Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
THE PRINCE COMES.

The glittering morning sunlight OF
late March flooded the eastern dining
room of Roanoke House. AS the bare
branches of the trees outside moved uT
and down in the biting breeze. the shad-
oWs danced on brown ~blackness OF
Walnscoted walls. and against that
deer background Lucy Hampton's gold
aeao shone as Madonna heads shine
IRON aim canVaSSeS. A fire blazed on
the hearth; hot dishes steamed on the
taple; the girls face. the cracking fire,
!ne polished silver reflected from pol
lshed mahogany; the soft-shod, solic-
ltous service of a white aproned negro;
all TINS made the room fragrant with
lomeIlness In spite of the fact that one
could see ones breath in the air. But
they We're used to 1.-THE hardy Vir-
glnlans of those days Of open fires and
no furnaces. of many luXuries and few
comforts. and in dhappy ignorance of
world progress. they suffered cheerful
ly n were strong,
colonel Henry Hampton faced a por-
trait of the first Henry Hampton, of
Roanoke. stately with brass buttons
n silver lace. set in the panels rs
years before. Lucy had concluded her
prolled chicken and bacon and hot
bread. and now as he. late for break
last always. followed in her wake, he
read n Norfolk & Portsmouth Her
ala. With Which a colored boy a that
n ridden out from Norfolk, eight
miles away. 1t was before the time Of
daily papers. except in a large city or
two. and this Of nee a week was an
event; a boy was sent into Norfolk the
day before its publication that the
colonel might nave it at the earliest
moment.
The colonel's heavy-dragoon type Of
lace was handsome and weak; a bushy
mustache jutted from beneath his fine
nose. as if in an effort to make it SOL
dierly and masculine. The features
We're modelled on h big-boned. lean
features of men who had done things:
only the spirit was left out. 1t was as
II a man who inherited his ancestors
massive silver platters had no meat to
put on them. His uncertain eyes, under
their splendid brows. wandered from
column to column of the little sheet,
leaving this n that article unfin-
lshed. and as he read he reported bits
OF news to his daughter.
How would you like to see a live
prince. Lucy?" he inquired. '"The Her
aid states that we have one with us.
not 10 miles from Roanoke. Prince
Louis Napoleon was landed from the
Andromede, in Norfolk, only yesterday.
POOR young man." he went on ondes
cendingly, "he has no money. I under
stand, n here he is stranded in a
strange country with his fortune to
make, and no assets but a title. It's
little that will help him in the states!"
Hampton glanced over to see
N she We're listening to his words of
wisdom; he liked an attentive audience.
He was enchanted with her expression.
she had dropped knife and fork and.
with her blue eyes stretched wide, her
white teeth shining, was drinking his
| sentences.
Father! Is Prince Louis in Norfolk ,
How can it be? Monsieur Beaupre was
talking to me about him last night.
and he did not dream of his coming
mere. Surely he would have known if
the prince were expected"
Colonel Hampton smiled ~sarcastical-
occasionally knows more than even
Monsieur Beaupre, and even on French
questions, I may add" he announced.
from a mountain height. Blu in one
point you are right. my dear. The
not wen by the great Chevalter Bean,
pre-. He was exiled from France, as
you may or may not know. some
four and a half months ago. on account
or his attempt on ~Strasburg. and was
sent U on the Andromede, with sealed
orders. No one knew his destination
until he landed, on the 29th. in Norfolk
There'-the colonel got up and walked
to the fireplace and stood with his
back to the blaze, and his legs far
apart. masterfnlly. There my dear. I
nave gwen you a dose of history for a
amMse your little self today?"
Inc female mind paid no attention
20 the dtsression. Lucy had long ago.
finally If unconsciously. put her IA.
Tiers personality int Its right place.
s,osa atner IL the prince really poor and
.Poor-yes. I fancy-I am quite Ger.
ta1n. In fact. AloEe-that depends. The
authorities of Norfolk received him
with some distinction. the Herald
otates, but he is putting up at the inn
ul.e Woulo conclude that he was not an
invited guest at many Of our great
Lucy flew like a bird across to the
Her hand went up to either
side Of the coloners face. Father.
quick! Have Thunder saddled. and. ride
q Iather-and bring the prince
order to Sambo, or I shall"
colonel Hampton's eyes widened with
surprise. why, but Lucy he STAN
mared. "'Why-but why should 7?
What claim have we"
on. nonsense" and Lucy shook her
head impatiently. who has more?
Aren't we v~irginians Of the James
river princes In our own country. too?
HASN'T our family reigned in ROANOKE
longer n ever his reigned in Europe?
hAven't we enough house room and
Dersants 60 make him az comfortable
as IN palace! But that isn't the most
Important. It is a shame to- us AM
!atner. that no one has invited him
pelore. that Q strange gentleman Of
ni8h Stecon should have to lodge at an
lnn. Why hasn't Cousin George Har-
C rorta. asked nun to Brandon? And the
Herkeley.wha do they mean 81 not
asking him? But we won't let Yirein.
IAN noepltAliey b stained. We WIN ~