Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-02-14
CHAPTER I.
The Prophecy.

mountains The grandmother, sitting
Wnlte-capped in the center of the hub
Dub, heard one more willingly than the
2 others, for not only was Francois her
best loved, but also the story he asked
for was the story she liked to tell
Smiling, the grandmother began:
You must know, my children, that it
was on day in the month of May, in
the year 1913. that he came You.
Luc1e. and you, Pierre, and Marie
were not born, only Francois and
Tomas Francois was the older-not
quite three years old. The mother had
gone to care for your Aunt Lucie, who
was i'll, and 1 kept the house for your
father 1t was the year OF the great
conscription, when the emperor took
all the men to fight. not only the
strong ones, but the boys, and the old
and infirm, if they might but drag
themselves at the tail of a regiment
so the few men who were not under
the flag were sorely needed by their
families, for it was necessary, if the
women and children were not to
starve, that some should stay to work
In the fields. Your father was of the
few who had escaped in our village of
Vicques.
One morning a man appeared in
the village and said that Napoleon
would pass this way within a few
hours
Outside / heard the neighbors call
Ing the same two words-'Napoleon
comes'-one called it to another. If
the trumpet of the angel sounded the
end of the world, they could not have
had more fear. Then your father
kissed me. and kneeled and held you,
Francois. and Tomas, in his arms, and
l 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 II stood with an ache
where my heart should have been, and
for moment I was stupid and could
not think
As l stood so. like blow there was
rush of galloping horses in a shower
of noise down the street, aud my
heart stopped. for the horses drew up
at this house So that 1 was still in
the middle of the floor when the door
opened
1T opened. that door there. and |
against the light l saw men crowding |
IN the entry. They wore uniforms of |
bright colors, and swords hung at their
with trimmings of gold. Then 1 saw 1
With a step toward me |
he spoke in kind voice, half smiling. |
Madame, he said. will you let US |
use this room and this table for an
hour? You shall not be disturbed in |
your work
made my courtesy to these great |
gentlemen as had been taught. and l /
found myself saying quite easily to his
majesty the emperor, as easily as if | !
talked to Monsieur lie Cure. to whom
was accustomed. that he was vel
come; that 1 would serve him gladly
IL he wished to command me. And
then l left them. 1 went into the !
Kitchen and began to get dinner. but
L was so dazed that l could not seem
to make the soup as usual. When.
suddenly. heard child cry, and with
no thought then but of my babies,
flew to the door of the great room and
stood looking, for l could not pass the
sentinel
Among the officers in their uni
forms there lay on the floor little Fran
co.'s in his night-dress. and all the Of
heers 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. ana as
they all bent over the papers on the
table he had pulled at the sword of
one whom / afterward knew 10 be the
great Marshal Ney. He wore a dark
coat ali neayy with gold lace. nv chill
iren. and white pantaloons and high
shining black boots, and across his
breast a scarlet ribbon He sat next
he emperor The marshal. turning
sharply at the tug. knocked. the little
me over. 1t was then Francois cried
tut I
Napoleon himself who spoke as 7 {
'eered under the sentiners arm. He /
hook his finger at his officer
Marshal. Marshal he cried. are I
-ou not too quick to overthrow so F
-oung soldier. so full of love for v
rms f
The emperor seemed to Joke for
lie laughed little. yet there was = q
oond in his voice as If some part was u
erious- He turned sharply to the g
mayor What is the child's name?
The mayor was our friend and v
new the babies. Francois Beaupre a
ire he answered tremblfngly.
The emperor gave a short nod n
Make him kneel.' he said Marshal.
our sword F
1T vas still for moment, and all c
be officers stood up silent. and then I