Bisbee daily review., 1914-09-13
CHAPTER XXI.
The Night Before.

had disembarked quietly at twilight. l and fin small companies had succeeded in entering the town and the quarters of the officers who were. in France the nucleus and the hope of their at. tempt In the rooms of Lieutenant Aladenize, the host of the Prince short council had been held to go over once more the plans which had been discussed and settled by letter for weeks already. The work was care. fully arranged: there was almost noth. Ing Co be changed. and the little com. pany of men who were trying SO large a fate. scattered. with grave faces. with quiet good nights Go the Prince who might tomorrow be their Elm. peror, to the Prince for whose sake they might tomorrow night be any or all ruined men or dead men.
 He sat erect and listened. Thelln was brushing clothes with energy in the bedroom, and through another door there came a light sound of a paper turned, of gay song sung softly. And glow suddenly warmed the Princes heart; here was some one who had known his mother, who had been in. deed, for a few days her son: here was some one who cared for him. he believed it, with a halrconsuminp flame of devotion. Since the mans arrival from Virginia six weeks before to have him near himself had been a pleasure to Louis Bonaparte; he seemed to bring back the freshness of his early days, of the young conf dence when his star shone for him. distant perhaps. but undimmed by the black clouds which drove now across 1t. He was a bit superstitious about Francois as well, with an idea. which he spoke to no one. that a pivotal in- terest of his career rested in the mod est figure.
 He rose this night in Boulogne. as the paper rustled and the little French provincial chanson sounded from the room where Francois Beaupre. now his secretary. had been installed, and stepped 10 the closed door.
 De tous cotes Ton que je suis bete."
 Francois sang softly The Prince smiled. As he opened the door the singing stopped; the young man l sprang respectfully to his feet, a let ter grasped in his hand. and stood waiting.
 "Sirel" he said
 Prince Louis flung out his hand with gesture of impulsiveness strange to his controlled manner, yet not out of drawing to those who knew him well | "Ah. Francois" he cried. Let the | titles go for tonight. Say Louis.' as on that day when we first saw each other; when the four children played ! together in the old chateau ruins. And ! Francois smiled his radiant exquisite smile and answered quietly. But yes. my brother-Louis." And went on. 'I ! believe I shall not sleep tonight. Louis. I believe I am too happy to sleep" l As one reads a novel for relaxation in the strain of a critical business at | fair, Prince Louis caught at the dis traction of this side issue. The next morning was planned to the last de- 1 tail there was nothing to do till day. light yet he could not sleep at pres | ent Here was a romance of some ! sort He sank back on the cushions l of the coach of Lieutenant Aladenize's smoking room and put his feet up lux | uriously, and slowly lighted a cigar l Of Havana.
 l Tell me" he ordered, and the gen 1 tleness of appeal was in the order. "Sire'--the young man began-and I corrected himself. Louis" he said. The Prince smiled dimly. Since our 1 landing l have known that a wonder l ful thing has happened to me. It is"- ! he spoke lower-'it is the love of the woman who is to me the only one in the world"
 ''E congratulate you, mon ami," Louif said gently "1s it by any chance the delightful little Mademoiselle Alike of the old chateau7"
 1. Beaupre turned scarlet. He was a marvellous man, this Prince Louis. How had he guessed? "She loves me
 - have here a letter in which she tells me that she loves me. Will his ! 1ighness read it2" With an impetu. ous step forward he held the paper toward Louis Napoleon.
 'l thank you,' the Prince said grave ly He read:
 Francois. what you have wished all your life is true. The good fairies have granted one of your wishes be- fore the battle. That they win give you the other two on the day of the battle is the belief of your
 ALIKE"
 And below was written hurriedly, "Pietro sends his love-"
 The Prince gave back the letter with a respectful hand; then looked at Francois inquiringly. What you have wished all your life,' mon ami ?'' Francois laughed happily. "one must explain, if 1t will not tire his High ness" And he told, in a few words, of that day when his selfrestraint had given way and how, when his guard was down and he was oR the point of telling his lifelong secret love, some spirit of perversity Francois did not know it was an angel-had caught Alike, and she had accused him of
 wishing always that she might love pietrO. And how, meshed in that same