The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-28
SYNOPSIS.


CHAPTER I-Francois Beaupre. q
peasant babe of three years. after an
amusing incident In which Marshal Ney
By the Empe aor Napoi soane In the home
of the lads parents in the village Of Vic
ques. France, where the emperor had brief
poleon prophesied that the boy might
one day be a marshal of France under
another Bonaparts.
CHAPTER Hat the age Of ten Fran
co.'s meets stranger who is astonished
when the boy tells him he may one day
De marshal of France under another
Napoleon"
CHAPTER Iu-Francois demonstrates
his nerve by climbing lofty church
steeple. This deed is witnessed by the
stranger who marVels at the boys game
ness and asks him to visit him at
CHAPTER IV-Francois visits General
the Baron Gaspard Gourgaud, who with
Alike, his seven-year-old daughter, lives
at the Chateau. A soldier OF the Empire
under Napoleon he fires the boys mag
ination with stories of his campaigns
with the emperor.
CHAPTER V-Francois' father loses
his possessions in game of chance.
CHAPTER vI-The general offers
Francois a home at the Chateau. The
the end becomes copyist FOR . the the general
and learns of the friendship between the
general and Marquis Zappi. who cam
paigned with the General under Napol-
con-
In the 1urs ana gave me brandy from
mis- flask. For Zappi had done clever
thing. He had made a bargain with
some Jesuits near Polotsk, where he
had camped for while, that his men
Oh he 1ryhn
sary on condition that he should have
part of the brandy for them. He had
kept some of his share yet, and it
saved my life that day, the brandy
of the monks of Polotsk.'
There was thick fog several days
later, and out of it, and out of the
wood we must pass, rushed with wild
cries a cloud of mounted Cossacks
across the road within twenty PAGES
of the Emperor himself. But General
Rapp dashed forward at the head of
two mounted squadrons of chasseurs
and grenadiers of the guard who al
ways followed the Emperor, and the
Cossacks we're put to fight. l was
in charge; I was serving temporarily
in the place Of one of Rapp's officers,
because, on account of my late weak
ness, it was thought well that should
be on horseback. So it happened that,
as the skirmish finished, 1 saw coming
toward me figure in a furred coat
and cap, brandishing a Cossack lance
rushing toward the Emperor. l
dashed down on the mad Cossack, as
i thought him, and passed my great
.saber through his body. And the man
fell, and as he fell the fur cap went
of and he groaned and looked up at
me with dying eyes-it was Zappi."
"Ahl" The little figure had sprung
up and stood, fists clenched, threaten
ing One would have thought it was
! this second that the general had sa-
Brad zappi
May live a moment?" the general
inquired. It'll explain. Zappi did
n't die"
%Ah!" again. And Francois sank
relieved on the stool, yet with stern
eyes still on the generals face. The
general laid the papers aside.
mot he. He had seized the lance
1t was most imprudent, especially in
the dress he wore, which did not show
the French uniform underneath. It
was my turn then to play nurse. He
was placed in one of the carriages Of
the Emperor, and 1 cared for him as
my own brother, and he came through
it all, and went back to Italy, to his
home"
The generals deep-set eyes we're
gazing now above Francois head out
through the narrow window where the
boys table stood, across the noun
tain slope, to the blue distance.
"Alessandro, my friend" he spoke
in his gruff tones, yet softly, shall
we see each other again? So close
through that black time, so far apart
now in the peace of our homes! Those
warm hands which cared for me when
/ was freezing and dying in Russia
! shall touch them perhaps never
again, never again!"