Las Vegas optic., 1914-01-02


from the great entry of an old farm
house in the valley under the Jura
mountains The grandmother, sitting
white-capped in the center of the hub
bub, heard one more willingly than the
others, for not only was Francois her
)est loved, but also the story he asked
ior was the story she liked to tell
Smiling, the grandmother began:
You must know, my children, that it
was on a day in the month of May, in
he year 1873, that he came You,
uueie, and you, Pierre, and Marie
we're not born, only Francois, and
.omas. Francois was the older-not
luite three years old. The mother had
zone to care for your Aunt Lucie. who
vas i'll, and 1 kept the house for your
tather. 1t was the year of the great
ionscription, when the emperor took
Ii the men to fight, not only the
itrong ones, but the boys, and the old
md intirm, If they might but drag
themselves at the tail of a regiment.
So the few men who were not under
he flag were sorely needed by their
antilles, for it was necessary, if the
women and children were not to
5tarve, that some should stay to work
n the fields. Your father was of the
lew who had escaped in our village Of
Ticdues.
One morning man appeared in
he village and said that Napoleon
would pass this way within few
aours.
Outside heard the neighbors call
ng the same two words Napoleon
3omes'-one called it to another. If
he trumpet Of the angel sounded the
md Of the world, they could not have
aad more fear. Then your father
kissed me, and kneeled and held you,
Francois, and Tomas, in his arms, and
| saw tears, but he was brave-but
yes. Courage, little mother, he said,
for me and for the babies. Courage.
And at that your father, who was
my little lad once, you know, my dears,
had gone, and | stood with an ache
where my heart should have been, and
for a moment l was stupid and could
not think
AS I stood SO, like blow there was
a rush Of galloping horses in shower
Of noise down the street, and my
heart stopped, for the horses drew uI
at this house. So that / was still in
the middle of the floor when the dooi
opened.
1T opened, that door there, ant
against the light / saw men crowdina
In the entry. They wore uniforms Of
bright colors, and swords hung at theil
sides, and on their heads were hats
with trimmings of gold. Then / saw
Napoleon. With step toward me
he spoke in a kind voice, half smiling
Madame, he said, win you let lis
use this room and this table for an
hour? You shall not be disturbed In
your work
II made my courtesy to these great
gentlemen as had been taught, and
found myself saying quite easily to his
majesty the emperor, as easily as If
talked to Monsieur le Cure, to whom
| was accustomed, that he was vel
come; thai l would serve him gladly
if he wished to command me. And
then ! left them. / went into the
kitchen and began to get dinner, but
was so dazed that / could not seem
to make the soup as usual. When,
suddenly, heard child cry, and with
no thought then but of my babies, ]
few to the door Of the great room and
stood looking, for could not pass the
sentinel.
Among the officers In their uni
forms there lay on the hoor little Fran
co.'s In his night-dress, and all the Of
fcers looked at him and laughed. The
child, sleeping in the farther room
had walked at the voices and had
climbed down from his crib and tod
died out to see. The glitter of the uni
forms must have pleased him, and as
they all bent over the papers on the
table he had pulled at the sword ol
one whom | afterward knew to be the
great Marshal Ney. He wore a darl
coat all heavy with gold lace, my chill
dren, and white pantaloons and higt
shining black boots, and across his
breast scarlet ribbon. He sat mex
the emperor. The marshal, turning
sharply at the. tug, knocked the little
one over. 1t was then Francois criet
out.
Napoleon himself who spoke as
peered under the sentinels arm. HI
shook his finger at his officer.
Marshal, Marshal he cried, arr
you not too quick to overthrow 81
young soldier, so full Of love 70
arms?
THE emperor seemed to Joke, fo
he laughed little, yet there was
sound in his voice as if some part wa
serious. He turned sharply to tn
mayor. What is the child's name?
THE mayor was our friend an
knew the babies Francois Beaupre
sire, he answered tremblingly.
THE emperor gave short nod
Make him kneel he said. Marshal
your sword
at was still for q moment. and al