The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-03-20

lists OF the mayor-and pulled at the
sword of Marshal Ney. And the mar
shall, turning quickly, knocked me
over cried out, and my grand
mother ran to me, and / have often
heard her tell how she peeped from
the door under the shoulder of the big
sentry who would not let her pass,
and how she saw a young general
pick me up and set me on my feet.
and how all the great officers laughed
when he said that the sword was in
contest between Marshal Ney and me
And how, then, the young general sag
gested that, to settle the point amic-
ably, the marshal should draw his
sword and give me the accolade-the
blow of knighting And so, Mademoj-
selle, to shorten the tale, it was not
the marshal, but the Emperor himself
who chose to do it. He made me
kneel before him, T. baby-and he
struck my shoulder the blow of the
accolade, and said the words which
l have told you"
Francois sprang to his feet and
| stood as he repeated once more the
Emperor's words. His voice shook.
Rise Chevalier Francois Beaupre,
one day Marshal OF France under
another Bonaparte,' he cried, thrilled
through with the words which he re-
peated.
The girl leaning forward, watched
him; with gasp she spoke. Then
that is why you are really Chevalier
Beaupre? Did the Emperor have the
right Toto knight your"
But yes, Mademoiselle," Francois
answered with decision. 81 have stud
led the question, and believe that the
accolade-the knighting always
a right of the monarchs of France
disused, perhaps at times, but yet held
in allegiance, a right"
The glance Of the brilliant eyes met
hers with a frank calmness which
showed that he claimed nothing which
he did not feel; that this haphazarC
nobility had lived in his soul anC
grown with his growth, and come tt
be part of him. With a gentle humil
ity, very winning as it sprang from
his gentle pride, he went on.
Il know, Mademoiselle, that | am
peasant and that i must be conten
with a small place in life at the pres
ent. l know this. And even tina
position which l have is more thar
my brothers. For you must know
Mademoiselle, that the others grew III
to be farmers or tradesmen." He hes
itated, and then in a few words tolC
her of General Gourgaud, the seigneu,
of Vfcques, and how he had given tn,
peasant boy all the opportunitie,
which his own son could have had
And as he talked he remembered how
after his fathers ruin, he had stoo,
inside the bare, little, new cottage ant
watched through the window hi
mother standing at the gate and talk
ing to the seigneur, who held Lisette'
bride. 1t seemed to him he coul,
see the dark braided hair of La Claire
coiled around her head, and the dec
point of her white neck-handkerchie
as she stood with her back to him
and the big bow of the apron tie,
about her waist The picture cam
wildly. And it opened his heart s.
that he talked on, and told this strane
er in a strange land many things tina
had lain close and silent in his heart
He told her about the generals grufI
ness, which could not hide his good
ness; and how he had come to be tn
child of the castle as we'll as of tn
cottage; something of Pietro also h
told her; but he did not mention Alike
You spoke of three children, Mon
sieur; who was the third?" aske,
Lucy.
Francois went on as if he had no
heard the question. 1T was a happ,
life, Mademoiselle," he said. "And i
has been so ever since-even, for tn
most part. in prison. have wondere,
at times if the world is all filled witt
such kind people as l have met, or i
it is just my good luck"
Lucy Hampton had been readin,
aloud to her sick black nanny tina
day, and some of the words of tn
book she had read came to her, an,
seemed to fit. 1.-THE kingdom of Go,