Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-01
CHAPTER xxxnI.
The Accolade at Last.

being human, cannot see all sides of
question; that decision right in
one light may bring disaster in an
other. II events had stayed where he
left them. Francois Beaupre and Col
onel Couard and his regiment would
have won honor and eternal graft
tude from Louis Bonaparte for the
quarter of an hours work which made
the arsenal theirs. Events. instead of
standing still. or going forward, took
an unexpected sinister turn, not long
after Francois going.
The happy Prince, smiling the shad-
owy smile which made his face win
ming, stood in the center Of triumphant
turmoil; his new followers. the men
of the forty-sixth. crowded about him
shouting, cheering, kissing his hands,
and the loyal fourth artiIlerymen fra
ternized. embraced, congratulated the
men of the line regiment. The narrow
courtyard was a hubbub of rapturous
excitement, and the Princes officers
Montholon, Vaudrey. Voisin, Parquin.
DHunin, Querelles-tnese and others
whose names Frenchmen knew, sur
rounded the small figure which yet
and chatted ight-heartedly. In few
moments, when Colonel Laity's engi-
neers and the third artillery should
have arrived the Prince would have
five thousand men under his COM
mand. The great game was practical
ly won-Prince Louis was all but EN-
peror.
Suddenly, above the sea of sound,
commotion was heard at the farther
end of the barrack yard. The colonel
of the forty-sixth, Colonel Talandier,
had arrived. Very loyal to Louis Phil
lipe, very angry at the scene before
him, he would not believe the news.
He called excitedly, and the mems
voices died down as they saw him
gesticulating.
Soldiers" he cried. you are de-
ceived! This man for whom you are
shouting is an adventurer. an I'm.
postori"
In the shock of silence which fol-
lowed his words, another voice rang
out, clear and indignant. the voice of
staff-officer whom they all knew.
ut is not the nephew of the EN-
peror! 1t is the nephew of Colonel
Vaudreyi | recognize him!" the off,
Ger cried in a strong staccato. and a
gasp as if ice-water had been scat
tered went through the crowded
place.
There is nothing more absurd In his
tory than the instant effect of this
quick-witted lie. Only with a mer-
curial French mob, perhaps, could it
have succeeded but it succeeded here
with hopeless swiftness. 1t few from
mouth to mouth-they were cheated,
tricked; the Emperor's nephew. their
Prince, had not come; this young man
was a make-beiieve, a substitute, the
nephew of an officer; some of the
soldiers who had shown most enthus-
iasm almost lost their minds now in
rage
Colonel Talandier began to form his
men; the Prince, composed as ever,
yet earnest, swift. tried to rally his.
but 1t was impossible to start any
where, in this confusion, for line and
artillery had become mixed in an un.
manageable mob, A word from either
Prince or colonel and blood would
have flowed.
Yet the steadfast mind kept its
hope; he glanced every moment toward
the ramparts. The third must appear
there shortly; it could not be many
minutes. They would turn the tide.
One glimpse of that solid swinging
regiment and the day would be saved
and salvation was certain. The
third was coming, would be here any
second-Franccis' faithfulness could
be trusted.
Slowly. with his officers crowding
about him, he was driven toward the
barracks WILL and, in a flash, from
somewhere. a man was before him,
thrusting bit of paper at him With
swift movement he had it opened
and read:
Destiny throws arsenal into our
hands. Have taken third artillery to
hold it. I wait to bring the news-a
jewel for your crown. Vive Temper
I curt Beaupre."
Few men ever heard Louis Napo-
| leon sob, yet the officers stood about
him at that moment caught a sound
| that wrung them 1t meant the end.
and they knew it. Passionately he
crushed the paper and threw 1t into
the seethirg mass.