The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-05-08

assurance of an aristocrat. He smiled
MS brilliant exquisite smile into the
older boys face.
Mel am peasant" he said cheer.
fully. Il have no house"
He Is a peasant-yes. But he is
our brother, Pietro's and mine, and no
prince is better than Francois-not
one"
Or half so good,p Pietro put in with
his slow tones.
You are likely right" the stranger
agreed laconically.
And then without questions asked,
in rapid eager sentences, the three
had told him how it was; how Fran
co.'s, refusing to leave the cottage, was
yet the son of the castle. With that
they were talking about the village Of
Vicques, and its antiquity, and then
OF the old chateau; and one told the
legend of the treasure and of the
guardian dog.
Just over the wall there is the
opening where he appeared to old
Pierre Tremblay." Francois pointed
out.
Il think l should like to climb the
wall" the stranger said.
And he did. The others watching
anxiously, he crawled out on the I'M
certain pile ten feet in air. A big
stone crashed behind him; he crawled
on. Then there was hoarse rumble
of loosened masonry, and down came
the great blocks close to his hands
he was slipping! And, above, the wall
swayed. Then, in the instant of time
before the catastrophe, Francois had
sprung like a cat into the center OF
danger ard pushed the other boy, VIC
lently rs ing, across the grass out OF
harms way.
Alike screamed once sharply. Fran
co.'s lay motionless on his face and the
great stones rained around him. II
was all over in a moment; in a mo
ment more shout of JOY rose from
Pietro, for Francois lifted his head
and began crawling difficulty, with
Pietro's help. cut of the debris.
Il have to thank you for my life
Monsieur the peasant the stranger
said, and held out his hand. more
over, tits seldom that a prophecy is 81
quickly fulfilled. You said few min
utes ago that you should one day d.
a thing worth while for a Bonaparte
You have done it. You have saved NJ,
life"
Francois hand crept to his cap ant
ne pulled it off and stood bareheaded
Monsieur, who are you?" HI
brought out.
The strange boys vanishing smil,
frightened his face second. 81 an
Louis Bonaparte,' he said quietly.
The little court Of three stood abou
the young Prince, silent. And in
moment, in a few sentences, he hat
told them how, the day before, he hat
been seized with hunger for the al
of France, which he had not breathet
since, as boy of seven, his mothe
had escaped with him from Paris dur
ing the Hundred Days. He told then
how the desire to stand on French sol
had possessed him, till at last he hat
run away from his tutor and had foun,
the path from his exiled home, tn,
castle of Arenenberg, in the canton o
Thurgovie, in Switzerland, over tn
mountains into the Jura valley.
1T is imprudent," he finished tn,
tale calmly. 'The government woulr
turn on all it's big engines in an uproa
to catch one schoolboy, if it wa
known. But had to do it." He threw
back his head and filled his lungs witt
a great breath. THE air of France,
he whispered in an ecstasy.
For two hours more they told ste
ries and played games through tn
soft old ruins Of the savage old strong
hold, as light-heartedly, as carelessl
as if there were no wars or intrigue
or politics or plots which had bee
and were to be close to the lives Q
all of them. Till, as the red roun
sun went down behind the mountai
of the Rose, Francois quick ey
caught sight of figure swinging raj
idly down the mountain road wher
the Prince had come.
but look, Louis, he called from bt
hind the rock where he was preparing
as a robber baron, to swoop down o
Prince Louis conveying Alike as a
escaped nun to Pietro's monastery i
another corner.
And the boy Prince, suddenly grave
shaded his eye with his hand an
gazed up the mountain. Then hi
hand fell and he sighed. 'The adveI
ture is over" he said. Il must G
back to the Prince business. 1t
Monsieur Lebas."
Monsieur Lebas, the tutor, arrive
shortly in anything but playful hi
NOR. The boys mother, Queen Hol
tense. was in Rome, and he was r,
sponsible; he had been frightened
the verge of madness by the prince
escapade.
The playmates were separate
swiftly. Monsieur Lebas refused wit
something like horror the eager SUI
, gestion that he and his charge shoul
spend the night at the chateau. Th
Prince must be gotten off Frenc
ground without moments delay.