The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-06-19
CHAPTER XIV.



dinners. gatherings OF the Virginia no-
bility to do honor TO his highness at
Roanoke housesand elsewhere; every
where the Chevalier Beaupre had been
distinguished by his highness' most
marked favor And Lucy Hampton's
eyes had shone with quiet delight to
see 1t and to see the effect on her IA
Their. For the colonel, confused in his
mind as to how it might be true. re-
luctantly acknowledged that there
must be something of Importance
about this Cheyalier Beaupre, that a
prince should treat him as brother.
He believed that 1t would be best to
treat him--he also-at least as gen.
tleman. So the French lessons were
continued and the Jefferson troop was
encouraged, and Francois was asked
often to Roanoke house. And as the
months rolled on he tried with every
thoughtful and considerable effort to
express to the little lady Of the manor
his gratitude for the goodness Of her
family. It troubled him more than a
little that the early friendliness and
intimacy of Harry Hampton seemed to
be wearing off. The boy did not come
50 often to Carnifax, and when he
came he did not stay for hours, for
days sometimes, as was his way at
first He was uneasy with his friend,
and his friend wondered and did not
understand, but hesitated to push a
way into the lads heart. HE will
tell me In time," thought Francois,
and, sure of his own innocence, wait
ed for the time.
Meantime he was going home. Co
ing, much against the advice of the
Norfolk doctor, who warned him that
he was not yet well or strong, that
the out-of-door life in the mild Vir-
ginia climate should be continued per-
haps for two years more, before he
went back to the agitation and effort
OF Bonapartist agent in France. But
he could not wait; he must see his old
home. his mother, his father, and all
the unforgotten faces. He longed to
watch the black lashes curl upward
from the blue of Alixes eyes. He
longed to hear her clear voice with
its boyish note of courage. 1t would
put new life into him, that voice. 1t
was seven years now and more since
he had left them all at a days notice
to go to Pietro in Italy-to a living
death of five years, to many undream-
ed of happenings. The fever was on
him and he must go home.
There was to be celebration for
the new and very fashionable cavalry
troop of which Francois was the I'M
official backbone and author In the
great grassy paddock at Baylys Folly
the proud mother of eighteen-year-old
Caperton Bayly--first lieutenant, and
the most finished horseman in the Vir-
ginia country-had invited the gentry
from miles about to feast with her and
to watch her son and his friends show
how the Chevalier Beaupre had made
them into soldiers. They came in
shoals, driving from far off over bad
roads In big lurching chariots, or rid
ing in gay companies, mostly of older
men and girls and young boys, be-
cause all of the gilded youth were in
the ranks that day.
When the drill was over there was to
be rough riding and jumping Hur-
dies were swiftly dragged out and
placed In a manner of ring.
This one is very close to the bank"
said Lucy Hampton, standing by Blue
bird and watching as the negroes
placed the bars. IF a horse refused
and turned sharp and was foolish, he
might go over. And the bank Is
Steep
Lucy, you are a grandmotherly per-
son." Clifford Stewart-who was an
other girl-threw at her. You would
like them all to ride in wadded wool
dressing gowns, and to have wall
padded with cotton batting to guard
them And Lucy smiled and believed
herself overcautious.
The excited horses came dancing up
to the barriers and lifted and were
over, with or without rapping, but not
one, for the first round, refusing.
Then the bars were raised six inches;
six inches in mid-air is large space
when one must jump it. Caperton
Bayly went at it first; his mother
watched breathless as he flew for
ward, sitting erect, intense, his young
eyes cleaning. Over went his great
horse Traveller. and over the next and
the next-all of them; but the white
heels had struck the top bar twice
the beautiful, spirited performance
was not perfect. Harry Hampton
came next; all of the kindly multitude
gazed eagerly. hoping that the boy to
whom life had given less than the
others might win this honor he want
ed. The first bars without rapping:
the second; and suppressed sound of
satisfaction, which might soofI be a
great roar of pleasure hummed over
the field. Black Hawk came rushing,
snorting, pulling up to the third jump,
the jump where Lucy stood. And as
he came little girl. high in car
riage, chariot as one said then, -four
ished her scarlet parasol in the air,
and lost hold of it, and it flew like a
h.ac soH f~d f4,t1 kh1