, som,
standing about him. some sitting IL
their chairs. which they pushed bacl
to e better. some leaning across tn,
table. all stared at him. Without doub
it was a sight which they had not seel
lately. a baby in its night dress. an
without doubt 1t seemed homelike t.
some. However that may be. they wer,
laughing like schoolboys. and 1t wa,
| Napoleon himself who spoke a I peere,
under the sentinel's arm. He shook hi
finger at his officer.
Marshal. marshal he cried, .ar
YOU not too quick to oyerthrow n
young q soldier. 90 full Of love 70
arms?'
"And he put out his hand and 'pinche,
i the little ones ear. which I have hear,