The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-08-20

tnetn -Dut FRANCOIS stopped tine poio
No" he said quietly--yet with a
tone OF finality which the other recog-
nizcd. THAT Will not be necessary.
And the messieurs are my good friends;
they will treat me with honor; they win
be better to me than deserve. ! know
that we'll" There were so few people
In the world who did not 10 Francois,
seem his good friends. 'But. my Henry,
I viii not be the captain have
thought OF that. II you have not Look
here"
He swung to the desk and slipped out
a drawer, and had long folded paper
In his hands. He Tapped Il open be-
fore Harry's eyes. II was a formal
notice TO Mr.. Henry Hampton. jr.. that
the Jefferson troop OF Virginia had
elected him as It's 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 70 Harry Hampton, his friend.
IT was the only way in which the lame
boy could be on equal terms with the
other boys. and Francois had determ-
ined from the first that every Joy
which could be CLEANED out of Il he
should have. To be the captain ought
to be a Joy.
I'll" Harry cried and then was silent
and then spoke sorrowfully. But
1t can not bel"
Can not be?" demanded Francois.
why not?"
There was a moments silence and
with painful effort the words came.
My-misfortune. / am lame"
And Francois cried out, ''Henry-all
that Is nonsense! What OF Il? II Is
a. thing you do as well as the best
riding. Who has such a seat, such
hands as you? Why not then, / de-
mand?" And went on. 'Tt Is settled.
have talked to them all--see the sig
natures. You are the captain, my
Henry-and am your right hand and
your left hand-yes and your feet, too,
whenever you need me-"
but" said Harry, dazed, sit Is real
ly 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
stood together and Francois was
should like it. That Is secret" His
face was brilliant with laughter. "You
only may know. my Henry, that am
vain--ah, very vain," he repeated sad
ly Never tell II. love titles and
honors and Importance. like to be
called Chevalier-though indeed that Is
my right" he added with quick touch
Of dignity. "And I 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 best"
He held up his forefinger and looked
enormously worldly wise. "No. You
would not mind; the young messieurs
would not mind, perhaps-but the
fathers-ah. the fathers!" He threw
back his head and gaZed at the ceiling
with eyes OF horror. Then with a start
and Q hand flung out. And the mo-
theirs! Mon Dieu! But the mothers,
Henry! They would make-what you
call it--a hell Of a time, Is II notT"
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, that
makes you so suitable"
"Suitable?" Inquired Henry. E
But yes, my friend. It kills jeal-
ousy. All is grist, ono 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 viii
be contented. And whom should wish
to content but my first host, my first
benefactor in this land2 / believe in
deed, he would be displeased II should
take the place. believe he Is not sat-
isfied of my birth.
And beneath the nonsense OF Fran
clear sighted logic. So 1t happened that
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
weak character to post mortems,
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
he went to his daughter. That tiny
executive person with q basket OF big
keys. which, to southern housekeeper,
is more than 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
OF the tender leaves Of q second growth
of the mint bed. made of sugar ground
with mint, OF ice powdered fine In a
napkin, Of Bourbon whisky poured In
to the top of all. The frost on the sill
yer cup stood like q snow drift; the
fresh mint spears lifted in stiff ranks
above; 1t 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
from the tone that something was
wrong.
yes. saw him. He and Harry have
ridden to Carnifax" s.
Those lads talk great nonsense
growied the colonel
Yes" Lucy agreed. Il like to hear
them"
Il don't" With that the colonel
brought his fist down on his chair arm,
and joggled the beautiful julep and
spilled some OF It on his white linen
trousers. Lucy laughed. The coloneis
temper was not Improved.
"Pernicious nonsense they talk.
About this absurd young chevalier, as
they call him-though where he got his
title / can not guess"
What about the chevalier7" Lucy's
blue eyes were serious.
"Oh. about his virtues and his
charms" the colonel grumbled vaguely.
And about his undoubted right to have
been captain Of the troop. and his fine
spirit in refusing. A pestl AS II he
dared accept As IL we Virginians
would see common peasant set over
our children"
There was a complete silence on the
broad, shady gallery for a moment. The